Mysteries Of The Mexican Pyramids

Probes the history, origins, and purpose of the pyramids in the Valley of Mexico, Yucatan, and Central America, with emphasis on the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon near Mexico City. Recounts the history of these structures from their first sighting by Cortes as rubble-covered mounds through four centuries of efforts to solve the mystery of their existence.

In Mexican Kaleidoscope, award-winning author Tony Burton delves into Mexico's rich history and culture. He focuses on a dazzling selection of events, individuals, myths and mysteries to explore some of the reasons why Mexico has become such an extraordinarily diverse and interesting nation. The 30 short chapters of Mexican Kaleidoscope span the entire range of time periods, from long before the Spanish conquest to the modern day. The topics considered range from cuisine, Aztec farming, Mayan pyramids, sheep and superstitions to mythical cities, aerial warfare, art, music and the true origins of Mexico's national symbols. Along the way, we encounter many unusual, strange, weird and wonderful aspects of Mexico. Mexican Kaleidoscope unravels some of the many forces that have helped shape Mexico's history and culture and helps us understand the appeal and mystique of this engaging country.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1874.

In this rich and surprising book, Frances F. Berdan shines fresh light on the enigmatic ancient Aztecs. She casts her net wide, covering topics as diverse as ethnicity, empire-building, palace life, etiquette, origin myths, and human sacrifice. While the Aztecs are often described as “stone age,” their achievements were remarkable. They constructed lofty temples and produced fine arts in precious stones, gold, and shimmering feathers. They crafted beautiful poetry and studied the sciences. They had schools and libraries, entrepreneurs and money, and a bewildering array of deities and dramatic ceremonies. Based on the latest research and lavishly illustrated, this book reveals the Aztecs to have created a civilization of sophistication and finesse.