Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. The Art of Science: Alexander von Humboldt’s Views of the Cultures of the World xv
4. Note on the Text xxxvii
5. Dedication page from the first French edition, Paris, 1810–1813 xl
6. Introduction 1
7. Picturesque Views of the Cordilleras and Monuments of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas 13
8. Plates I and II: Bust of an Aztec Priestess 17
9. Plate III. View of the Main Square of Mexico City 22
10. Plate IV. Natural Bridges of Icononzo 25
11. Plate V. Quindiu Pass in the Cordillera of the Andes 30
12. Plate VI. Tequendama Falls 36
13. Plate VII. Pyramid of Cholula 42
14. Plate VIII. Detached Section from the Cholula Pyramid 54
15. Plate IX. Xochicalco Monument 57
16. Plate X. Cotopaxi Volcano 61
17. Plate XI. Mexica Relief Found in Oaxaca 67
18. Plate XII. Genealogy of the Princes of Azcapotzalco 72
19. Plate XIII. Aztec Hieroglyphic Manuscript Preserved in the Vatican Library 78
20. Plate XIV. Costumes Drawn by Mexica Painters in Montezuma’s Time 106
21. Plate XV. Aztec Hieroglyphs from the Velletri Manuscript 110
22. Plate XVI. View of Chimborazo and Carihuairazo 122
23. Plate XVII. The Peruvian Monument of Cañar 128
24. Plate XVIII. Boulder of Inti-Guaicu 133
25. Plate XIX. Inga-Chungana near Cañar 136
26. Plate XX. Interior of the Inca’s House at Cañar 139
27. Plate XXI. Aztec Bas-Relief Found in the Main Square of Mexico City 143
28. Plate XXII. Basaltic Rocks and the Regla Waterfall 148
29. Plate XXIII. Basalt Relief Showing the Mexica Calendar 152
30. Plate XXIV. The Inca’s House at Callo in the Kingdom of Quito 218
31. Plate XXV. Chimborazo Viewed from the Tapia Plateau 224
32. Plate XXVI. Epochs of Nature According to Aztec Mythology 228
33. Plate XXVII. Hieroglyphic Painting from the Borgia Manuscript of Velletri and Day- Signs from the Mexica Almanac 238
34. Plate XXVIII. Aztec Ax 241
35. Plate XXIX. Aztec Idol Made of Basaltic Porphyry, Found under the Cobblestones of the Main Square of Mexico City 243
36. Plate XXX. Río Vinagre Falls near the Puracé Volcano 250
37. Plate XXXI. Mail Service in the Province of Jaén de Bracamoros 253
38. Plate XXXII. Hieroglyphic History of the Aztecs, from the Great Flood to the Founding of Mexico City 256
39. Plate XXXIII. Rope Bridge near Penipe 264
40. Plate XXXIV. Cofre de Perote 267
41. Plate XXXV. Mount Iliniza 269
42. Plate XXXVI. Fragments of Aztec Hieroglyphic Paintings from the Royal Library of Berlin 271
43. Plate XXXVII. Hieroglyphic Paintings from the Borgia Museum in Velletri 273
44. Plate XXXVIII. Migration of the Aztec Peoples; Hieroglyphic Painting from the Royal Library of Berlin 276
45. Plate XXXIX. Granite Vase Found on the Coast of Honduras 278
46. Plate XL. Aztec Idol in Basalt, Found in the Valley of Mexico 280
47. Plate XLI .Air Volcano of Turbaco 282
48. Plate XLI. Air Volcano of Turbaco 285
49. Plate XLIII. Volcano of Jorullo 287
50. Plate XLIV. Calendar of the Muisca Indians, the Ancient Inhabitants of the Bogotá Plateau 290
51. Plate XLV. Fragment of a Hieroglyphic Manuscript Preserved at the Royal Library of Dresden 311
52. Plates XLVI, XLVII, and XLVIII. Hieroglyphic Paintings from the Mexica Manuscript Preserved in the Imperial Library of Vienna, Numbers 1, 2, and 3 314
53. Plates XLIX and L. Ruins of Miguitlan, or Mitla, in the Province of Oaxaca; Survey and Elevation 320
54. Plate LI. View of Corazón 325
55. Plates LII and LIII. Dress of the Indians of Michoacan 328
56. Plate LIV. View of the Interior of the Crater of the Peak of Tenerife 331
57. Supplement 333
58. Plates LV and LVI. Fragments of Paintings from the Codex Telleriano- Remensis 333
59. Plate LVII. Fragment of a Christian Calendar from the Aztec Manuscripts Preserved in the Royal Library of Berlin 339
60. Plates LVIII and LIX. Hieroglyphic Paintings from the Raccolta di Mendoza 341
61. Plate LX. Fragments of Aztec Paintings from a Manuscript Preserved at the Vatican Library 350
62. Plate LXI. Pichincha Volcano 352
63. Plate LXII. Plan of a Fortified House of the Inca on the Ridge of the Cordillera of Azuay; Ruins of a Part of the Ancient Peruvian City of Chulucanas 358
64. Plate LXIV. Summit of Los Órganos Mountain at Actopan 360
65. Plate LXV. Columnar Porphyry Mountains of El Jacal 362
66. Plate LXVI. Head Engraved in Hard Stone by the Muisca Indians; Obsidian Bracelet 364
67. Plate LXVII. View of Lake Guatavita 366
68. Plate LXVIII. View of the Silla de Caracas 368
69. Plate LXIX. Dragon Tree of La Orotava 370
70. Letter from Mr. Visconti, Member of the Institut de France, to Mr. von Humboldt, on Some Monuments of the American Peoples 372
71. Notes 377
72. Annotations 395
73. List of Plates from the Original Edition 497
74. Humboldt’s Library 501
75. Chronology 549
76. Editorial Note 551
77. Index of Names 559
78. Index of Subjects 581
79. Index of Toponyms 605