Michael E. SmithThe Aztecs

I love this book. I have read almost every book there is to read on the Aztecs and their lives as part of a multi-year research project. I actually read this book through a library first before I realized that it was quite possibly the best resource on the Aztecs I could find, so I bought my own copy. In rereading this textbook, I have found a treasure trove of information on virtually every single aspect of Aztec life.This textbook flows well, starting with the basic history and context of the Aztec people, from very early history through the culture-altering visit from the Spanish. We touch upon every important aspect of the Aztec life - food, religion, architecture, natural resources, jobs, tools, etc. Michael Smith uses every resource he could find to weave together a very comprehensive tale of these indigenous people in Central Mexico. Each resource is cited within its context, so you can fully understand where the information is coming from and whether it's biased - for example the records that Spanish conquerors took of Aztec rituals and ceremonies are tinted with judgement and xenophobia, whereas the Aztec records and documents can be incomplete or mistranslated.I would purchase this textbook fifty times over. If I had to have only one resource on the Aztecs, this would be it.

Overall a great book. Much of the research conducted by the author is legitimate and true, but his personal opinions and some of his research in my view are off. The author lacks knowledge on Aztec philosophy and only makes a brief description of it. The core of the authors work rests on the excavations of the surrounding area of Tenochtitlan. I feel that the book makes a large contribution to the size and dimensions of surrounding areas of Tenochtitlan, but lacks the core heart of Aztec thought and daily life.

Even though it is a textbook, The Aztecs, by Michael Smith is very well written and extremely interesting. Once I picked it upand started to read it I had trouble putting it down. The book is comprehensive and covers everything from their history toeveryday life. It is authoritative, being based on archeological as well as ethnohistorical sources. I am sure that anyone whois interested in the Aztecs will love this book.

I could not put it down. It was captivatingly informative. To understand the people that built these magnificent structures was a delight. Would recommend this book for anyone interested in good history.

NOT A REVIEW OF CONTENT.When buying, the ad stated, "Highlight, take notes, and search in the book. Page numbers are just like the physical edition."However, I CANNOT view the page numbers, as there is no option to switch from locations to page numbers. This makes the book somewhat useless, as I am assigned page numbers to read in class. Amazon's ad page for this is incorrect, so now I have to go buy a physical copy on top of wasting $25 (after tax) for this useless copy.Thanks.

Informative of time period

I was interested in knowing more about the aztecs and selected this book because the author is an authority and the reviews, though few, were good. The text is objective though uninspired and, more disappointingly, it's content is thin. The photos, probably taken from the public domain, are old and blurred. The e-book price is $30 and has a total of 400 pages (i.e., 7.5 cents/page).

A wonderful compilation of the Aztec society by Michael Smith. It is all inclusive in describing every facet of their life.

Really well written, so great much content.

An excellent introduction to Aztec civilization. Scholarly and comprehensive, well organized and clearly written. I read the Kindle version, which includes helpful illustrations and tables.