Abya Yala: Annotated Bibliography

Compiled by Cayla Cummings

Open Resources

• Aldana, Gerardo. The Apotheosis of Janaab' Pakal: Science, History, and Religion at Classic Maya Palenque. Boulder: University Press of Colorado, 2007.
  • This monograph analyzes the mathematical and astronomical knowledge of the Maya to understand the cosmology of the Maya civilization. [source: ibid., chapters 2 and 3]
• Bohm, V. & Bohm, B. & Klokocnik, Jaroslav & Vondrak, Jan & Kostelecký, J. “Dating of Mayan Calendar Using Long-periodic Astronomical Phenomena in Dresden Codex”. Serbian Astronomical Journal, Vol. 186, 2013. 53-64.
  • This article analyzes the correlation of the relationship between the Christian calendar and the Mayan calendar by examining the dating system found in the Dresden Codex, an ancient Mayan book that contains various historical events astronomical tables. [source: ibid., abstract and pages 54-58]
• Gullberg, SR, Layser, C. “Archaeoastronomy of Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan”. Astronomische Nachrichten (Astronomical Notes), Vol. 342, 2021. 39– 44.
  • Examines the Mexica (Aztec) city planning of Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan that was influenced by the Mexica’s astronomical knowledge. [source: ibid., entire article]
• Guthe, Carl E. A Possible Solution of the Number Series on Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden Codex. Cambridge, Mass.: The Museum. 1921.
  • Carl E. Guthe was an American anthropologist who examines and postulates previously unknown number series found in the Dresden Codex. [source: ibid., entire document]
• Laurencich-Minelli, Laura and G. Magli. “A Calendar Quipu of the Early 17th century and its Relationship with the Inca Astronomy.” History and Philosophy of Physics, Vol. 22, 2008. 112-130.
  • This article analyzes the relationship and importance of a 17th century khipu and the traditional astronomical knowledge of the Inca. [source: ibid., abstract]
• Milbrath, S. “Eclipse Imagery in Mexica Sculpture of Central Mexico”. Vistas in Astronomy, Vol. 39, Issue 4,1995. 479-502.
  • Elsevier has granted the Wolbach Library a license to openly share the full text of this article, which is available via the link above.
  • This article examines and contextualizes the Mexica’s interpretation and incorporation of celestial phenomena such as solar and lunar eclipses into their cultural myths. Note: The astronomy periodical Vistas in Astronomy is now published as New Astronomy Reviews. [source: ibid., entire article]
• Sáez-Rodríguez, Alberto. “Khipu UR19: Inca Measurements of the Moon’s Diameter and its Distance from the Earth.” Revista Latinoamericana de Etnomatemática, Vol. 7, 2017. 96-125.
  • This article examines the concept of measurement in Incan khipus, records in which historical events, censes, astronomical calculations, and calendrical systems were documented. The aforementioned study of the measurement system used in the Inca empire was used to measure the moon’s diameter. [source: ibid., 100-111]
• Šprajc, Ivan. “Problema de Ajustes del Año Calendárico Mesoamericano al Año Trópico”. Anales de Antropología, Vol. 34, 2000. 133-160.
  • This article discusses the discrepancies in the correlation between the Mesoamerican calendrical year found in Mexica and Maya calendrical systems, the tropical year, and the connection to Mesomerican traditional customs. [source: ibid., abstract]

Closed Resources

Please contact us for help accessing the following materials:

• Carrasco, David, Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, and Scott Sessions. Moctezuma's Mexico: Visions of the Aztec World. Niwot, Colo: University Press of Colorado, 1992.
  • This monograph contains numerous images of Aztec artifacts that held significance to their cosmological traditions and mythology. [source: ibid., introduction, table of contents]
• Dearborn, D. S. P. and R. White. “Inca Observatories: Their Relation to the Calendar and Ritual”. In World Archaeoastronomy, edited by A. Aveni. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. 462–469.
  • This articles examines the Inca’s astronomical traditions and construction of cultural astronomy observations at sites such as Machu Picchu. [source: ibid., entire article]
• Henderson, John S. “Calendar Structures for Venus in Mesoamerican Divinatory Books: Common Approaches to Commensuration and Correction.” Journal for the History of Astronomy, Vol. 46, no. 4, 2015. 387–412.
  • Discusses the relationship and reverence for the planet Venus in Mayan cosmology, calendrical systems, and representation in Mayan mythology. [source: ibid., abstract and pages 387-393]
• Ruggles, C. L. N., Gary Urton, and Anthony F. Aveni. Skywatching in the Ancient World: New Perspectives in Cultural Astronomy. Boulder, Colorado: University Press of Colorado, 2007.
  • This collection of articles examines and contextualizes the cultural astronomies of various civilizations. The first eight chapters provide invaluable insight on the cosmology of multiple Mesoamerican cultures such as the Mexica, Maya, Inca, and Olmec. [source: ibid., chapters 1-8]
• Sosa, John R. “Cosmological, Symbolic and Cultural Complexity among the Contemporary Maya of Yucatan.” In World Archaeoastronomy: Selected Papers from the 2nd Oxford International Conference on Archaeoastronomy. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: Cambridge University Press, 1989. 130-142.
  • This portion of John R. Sosa’s dissertation explains the cultural connection that the Maya of Yucatán has with the sun, both culturally and cosmologically. [source: ibid., abstract]

Primary Sources

Although the sources listed below are invaluable assets to the research conducted under EONS, we understand that they were compiled during the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and were historically preserved by individuals who more than likely held bias against the indigenous communities they directly harmed and disenfranchised. Because of this, please review these sources with some skepticism and regard to the cultures who were directly affected by the violence of colonialism. 

Mexica Codex Sources

• The Florentine Codex was compiled by Friar Bernardino de Sahagún beginning in 1545, to examine and study the cultural practices, cosmology, and history of the Aztec (Mexica) people.
• The Codex Cospi contains various images of the Aztec deity Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli as mentioned above. 
• The Codex Borgia is a collection of historical manuscripts by the Aztec that illustrate their calendrical systems and cosmological rituals. 

Maya Codex Sources

• The Codex Dresden is one of the oldest Mayan books that contains cultural history and astronomical tables.