Daily Life of the Aztecs

by Soustelle, Jacques

• ISBN13: 9781842125083
• ISBN10: 1842125087
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-05-01
• Publisher: Phoenix

Summary

Vivid account of a profoundly religious warrior society from its most primitive days to the eve of the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century. Detailed accounts of life in a city-state, religious beliefs, public buildings and markets, home furnishings, family life, the conduct of war, language, music, much more. 39 illustrations, 2 maps.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. xiii
The City
Origin and situation
Extent and population
General appearance: roads and traffic
Public buildings, squares and market-places
The problems of a great city
Tenochtitlan as a young capital	p. 1
Society and the State at the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century
The ruling class
The rising class of traders
The craftsmen
The common people
The slaves
Wealth and poverty: standards of living
The sovereign, the great dignitaries, the council	p. 36
The World, Man and Time
A shifting, threatened world
Heaven and earth
Death and rebirth
Destinies and signs
An imperial religion	p. 95
A Mexican's Day
The house, furniture and garden
Getting up, washing and dressing, clothes
Business, work, ceremonies
Meals
Games and amusements
The rhythm of day and night	p. 120
From Birth to Death
Baptism
Childhood and youth, education
Marriage: family life
Sickness and old age
Death and the hereafter	p. 163
War
The meaning of war
Casus belli
Chivalry
Conduct of war
Negotiations for peace	p. 203
Civilised Life
Barbarism and civilisation
Self-control, good breeding, social order
The arts as a setting for life
The arts of language, music and dancing	p. 216
The pronunciation of Aztec words	p. 245
The eighteen months and the rites	p. 246
Notes	p. 248
Maps	p. 298
Bibliography	p. 302
Index	p. 305
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