Camilla Townsend is an American historian and author, best known for her focus on Native American history and her expertise in the Nahuatl language, a language spoken by the Aztecs. She is particularly recognized for her work that challenges common narratives and sheds light on the perspectives and experiences of indigenous peoples during the early colonial period in the Americas. Townsend has published extensively, with notable works including "Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma" and "Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztects," which have been lauded for their thorough research and insightful analysis. She has received accolades for her scholarly contributions and ability to make history accessible to broader audiences. Her work often employs an interdisciplinary approach, combining ethnohistory, anthropology, and linguistics to provide a more nuanced understanding of indigenous cultures and their interactions with European colonizers.