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Fifth Sun cover art

Fifth Sun

By: Camilla Townsend
Narrated by: Christina Delaine
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Summary

In November 1519, Hernando Cortes walked along a causeway leading to the capital of the Aztec kingdom and came face to face with Moctezuma. That story - and the story of what happened afterwards - has been told many times, but always following the narrative offered by the Spaniards. 

After all, we have been taught, it was the Europeans who held the pens. But the Native Americans were intrigued by the Roman alphabet and, unbeknownst to the newcomers, they used it to write detailed histories in their own language of Nahuatl. Until recently, these sources remained obscure, only partially translated, and rarely consulted by scholars.

For the first time, in Fifth Sun, the history of the Aztecs is offered in all its complexity based solely on the texts written by the indigenous people themselves. Camilla Townsend presents an accessible and humanized depiction of these native Mexicans, rather than seeing them as the exotic, bloody figures of European stereotypes. 

The conquest, in this work, is neither an apocalyptic moment, nor an origin story launching Mexicans into existence. The Mexica people had a history of their own long before the Europeans arrived and did not simply capitulate to Spanish culture and colonization. Instead, they realigned their political allegiances, accommodated new obligations, adopted new technologies, and endured.

©2019 Oxford University Press (P)2020 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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The Cathedral Speaks

1. Aztec Human Sacrifice is a lie created by the Spanish
2. If Human Sacrifice did exist is was limited and rare
3. If Human Sacrifice wasn’t rare it was solemn ritual received in awed silence
4. If Human Sacrifice was frequent it was justified and the victims deserved it
5. If Human Sacrifice was a huge raucous festival involving thousands it was a response to the Spanish

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A noble effort

Good overview. Great cast of characters. Glad I listened. Would’ve liked a bit more drama at the fall of Tenochtitlan.

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Awesome work brining to life a truly alien culture

As the title suggests an awesome work, bring to life a truly alien culture to modern eyes.

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Very disappointing

I had high hopes for this, since I've read many books about Post-Colombian history but not so much on Pre-Columbian. Unfortunately, we are offered a banal trudge through the time. The narrator only serves to extend the pain with a badly pronounced and inane rendering of the book.

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Fresh new angle.

A very interesting look into their world. The conquest is neither the start, nor the end.

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