America 1492: Portrait of a Continent Five Hundred Years Ago

Lavishly illustrated, and vast in scope, AMERICA 1492 is an eloquent account of the Amerindian world of 1492. From the Inuit in the far north to the tribes on the North American continent, from the langs of the Maya and Aztec, to the Inca real in the extreme south, this beautiful book describes the remarkable range of peoples who flourished for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans.

In AMERICA 1492, historian Manuel Lucena Salmoral details all aspects of the everyday life of the Native American peoples, including what they ate, how they farmed and hunted, how they married and raised their children, and how they viewed death and the afterlife. He traces the growth of their societies, their systems of government, and the burgeoning trade that culminated in the development of the great cities, Cuzco and Tenochtitlan, the capitals of the Inca and Aztec empires.

With a lively text and over 300 superb illustrations, most in full color, AMERICA 1492 explores the rich and varied cultures of the native peoples, from the renowned crafts of the Aztecs to the Inca musical theater, from North American shaman rituals to the elaborate ballgame played throughout Mesoamerica. It highlights their great tradition of learning, including such achievements as the 365-day Maya calendar and the Aztec sun clock.

Included throughout the text as well are special illustrated features on topics such as primitive dwellings; the creation of man; chocolate, the drink of the gods; the pre-Columbian codices; mochica erotic art, and much more. The handsome illustrations include images of artifacts codices, early Spanish paintings and manuscripts, and the few native documents that have survived.

ISBN
0 81602483 9

Page Number
240

Language
English

146628