
audiobook
by F.A.S. M.A. Robert E. (Robert Edward) Anderson
THE STORY OF EXTINCT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE WEST - BY - ROBERT E. ANDERSON, M.A., F.A.S. - AUTHOR OF EXTINCT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE EAST
MAPS, ETC.
EXTINCT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE WEST - INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I - PRE-COLUMBIAN DISCOVERIES OF AMERICA
CHAPTER II - "DISCOVERY OF THE WORLD AND OF MAN"
CHAPTER III - THE EXTINCT CIVILIZATION OF THE AZTECS
CHAPTER IV - AMERICAN ARCHEOLOGY
CHAPTER V - MEXICO BEFORE THE SPANISH INVASION
CHAPTER VI - ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS
CHAPTER VII - CORTÉS AND MONTEZUMA
This work opens with a look at how the old belief in a flat earth kept Europe from seeing lands that already teemed with sophisticated societies. The author guides listeners through an intellectual shift of the fifteenth century, when new learning began to challenge ancient myths and reveal the globe's curvature. By blending scientific explanation with historical anecdotes, introduction sets the stage for a journey into forgotten worlds.
Soon the narrative turns to the peoples who had built thriving cities in the Americas. Descriptions of Aztec temples, Incan stone bridges, and the mysterious quipu bring architecture alive, while maps and artifact illustrations help picture a continent rich with culture before European arrival. The author balances archaeological facts with the excitement of explorers who first glimpsed these societies.
Listeners will hear about the clash of worlds as Spaniards arrive, capturing the drama of first contacts without revealing outcomes. The early chapters weave myth, travel, and scholarly insight, offering a portrait of civilizations that flourished and then vanished. It's a glimpse into a past that reshapes our view of the western hemisphere.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (277K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2010-02-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A brisk, early-20th-century guide to vanished societies, this historian wrote popular books that introduced readers to the ancient world in clear, accessible language. His work ranges from the civilizations of the East and West to broader studies of English history.
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