In this rich and surprising book, Frances F. Berdan shines fresh light on the enigmatic, ancient Aztecs, the Nahuatl-speaking people living in the Basin of Mexico from ad 1325 to 1521. She casts her net wide, covering topics as diverse as ethnicity, empire-building, palace life, etiquette, origin myths and human sacrifice. While sometimes described as ‘stone age’, the Aztecs’ achievements were remarkable. They built wondrous city-states such as Tenochtitlan and Texcoco, constructed lofty temples and produced fine arts in precious stones, gold and shimmering feathers. They crafted beautiful poetry and studied the sciences. They had schools and libraries, entrepreneurs and money, and a bewildering array of deities and dramatic ceremonies. Based on the latest research and lavishly illustrated, this book reveals the Aztecs to be a civilization of sophistication and finesse.