Davíd Carrasco (born 1944) is an American historian of religions and a scholar of Mesoamerican studies. He serves as the Neil L. Rudenstine Professor of the Study of Latin America at Harvard University, holding a joint appointment in the Harvard Divinity School and the Department of Anthropology.
Carrasco’s academic research primarily focuses on the history, iconography, and religious life of Mesoamerican civilizations, with a specific emphasis on the Aztec (Mexica) empire. His work often examines the symbolic importance of urban space, the role of ritual sacrifice in civilization, and the cultural history of the Mexican-American experience. He is noted for his interdisciplinary approach, combining history, archaeology, and religious studies.
He received his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Chicago, where he studied under the influential historian of religions Mircea Eliade. Prior to his tenure at Harvard, Carrasco held faculty positions at the University of Colorado Boulder and Princeton University.
His published works include Quetzalcoatl and the Irony of Empire (1982), Religions of Mesoamerica: Cosmovision and Ceremonial Centers (1990), and City of Sacrifice: The Aztec Empire and the Role of Violence in Civilization (1999). Additionally, he served as the editor-in-chief of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures (2001).
In recognition of his contributions to the study of Mexican history and culture, the Mexican government awarded Carrasco the Order of the Aztec Eagle in 2004, the highest honor bestowed upon foreign nationals. He has also been involved in public-facing scholarship, including collaborations with the Museo del Templo Mayor in Mexico City and contributions to various educational film projects regarding Latin American history.