Aztecsinga Clendinnen Essay -- Essays Papers

Aztecsinga ClendinnenInga Clendinnen has had a fascination for the MesoAmerican area and its level for over 30 yrs. Having wrote many binds on the peoples and history of the region, her knowledge makes her soundly qualified to write a make such as Aztecs. The book is not one based on historical facts and figures, but one which is founded on comments of what the author believes living was like in different spheres of Aztec life. Clendinnen refers to the Aztec peoples as Mexica(pronounced Meh-SHee-Kah)as that is what they called themselves and her interpretations of Mexican ceremony as a form of visual surgical process is breathtaking.We firstly delve into the city and what it means to the Mexica people. Then, we enter the minds of the people who make happy their part of society in different ways. From the warriors and priests, to the mothers, wifes and children of Tenochtitlan. Next, Clendinnen enters the world of rites, sacrifices and aesthetics in the beginning fini shing off with the defeat of the Mexican city of Tenochtitlan by the forces of Cortes in 1521.Studys into the Aztec way of life have usually focused on the Spanish conquests, rise to power of Tenochtitlan and especially into the ritual performances conducted by the peoples of Mexica.AztecsAn Interpretation focuses more than on the authors interpretations of what the Mexica people may have thought, felt or still about the world around them. Clendinnen attempts to understand Mexica belief not in belief at this formal level,but in sensibilitythe emotional,moral and aesthetic linkup through which thought comes to be expressed in action,and so do public,visible and accesible to our observation.1.Clendinnen states that the account will unhappily,but by necessity,lack historical depth,2. The sources that she has access to are numerous but Clendinnen chooses to concentrate on General History of the Things of New Spain. A book written by Bernado de Sahagun, a Franciscan monk. This bo ok is ordinarily called the Florentine Codex and deals with information gathered by Indian scribes. The codex is twelve volumes in length and was collected after the conquests of the Mexica by Spain. Clendinnen states that though the Codex has fallen out of favour with scholars,they still use them extensivly 3.The main writing format consists of essays-tentative,discusive explorations4. usi... ... A few photos of Tenochtitlan and warriors headdresses, clubs and obsidian blades would increase the pleasure 10 fold. Also in places the author tends to divert to other Ameriindian cultures and use their ritual practices as examples. These comparisons can bring the ritual practices of a 500 year extant culture into modern day belief.Inga Clendinnens AztecsAn Interpretation is an outstanding book dealing with investigations into how the Mexica peoples may have veiwed the world in which they lived. From the daily life of a commoner to the explosively, awe inspiring lives of the pri ests and warriors. Clendinnen has used thoughtful insights and a fresh perspective that will have general readers and specialist readers equal engaged in a powerful and elegantly written interpretation that is hard to put down without reflection upon this lost culture.Bibliography1 Clendinnen,Inga.AztecsAn Interpretation.(New YorkCambridge University Press,1991),pg 52 ibid.,p.73 ibid.,p.94 ibid.,p.115 ibid.,p.116 ibid.,p.177 ibid.,p.1128 ibid.,p.2199 ibid.,p.26910 ibid.,p.26911 ibid.,p.26912 ibid.,p.270