A vivid introduction to the native religions of Mexico and Central America from one of the leading scholars in the field. In this first introductory text to cover thoroughly the Mesoamerican religious traditions, David Carrasco provides an overview of the history of Mesoamerican cultures and describes their religious forms, structures, myths, and prevailing "cosmovision"--the Mesoamerican view of time and space and its ritualized representation and enactment. Carrassco details the dynamic of two important, representative cultures--the Aztec and the Maya--and discusses the impact of the Spanish conquest and the continuity of native traditions into the post-Columbian and contemporary eras. Integrating recent archaeological discoveries in Mexico City, he brings about a comprehensive understanding of ritual human sacrifice, a subject often ignored in religious studies.