Brutality and Benevolence: Human Ethology, Culture, and the Birth of Mexico Contributor(s): Alves, Abel A. (Author) |
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ISBN: 031329982X ISBN-13: 9780313299827 Publisher: Praeger OUR PRICE: $94.05 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: October 1996 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - History | Latin America - Mexico - Social Science | Anthropology - Cultural & Social - Social Science | Ethnic Studies - General |
Dewey: 972.01 |
LCCN: 95051382 |
Lexile Measure: 1640 |
Series: Contributions in Latin American Studies |
Physical Information: 0.75" H x 6" W x 9" (1.22 lbs) 264 pages |
Themes: - Cultural Region - Latin America - Cultural Region - Mexican |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: The 16th-century conquest of Mexico and its effects are best understood as cultural manifestations of animal behavior patterns which humans share with other primates. While Nahuas and Spaniards can be distinguished on the basis of learned cultural differences, such differences only exaggerated particular expressions of the universal behavioral patterns they shared. Brutality and benevolence were used in the same way by both to establish hierarchy and cultural bonding. After the conquest, a new Mexican synthesis could be constructed because of these commonalities. Alves explores the formation of that synthesis by examining such aspects of material culture as food, clothing, and shelter--especially as they manifest such universal primate tendencies as hierarchy, reciprocity, benevolence, brutality, xenophobia, curiosity, and territoriality. Alves proposes that humans are historically best understood by using current advances in the fields of primatology and ethology. This groundbreaking book will be of great interest to Latin Americanists, historians, and anthropologists. |