An evocative survey of the art and architecture of ancient Mesoamerica, this book investigates the artistic achievements of the high Precolumbian civilizations--Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Aztec--as well as their less known contemporaries. Professor Miller takes us from the brightly colored paintings that dazzled Cortez and his men in 1519, to the mercurial rites of kingship that included warfare and blood sacrifice. A comprehensive guide to the history of the region, drawn on the research of explorers and archaeologists alike, the book is a perfect introduction for the student or traveler. 190 illus., 20 in color.