Rethinking the Aztec Economy (Amerind Studies in Archaeology)

Synopsis

With Its Rich Archaeological And Historical Record, The Aztec Empire Provides An Intriguing Opportunity To Understand The Dynamics And Structure Of Early States And Empires. Rethinking The Aztec Economy Brings Together Leading Scholars From Multiple Disciplines To Thoroughly Synthesize And Examine The Nature Of Goods And Their Movements Across Rural And Urban Landscapes In Mesoamerica. In So Doing, They Provide A New Way Of Understanding Society And Economy In The Aztec Empire. The Volume Is Divided Into Three Parts. Part 1 Synthesizes Our Current Understanding Of The Aztec Economy And Singles Out The Topics Of Urbanism And Provincial Merchant Activity For More Detailed Analysis. Part 2 Brings New Data And A New Conceptual Approach That Applies Insights From Behavioral Economics, To Nahua And Aztec Rituals And Social Objects. Contributors Also Discuss How High-value Luxury Goods, Such As Feather Art, Provide Insights About Both Economic And Sacred Concepts Of Value In Aztec Society. Part 3 Re-examines The Economy At The Aztec Periphery. The Volume Concludes With A Synthesis On The Scale, Integration, And Nature Of Change In The Aztec Imperial Economy. Rethinking The Aztec Economy Illustrates How Superficially Different Kinds Of Social Contexts Were In Fact Integrated Into A Single Society Through The Processes Of A Single Economy. Using The World Of Goods As A Crucial Entry Point, This Volume Advances Scholarly Understanding Of Life In The Aztec World.-- Introduction. Aztec Economy And Empire Through The Lens Of Objects / Frances F. Berdan, Kenneth G. Hirth, Deborah L. Nichols, And Michael E. Smith -- Part I. The Economy And Commerce. Farm To Market In The Aztec Imperial Economy / Deborah L. Nichols ; Cities In The Aztec Empire : Commerce, Imperialism, And Urbanization / Michael E. Smith ; The Sixteenth-century Merchant Community Of Santa María Acxotla, Puebla / Kenneth G. Hirth, Sarah Imfeld, And Colin Hirth -- Part Ii. The Economics Of Ritual And Social Objects. The Behavioral Economics Of Contemporary Nahua Religion And Ritual / Alan R. Sandstrom And Pamela Effrein Sandstrom ; The Economics Of Mexica Religious Performance / Frances F. Berdan ; Precious Feathers And Fancy Fifteenth-century Feathered Shields / Laura Filloy Nadal And María Olvida Moreno Guzmán ; Conflicting Economic And Sacred Values In Aztec Society / Emily Umberger -- Part Iii. Economy At The Aztec Periphery. Cacao And Commerce In Late Postclassic Xoconochco / Janine Gasco ; Aztec Imperialism And Gulf Ceramic Emulation : Comparison With Teotihuacan / Barbara L. Stark ; Wrapping Up Objects, Economy, And Empire : Scale, Integration, And Change / Kenneth G. Hirth, Michael E. Smith, Frances F. Berdan, And Deborah L. Nichols. Edited By Deborah L. Nichols, Frances F. Berdan, And Michael E. Smith. [t]he Session The Aztecs And Their World: Interdisciplinary Contributions Of Frances Berdan [held] At The [april 15-19] 2015 Annual Meeting Of The Saa [chairs: Michael Smith And Deborah Nichols]. This Was The Logistical Origin Of The Present Book.--page 13. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.