Fifth Sun

A New History of the Aztecs

By: Camilla Townsend

Narrated by: Christina Delaine

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's 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

Fantastic, but too short!

A really excellent, interesting and unique history and an amazing story. Narration is impressive with lots of difficult Nahuatl names and phrases.

Great Book

Well written, enjoyable! Narration can get annoying - woman tries to impersonate male voice.

A New Perspective of the Aztecs

A wonderfully told history of the pre-Conquest peoples of Mexico that helps them come alive, at least for someone like me with minimal knowledge of these cultures. Thoroughly researched, told in a lively and interesting style, and narrated by someone with excellent pronunciation of the various words in the ancient language as well as Spanish. Highly recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in history and human, particularly indigenous, cultures.

Solid Rewrite of Aztec and Mexican history

from 100 years prior to Cortez thru the documentation of the history. apparently I need more words

Game of thrones for the Americas

This is a stunning story of the evolution of what we now know as the Aztecs. Long before and after Cortez appeared in Mexico, the rich traditions and complex politics, culture and history of the natives is carried on through a series of individuals devoted to the transmission of history. While there is much focus on the obvious carnage brought by the Europeans; concurrently, a detailed story of how the Spanish and indians became intertwined in a way that reveal the complex roots of today's society. This book brings together the stories of a huge swath of history yet maintains an admirable richness by recounting individual stories as might be told between generations.

Amazing book

Really enjoyed this book ...lots of cool information.. would definitely recommed this book to anyone who enjoys history

Fascinating tales and presentation

This is a very rich and detailed history of the period. It starts a bit slow but with each new account a much more vivid picture of the age is revealed. This book covers so much that I had not learned before. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Really good

Really good history, research, and writing. This book was a great introduction to Aztec history.

Sun Soaked & Incredibly Rich History

Truly a wonderful delving into an indigenous history that was either washed over or bulldozed with pathetic lies.

This is merely a jumping off point or anchor for myself, but for anyone looking for a touch point into rectifying the white washed history they learned as children and young adults… this is a great book to start with.

And it’s a wonderfully rich history, sun and blood soaked.

I learn in this book more than my education in Mex

The voice of the reader eloquently and the pronunciation of the Nahuatl names 99%, almost she can feel the pain of the natives