Description
Islands in the Lake provides a detailed examination of Xochimilco’s environmental history during the colonial period in New Spain. Richard M. Conway combines environmental history with ethnohistorical analysis to explore how indigenous communities utilized and transformed their natural landscape.
The study focuses on the famous chinampas, or floating gardens, and the broader ecological systems that sustained Xochimilco’s population. Conway demonstrates how indigenous knowledge and practices shaped land use patterns and water management strategies that proved remarkably sustainable for centuries.
Through careful analysis of archival sources and environmental data, this work illuminates the complex relationship between indigenous peoples, their environment, and colonial authorities. The book contributes significantly to our understanding of pre-Hispanic and colonial Mexican environmental history while challenging conventional narratives about indigenous adaptation and ecological management.
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