Mesoamerica's Classic heritage from Teotihuacan to the Aztecs.

Mesoamerica's Classic heritage from Teotihuacan to the Aztecs. DAVID David, in the BibleDavid,d. c.970 B.C., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 B.C.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Saul, who had been deemed a failure. CARRASCO, LINDSAY JONES & SCOTT SESSIONS (ed.).Mesoamerica's Classic heritage from Teotihuacan to the Aztecs.xix+559 pages, 208 figures, 10 tables. 2000. Niwot (CO): UniversityPress of Colorado The University Press of Colorado is a nonprofit publisher supported partly by Adams State College, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Mesa State College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, the University of Colorado, the University of Northern Colorado, and Western ; 0-87081-512-1 hardback $49.95. Classic heritage is a bold and compelling assertion of theprinciple, which Dr CARRASCO and some others have been working on foryears, that Teotihuacan should be associated with the mythic Toltecs.There were always those for whom simple identification with Tula(Hidalgo Hidalgo, state, MexicoHidalgo(ēthäl`gō), state (1990 pop. 1,888,366), 8,058 sq mi (20,870 sq km), central Mexico. Pachuca de Soto is the capital. ) was inadequate. The high powered roster of archaeologists andcultural historians contributing to the new book goes most of the way,at last, to showing how and why the mythic Toltecs must be distinguishedfrom the later historic Toltecs who created but one version ofMesoamerica's key civic idiom. The first article is a good, long summary by LOPEZ & LOPEZ --brilliant historian father & brilliant archaeologist son -- of theiressay on Zuyua. It is an absolutely excellent way to start the book (anda great service to anglophones who do not read Spanish). In the contextof CARRASCO et al., however, it begs a question as to how, in Michoacan,the Zuyua principle had applied before the late period. There followseven papers on aspects of the archaeology and art history of CentralMexico, and eight on the symbolism, including two on connections withthe Maya during the Classic period (but tip-toeing around the problemsof interpreting Chichen Itza Chi��ch��n It��z��?An ancient Mayan city of central Yucat��n in Mexico. It was founded c. a.d.514 and abandoned in 1194. There are extensive well-preserved ruins on the site. ). This book is also a great mark ofAnglo-Latin cooperation (cf. POLITIS & ALBERTI, above). SMITH & MASSON is a special boon for teachers & students,the first reader on Mesoamerican archaeology for years and certainly thebest. It presents 23 fine articles, both older and recent, assembledfrom a very broad range of sources, by US and Canadian archaeologists(and one Mexican), on social organization, economic organization,political organization, and religion and ideology. Great!