Ancient America

In the autumn of 1834, New York City was awash with rumors of a strange religious cult operating nearby, centered around a mysterious, self-styled prophet named Matthias. It was said that Matthias the Prophet was stealing money from one of his followers; then came reports of lascivious sexual relations, based on odd teachings of matched spirits, apostolic priesthoods, and the inferiority of women. At its climax, the rumors transformed into legal charges, as the Prophet was arrested for the murder of a once highly regarded Christian gentleman who had fallen under his sway.

In Empires of Trust, Professor Thomas F. Madden explores surprising parallels between the Roman and American republics. By making friends of enemies and demonstrating a commitment to fairness, the two republics - both "reluctant" yet unquestioned super-powers - built empires based on trust. Madden also includes vital lessons from the Roman Republic's 100-year struggle with "terrorism."

Robert Benjamin Lewis (1802 - 1858) was an African American and Native American author, inventor, and entrepreneur. In the ethnological work Light and Truth, Lewis claims that Adam and Eve were people of color, as were the Egyptians and many great figures of the ancient world, including Julius Caesar and Plato. Denouncing notions of white superiority, he asserts that all humans have a common origin, and pointed to a shared cultural history between Africans and Native Americans.

This book will take you on a journey through the past, discovering the secrets of the Maya that have been lost to time. Explore the culture and traditions that have shaped the history of the Maya.

Durante muchos años, los aztecas han capturado nuestra imaginación. Las historias de los invasores europeos originales combinadas con ruinas y leyendas únicas e impresionantes que hablan de palacios de oro crean una imagen de la sociedad azteca definida por la grandeza, la riqueza y el esplendor. Pero, ¿quiénes eran exactamente los aztecas? ¿De dónde vienen? ¿Cómo ascendieron para controlar una extensión tan amplia de tierra? Y si fueron tan poderosos, ¿cómo era posible que cayeran del poder y la dominación solo tres años después del primer contacto con los españoles?

Travel back to a thousand years before the Aztecs, when volcanos obliterated cities, impelling the survivors to find a place of safety. These survivors built the largest city in the Americas and one of the world’s top seven megacities. They erected the highest pyramid in Mexico and apartment compounds for 125,000 people. Teotihuacan stood out as Mesoamerica’s leading metropolis from the third to sixth century CE. Its multi-ethnic population developed coast-to-coast trade, extending south to Central America.

Over twenty-five years ago, David Stuart began writing award-winning newspaper articles on regional archaeology that appealed to general readers. These columns shared interesting, and usually little-known, facts and stories about the ancient people and places of the Southwest. Stuart's unusual perspective focuses on both the past and the present.

Venerado por muchas culturas, el «Señor del espejo humeante», uno de los dioses principales del gran Imperio azteca, es también una de las deidades mesoamericanas más interesantes, y a la vez difíciles de entender. Conductor de los destinos del mundo, dador y despojador, patrón de reyes y de esclavos, sembrador de discordias y revelador de pecados, señor de la noche y la oscuridad, primer sol de la creación.

Worshipped by many cultures, one of the main deities of the great Aztec Empire, the “Lord of the Smoking Mirror,” is also one of the most interesting and elusive Mesoamerican deities.

Die Kultur der Zapoteken lebte und blühte und weckte das Interesse der spanischen Konquistadoren. Als eine der größten mesoamerikanischen Zivilisationen jener Zeit trugen sie dazu bei die Welt, die die Konquistadoren bei ihrer Ankunft vorfanden, zu formen und zu gestalten. In Größe und Komplexität ihrer Gesellschaft nahmen sie es mit ihren Nachbarn, den Maya, auf. Sie waren Erneuerer und Intellektuelle, die eine Gesellschaft schufen, die den Königreichen und Sozialstrukturen der Maya sehr ähnlich war.

The Ancient Maya creates a portrait of life in the ancient Mayan civilization. Describes the history, language, social classes, customs, culture, religion, and warfare of the ancient civilization of the Mayas.

Throughout history, warfare has played an important role in the development of many cultures around the world, and Mesoamerica is no exception. As J.M. Francis and T.M. Leonard noted, “The history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica was one of violence, though no more so than that of any other region of the ancient world. It was a universe of shifting alliances and mutual antagonisms, in which increasingly strong political entities forged themselves and then broke apart". In fact, warfare played an essential role in the formation of Mesoamerica as a cultural area.

Hay muchos misterios que rodean a los incas. ¿Dónde se originaron? ¿Cómo llegaron a reinar sobre un imperio tan vasto que incluía montañas, selvas tropicales y zonas costeras? ¿Cuáles fueron los logros más destacados de sus grandes reyes? ¿Cómo eran sus templos y monumentos, especialmente la ciudad capital, Cuzco, y su impresionante asentamiento en la cima de la montaña, el Machu Picchu, en lo que hoy es Perú?

The Inca empire was vast and massive. Yet, still so few people know much about it, aside from what they've heard from vague rumors. But did you know the Inca people showed various similarities to those who came from the Middle East? Did you know that they mummified their dead and built pyramids? Infamous among the historical stories from the Spanish invaders are the evidence of human sacrifice and their polytheistic views on nature and life.

From the moment Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés first found and confronted them, the Aztecs have fascinated the world, and they continue to hold a unique place both culturally and in pop culture. Nearly 500 years after the Spanish conquered their mighty empire, the Aztecs are often remembered today for their major capital, Tenochtitlan, as well as being fierce conquerors of the Valley of Mexico who often engaged in human sacrifice rituals.

From the fantastic exploits of the Hero Twins to the stories of how the world came to be to folktales about people, animals, and supernatural beings, Maya myth presents us with a fascinating variety of characters, plots, and imagery. All of these tales, whether from an ancient or more modern source, reveal the great richness and beauty of Maya literature. Enjoy this captivating collection of Maya myths.

Wussten Sie, dass die Azteken jedes Jahr 500 bis 700 Menschen opferten, um die Götter zufrieden zu stellen? Seit vielen Jahren regen die Azteken unsere Vorstellungskraft an. Geschichten der ersten europäischen Eroberer über einzigartige, Ehrfurcht gebietende Ruinen und Legenden von Palästen aus Gold erschaffen ein Bild der aztekischen Gesellschaft, das aus Erhabenheit, Reichtum und Pracht besteht. Aber wer genau waren die Azteken? Wo kamen sie her? Wie gelang es ihnen, ein Gebiet von solchen Ausmaßen zu beherrschen?

Many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century, like the Greeks and the Romans, but of all the world's civilizations, none have intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people. At the heart of the fascination is Chichén Itzá, the most visited Mayan site, but Chichén Itzá's prominence lasted for less than 200 years and was eventually succeeded by Mayapán.

This audiobook explores the glories and misfortunes of the Maya civilization and provides a deeper look at their pre-Columbian battling dynasties and their highly structured approach to religion, science, and society.

Ancient Night is a twist on two Nahuatl traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth before humans came, and who stole fire from the gods to create the sun.