From the back cover: \"The Americas in the time before Columbus\'s voyage were not the isolated regions of barbarism some had imagined. The ancient civilizations of the Aztec, Toltec, Maya and Inca were developed to such a degree that in several respects - such as mathematics, predictive astronomy and irrigation - they surpassed the Europeans who conquered them. This fascinating book concentrates on the highly developed societies of Meso-America, the areas we now call Mexico and Central America, placing their remarkable accomplishments in the rich context of their culture.... Donald A. Mackenzie explores the crucial mythologies and makes the bold assertion that their customs had not developed in isolation.\"