The book is an outline of the ancient culture of the peoples of Mesoamerica at the time of the Spanish conquest based on the literary works of Indians and mestizos. The author examines epics, historical chronicles, lyrics and drama, widely uses excerpts from them, and thus the cultural life of the Indians appears in all its diversity. The book also touches on the issue of the clash and interaction of two cultures: one based on mythological and ritual consciousness, the other is European. CONTENTS: Introduction (3). Chapter I. Geography, history and writing (9). Chapter II. Religious representations and fine arts (41).Chapter III. Prose (73).Chapter IV. Epic (107).Chapter V. Drama and Lyrics (139).Conclusion (173).Note (179).