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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Fifth Sun summary
Camilla Townsend
A New History of the Aztecs
20 mins
Table of Contents
Fifth Sun
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
Introduction
“History is written by the victors.” It’s a saying you’ve probably heard before. And sadly, most of the time, it’s true. Take American history, for example. Kids are still taught in school that, in 1492, Columbus “discovered” America.
But what about the indigenous people who were already there when the Spanish arrived? What about their history? How did they end up in the Americas?
Welcome to the Blink to Camilla Townsend’s Fifth Sun.
Professor Townsend has spent years researching works on Aztec history, history written by the Aztecs themselves. And let’s just say, her research shows the Spanish didn’t get everything right.
So, in these blinks, you’ll discover a revised account of what actually happened when the Spaniards arrived on the beaches of modern-day Mexico.
You’ll learn how the Aztecs went from being a small tribe to founding one of the most impressive civilizations the world had ever seen. And although that civilization was brutalized by European imperialism, you’ll also learn that the Aztecs were never truly defeated. Today, one and a half million people still speak their language, and countless more consider themselves their direct descendants.
But the history of the Aztec people, or the Mexica, as they called themselves, wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of dedicated intellectuals living many centuries ago. As their world crumbled around them, they made sure its history would not be forgotten.
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What is Fifth Sun about?
Fifth Sun (2019) recounts the epic rise and tragic fall of the Aztec Empire. Using powerful, firsthand accounts written by the Aztecs themselves as its source material, this Blink provides a new narrative of the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica. It is the story of a people who resisted colonization and, although defeated militarily, never fully relinquished their indigenous identity.
Who should read Fifth Sun?
- History buffs
- North and South Americans looking to learn about the colonization of their continents
- Anyone looking for an inspiring tale of courageous resistance against brutal oppression
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