Fifth Sun Audiobook By Camilla Townsend cover art

Fifth Sun

A New History of the Aztecs

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Fifth Sun

By: Camilla Townsend
Narrated by: Christina Delaine
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About this listen

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
Indigenous Peoples Indigenous Studies Mexico United States World Ancient History Emotionally Gripping Royalty King
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What listeners say about Fifth Sun

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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.

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Solid Rewrite of Aztec and Mexican history

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

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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.

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3 people found this helpful

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Great Book

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

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Refreshing

For centuries, scholars have relied on European accounts of the encounter of two worlds that occurred when Indigenous nations allied themselves with Spanish invaders to topple the so-called Triple Alliance of Mexico-Tenochtitlán, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. Camilla Townsend revisits this story, and widens its scope, to tell it through Indigenous eyes. By relying on Indigenous language sources, she adds to the ongoing work of questioning existing narratives that are driven by Eurocentric perspectives. An additional bonus for this audiobook is the thorough and incredibly helpful bibliography. Independent scholars will find this particularly useful, as sources can be hard to find and difficult to navigate. Lastly, the narrator has obviously taken the time and made a valiant effort when it comes to Náhuatl pronunciation. It is incredibly refreshing to see this degree of diligence and respect paid to the Náhuatl language, it is not unnoticed and very much appreciated. Wonderful book!

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A Riveting book

An interesting survey level history of the Aztec Empire from creation to the downfall of the Mexica Empire to the Spanish. And ending with the grandchildren, as colonization began to take a more imperial turn.

Overall, an easy read, and full of great information. Highly Recommended. Narration includes spellings of Mexica/Nahuatl Names, which is a great bonus.

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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.

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Amazing book

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

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After the fact

A great review of the known stories and how they connected to the ultimate dismantling of an ancient civilization over about 100-150 years after Cortez met Montezuma.

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It all makes sense now!

Hearing how the Spanish conquest happened from the Aztec point of view makes it all make sense finally. So much different than what they taught in school. Such a well-told history as well. It wasn't a boring textbook It was a fascinating "page turner" I looked forward to listening to each time I drove.

I sent the paperback to a young friend of Aztec descent. I hope this increases the pride he has in his people and their complicated, interesting, and quite advanced for the time history. The Spanish weren't able to conquer them because they were somehow lesser, but in fact because they were advanced, much like Rome had been centuries earlier.

I highly recommend to anyone whether or not they have a particular interest in Aztec history.

The book was also very well read, seamlessly switching between Spanish and English and Nauhtl. It was fun hearing my friend pronounce some of the words that I cannot manage.

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