Pre-Columbian art - Esther Pasztory

When the Spanish conquered Mexico and Peru in the Sixteenth century, not only did they find the treasures of the new world, but they also discovered in the Aztecs and the Incas the latest in a long line of highly civilised peoples to have inhabited Mesoamerica and the Andes. In this engaging book, Esther Pasztory describes the very different cultural traditions of these 2 groups, placing them in their historical and social contexts. Drawing on a vast range of material finds, from monumental architecture, stone carving and sculpture to woven textiles, illustrated codices and gold masks, Pasztory is able to unlock some of the elaborate myths and beleif systems that form part of the fascinating background of the Pre-Columbian art.