In this new, revised edition of Jeremy Sabloff's study, he looks at some of the richest cultures of the early historic world - Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec. Professor Sabloff describes everyday life during the heyday of Mexico's greatest cities in a series of vignettes; through the eyes of astronomers and ballplayers, merchants and priests, we see the temples, palaces and tombs of a civilization obsessed with ritual and death. Who built these cities and how do we know? Sabloff seeks to explain why archaeologists believe in the indigenous origins of the Mexican civilization. This updated edition includes archaeological research on the ancient cities of Mexico; incorporates breakthroughs in the decipherment of the Maya script; and draws on readings of Aztec ethno-historical sources. Throughout, the author reveals the ideas and techniques revolutionizing archaeological fieldwork and aims to show how the evidence is being used to reconstruct a fuller picture of life in these ancient cities.