Religion and Empire: The Dynamics of Aztec and Inca Expansionism / Edition 1

by Geoffrey W. Conrad, Arthur A. Demarest

Overview

Religion and Empire is an innovative and provocative study of the two largest states of the Precolumbian Americas, the Aztec and Inca Empires. By examining the causes of the formation and expansion of these two empires, the authors identify similar patterns and processes underlying their rise and decline. They demonstrate that in both examples among the critical elements in the transition from marginal people to imperial power to disintegrating society were changes in traditional religion, including the elaboration of Aztec human sacrifice and Inca worship of the corpses of their kings. The authors show that the complex interaction between such ideological shifts and political and economic factors generated the spectacular historical trajectories of these Pre-Colombian empires.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521318969
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/31/1984
Series:	New Studies in Archaeology
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.02(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

List of illustrations; 1. Introduction; 2. The Aztec imperial expansion; 3. The Inca imperial expansion; 4. Precolumbian imperialism: theories and evidence; 5. Ideology and cultural evolution; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'… compulsive reading, innovative and provoking.' New Scientist

From the Publisher