A Rain of Darts

This book offers an in-depth history of the Mexica, detailing their rise and fall, and provides a unique perspective on the Aztec Empire.

In A Rain of Darts, Burr Cartwright Brundage presents a comprehensive history of the Mexica, the most significant group within the Aztec civilization. This work marks the first serious scholarly attempt in nearly a century to narrate the story of the Mexican Indians who founded Tenochtitlan and established what became the Aztec Empire. Brundage skillfully utilizes a variety of native sources, often previously uncoordinated, to weave a coherent narrative that highlights the direction and purpose behind the evolution of the Aztec Empire.

The narrative begins with the Mexica's emergence from the arid northern regions, detailing their initial wanderings and the eventual founding of Mexico City on the shores of Lake Tezcoco. It explores their tumultuous journey towards independence, achieved in 1428, and the subsequent flourishing of their unique state and empire. The book delves into the eleven reigns of the Mexica before the Spanish Conquest, examining their victories, failures, and the lives of their influential leaders, as much as the available sources allow.

Brundage also analyzes the character of Moteuczoma II and the factors contributing to the decline of the Mexica state. The narrative reframes the arrival of Cortez and his forces, offering insights into the perspectives of the conquered. Ultimately, A Rain of Darts emphasizes the complexities of the Mexica's warrior culture and its implications for the empire's fate, revealing the intricate relationship between their beliefs in warfare and the tragic end of their civilization in 1521.