History Americas

Mixtec Codices, Painted Histories of Mesoamerica

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Step into the painted legacy of Oaxaca, where the Mixtec codices-fragile screenfolds of deerskin illuminated with vivid pigments-preserve one of the most extraordinary intellectual and artistic traditions of Mesoamerica. Far more than picture books, these manuscripts embody history, myth, genealogy, and political authority. Within their unfolding pages, lords trace descent from gods, dynasties rise and fall, and sacred landscapes of hills, rivers, and temples come alive as actors in human destiny. This book explores the world of the Mixtecs through their painted histories, situating the surviving codices-such as the Zouche-Nuttall, Bodley, Vindobonensis, and Selden-within the broader fabric of Mesoamerican civilization. It reveals how these manuscripts served as charters of power, genealogical archives, ceremonial scripts, and works of astonishing artistry. From the dramatic biography of Eight Deer Jaguar Claw to the intricate webs of dynastic marriages, the codices preserve a vision of a society where the human and divine were inseparable, where political legitimacy was written in sacred bloodlines, and where memory itself was painted onto deerskin. At once historical and mythological, artistic and intellectual, sacred and political, the Mixtec codices stand as rare survivors of a vast world nearly erased by conquest and fire. This book not only tells their story of creation and survival but also reclaims them as living documents-bridges across centuries that continue to speak for the people of Ñuu Dzahui, the "People of the Rain God." For readers fascinated by ancient civilizations, indigenous art, and the resilience of cultural memory, this work opens a window into one of humanity's most remarkable painted legacies.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: LEARN ALCHEMICAL
• Seitenzahl: 238
• Erscheinungstermin: 2. Oktober 2025
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 13mm
• Gewicht: 351g
• ISBN-13: 9798232965143
• Artikelnr.: 75592805

Autorenporträt

Step into the stories of the Americas where history, myth, and origins converge. From the rise of ancient civilizations to the mysteries of lost cities, sacred traditions, and enduring legends, History Americas explores the epic journey of cultures that shaped a continent. Here, monumental pyramids stand beside forgotten myths, and the echoes of the Maya, Aztec, Inca, and countless other peoples reveal the deep roots of human creativity, belief, and power. Each episode uncovers the crossroads of archaeology and legend-where fact and myth blur, and where the origins of the Americas continue to inspire awe. Whether you seek the truth behind ancient cities, the meaning of sacred rituals, or the enduring mystery of vanished worlds, History Americas brings you closer to the civilizations that defined the New World-and to the timeless question of where we come from.