He was sent from Spain on a religious crusade to Mexico to detect the sickness of idolatry, but Bernardino de Sahagun (c. 1499-1590) instead became the first anthropologist of the New World. The Franciscan monk developed a deep appreciation for Aztec culture and the Nahuatl language. In this biography, Miguel Leon-Portilla presents the life story of a fascinating man who came to Mexico intent on changing the traditions and cultures he encountered but instead ended up working to preserve them, even at the cost of persecution.
Sahagun was responsible for documenting numerous ancient...
He was sent from Spain on a religious crusade to Mexico to detect the sickness of idolatry, but Bernardino de Sahagun (c. 1499-1590) instead became...
