The plaza has been a defining feature of Mexican urban architecture and culture for at least 4;000 years. Ancient Mesoamericans conducted most of their communal life in outdoor public spaces; and today the plaza is still the public living room in every Mexican neighborhood; town; and city—the place where friends meet; news is shared; and personal and communal rituals and celebrations happen. The site of a communitys most important architecture—church; government buildings; and marketplace—the plaza is both sacred and secular space and thus the very heart of the community.This extensively illustrated book traces the evolution of the Mexican plaza from Mesoamerican sacred space to modern public gathering place. The authors led teams of volunteers who measured and documented nearly one hundred traditional Mexican town centers. The resulting plans reveal the layers of Mesoamerican and European history that underlie the contemporary plaza. The authors describe how Mesoamericans designed their ceremonial centers as embodiments of creation myths—the plaza as the primordial sea from which the earth emerged. They discuss how Europeans; even though they sought to eradicate native culture; actually preserved it as they overlaid the Mesoamerican sacred plaza with the Renaissance urban concept of an orthogonal grid with a central open space. The authors also show how the plazas historic; architectural; social; and economic qualities can contribute to mainstream urban design and architecture today.
#4453190 in eBooks 2009-08-11 2009-08-11File Name: B00C7C9C6M
Review
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Not just for astronomersBy Horace SmithMany people are aware that science can help crack difficult criminal cases. In this book the reader learns how astronomy can solve historical and literary mysteries. The cases discussed are diverse; ranging from the circumstances surrounding the writing of Frankenstein to the sinking of the Titanic; and not all are of equal historical significance. While each reader will probably find some historical puzzles more interesting than others; each story has an astronomical twist that will intrigue those interested in both astronomy and history. The reader already versed in astronomy will more readily appreciate the critical points of each case; but the astronomy behind each solution is well described and the book is intelligible to the general reader. Color figures are extensively used; and the figures are often essential to understanding the problems and their proposed solutions. The author of the book was often helped in his sleuthing by his students; and I was glad to see that their assistance is well recognized. This is a book that makes one wonder what other historical problems might be solved; or at least clarified; by the application of forensic astronomy. It is a good thing when a book leaves you wanting more.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Astronomy Illuminating LiteratureBy CustomerCelestial Sleuth: Using Astronomy to Solve Mysteries in Art; History; and Literature kept me on the edge of my seat as though reading a riveting mystery. Each adventure carries the reader to an exciting world; yet with a new twist; seeing astronomy in a most fascinating light.6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Very interesting on many levelsBy Mike WVery interesting on several different levels. The authors teams go to great lengths to re create the celestial conditions in the exact sights to prove what effects these conditions had if any on the events. Some time to show exactly where and when these events happened. Well written to appeal to astronomy and nature interest as well as history and also mystery interest. I would highly recommend it.