The Legacy of Mesoamerica: History and Culture of a Native American Civilization summarizes and integrates information on the origins, historical development, and current situations of the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. It describes their contributions from the development of Mesoamerican Civilization through 20th century and their influence in the world community. For courses on Mesoamerica (Middle America) taught in departments of anthropology, history, and Latin American Studies.

IntroductionChapter 1: Origins and Development of Mesoamerican Civilization (Janine Gasco, Marilyn A. Masson, Robert M. Rosenswig, Michael E. Smith)Chapter 2: Profiles of Late Postclassic Mesoamerican Peoples (Robert M. Carmack, Janine Gasco, Marilyn A Masson, Michael E. Smith)Chapter 3: The Mesoamerican World at Spanish Contact (Robert M. Carmack)Chapter 4: Mesoamerica and Spain: the Conquest (Louise M. Burkhart and Janine Gasco)Chapter 5: The Colonial Period in Mesoamerica (Louise M. Burkhart and Janine Gasco)Chapter 6: Indigenous Literature from Colonial Mesoamerica (Louise M. Burkhart)Chapter 7: Mesoamericans in the Neo-Colonial Era (Robert M. Carmack and Gary H. Gossen)Chapter 8: Native Mesoamericans in the Modern Era (Robert M. Carmack)Chapter 9: Transnationalism and the Political Economy of Mesoamerica (Liliana R. Goldin and Walter E. Little)Chapter 10: The Mayan Zapatista Movement (Gary H. Gossen)Chapter 11: Language and Languages in Mesoamerica (John S. Justeson and George A. Broadwell)Chapter 12: Women and Gender in Mesoamerica (Brenda Rosenbaum and Christine Eber)Chapter 13: The Indian Voice in Twentieth Century Mesoamerican Literature (Gary H. Gossen)Chapter 14: The Religious Traditions of Mesoamerica (Gary H. Gossen)EpilogueGlossaryBibliographyIndex