Description
General History of the Things of New Spain I
Book Summary
This monumental work, the result of the labor of the Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún between 1540 and 1590, constitutes one of the most complete and reliable sources on Aztec civilization before the Spanish conquest. This first volume brings together books 1 through 6 of the original treatise, offering a deep dive into the worldview, religious beliefs, divinatory practices, sacred rhetoric, and astronomical knowledge of the Nahua peoples. The reader will find a pioneering ethnographic record, compiled from direct interviews with indigenous informants in Tlatelolco, Texcoco, and Tenochtitlan, which allows for an understanding of the internal logic of a fascinating culture from its own perspective.
What is it about?
The General History of the Things of New Spain is the result of an ambitious documentation project. Sahagún, applying an ethnographic methodology ahead of his time, collected testimonies in the Nahuatl language to preserve the knowledge of indigenous wise men. This first volume covers the first six books of the original treatise, where the following are explored:
- Religious beliefs and the pantheon of Aztec gods.
- Sacred calendars and systems of divination.
- Prayers, hymns, and rhetorical forms of traditional speeches.
- Knowledge concerning the sun, the moon, and the stars.
- Social customs and standards of behavior.
The reference manuscript is the Florentine Codex, preserved in the Laurentian Library of Florence, a copy of originals that were lost, possibly destroyed by the Spanish authorities. This edition, edited by Juan Carlos Temprano, presents the text in modern Spanish, facilitating access to this documentary treasure.
Main Topics
- Cosmogony and religion of ancient Mexico.
- Ethnography and methodology of cultural observation in the 16th century.
- Nahuatl language, rhetoric, and pre-Hispanic literature.
- Mesoamerican astronomy and calendars.
- Social and political history of the Aztecs before the conquest.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students and researchers of history, anthropology, ethnohistory, and Mesoamerican studies. It will also be of great interest to readers passionate about pre-Columbian civilizations, the history of Mexico, and those seeking primary sources to understand the cultural richness of the Nahua world from a rigorous and documented perspective.
What this book offers
- Direct access to one of the most important ethnographic sources on Aztec culture, created with first-hand testimonies.
- Deep understanding of the worldview, religion, and social practices of the Nahuas before European contact.
- A pioneering vision of alterity, as it was the first systematic attempt to understand a foreign mentality from its own logic.
- A historical document of incalculable value for contextualizing the encounter between two worlds and its consequences.
Technical Specifications
- Author: de Sahagún, Bernardino
- Publisher: Linkgua Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: CLASSIC TEXTS
- Collection: PLATERO
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: January 2021
- Number of pages: 530
- Weight: 931 g
Editorial Review
This paperback edition of the General History of the Things of New Spain is an exceptional opportunity for any interested reader to access a pinnacle work of universal historiography. The work of Sahagún, recognized as a milestone in modern anthropology, is presented here in a clear and accessible way. It is, without a doubt, an essential acquisition for those who wish to know in depth the cultural roots of Mexico and appreciate the effort to document a civilization through the eyes of the other.