Uses the discovery of the temple in Mexico City, what was the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, to introduce the story of the Spanish conquest of Moctezuma and his empire in the sixteenth century.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7?Using the discovery of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan under the streets of Mexico City in 1978 as a starting point, Tanaka introduces readers to the world of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish invasion. From this beginning, the readable text follows the fate of this capital city and its inhabitants until its fall and destruction in 1521?the death knell of an empire. Lavishly illustrated with full-color photos, period artwork, and dramatic full-page paintings, the book is handsome and eye-catching. It includes fictional dialogue and suppositions regarding emotional states, but purists may be comforted by the vetting of Professor Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, both a descendant of an Aztec ruler and the archaeologist in charge of the initial excavation of the Great Temple. Another comforting note indicates that, "The text...is largely based on Aztec accounts...." Sadly, there is no index (or table of contents) to simplify swift information retrieval. Still, this is a colorful, lively addition. Teamed with other works such as Sally Schofer Mathews's eloquent The Sad Night (Clarion, 1994) and Philip Steele's quasi-tabloid The Aztec News (Candlewick, 1997), it may bring a long-ago world into sharp present-day focus.?Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Empathy for the Aztecs,
This review is from: I Was There: Lost Temple of the Aztecs (I Was There Books) (Hardcover)
Tanaka attempts to portray Cortez's invasion of Mexico from the persective of the Aztecs. Illustrations are vivid and there is lots of information and food for discussion in these pages. Minor discrepancies exist, but overall an excellent book to help balance the Western view of history.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love the illustrations,
By Torrance Bookmarks (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: I Was There: Lost Temple of the Aztecs (I Was There Books) (Hardcover)
I'm an adult, but I found this book very helpful in the study about the Aztecs. The illustrations really help to bring the period to life. It covers some mature topics though, like human sacrifice that I hope won't disturb kids reading this book. A great overview about the conquest of Mexico.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decent History of the Fall of the Aztecs,
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This review is from: I Was There : Lost Temple of the Aztecs: What It Was Like When the Spaniards Invaded Mexico (Paperback)
If you ever wanted to know what happened when the Aztecs were invaded by Cortez's band of thugs - uhm, I mean "explorers," then Shelley Tanaka's book is the one to read. This book is designed for older children and teens and gives a fascinating overview of the Aztecs, how their leader Moctezuma was so easily fooled by the offers of goodwill by Cortez, and how Cortez and his men slaughtered the city of Tenochtitlan and eventually built upon it another colony in the Spanish conquest.The illustrations by Greg Ruhl are very well maintained, drawn realistically and do not have a cartoon look - nearly photographic! I also enjoyed the flavor of the book. The blood sacrifices that occured at the time were not watered down - we get to see where the hearts were thrown! And new photos of the archeologic digs in Mexico City were also fascinating and interesting. This book is part of the "I Was There" series, five titles illustrated by Greg Rhul. - The Buried City of Pompeii - In The Time of Knights - Lost Temple of the Aztecs - Secrets of the Mummies - First on the Moon
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