The political organization of the trans-Tarascan zone of western Mesoamerica on the eve of Spanish conquest

Weigand, Phil C.

essay

The political organization of the trans-Tarascan zone of western Mesoamerica on the eve of Spanish conquest

culture and contact : charles c. di peso's gran chichimeca • (2) • Published In 1993 • Pages: 191-217, 253-291

By: Weigand, Phil C..

Abstract
Weigand discusses the political organization of west Mexico shortly before the Spanish conquest. To do this he first discusses some of the inherent difficulties of using the ethnohistorical data and what he calls the maximalist and minimalist schools of thought. Weigand discusses population levels before the Spanish arrived. He believes the best estimates are those of Guzman and Tello. The epidemics which followed the Spanish would have disrupted the region and effected the nobility, military, and traders first. The political organization of west Mexico changed because of Tarascan conquest attempts; the various states formed political alliances for defense. The Tarascan state seems to have wanted access and control of rare resources (such as salt, copper, obsidian, etc.) and of trade routes. Weigand discusses some of the resources of the various prehispanic states of west Mexico, especially Sayula/Techaluta and Etzatlan. The evidence that these were complex societies can be seen by examining, 'zonal settlement patterns, settlement specialization, craft specialization, demography, resistance to Tarascan imperialism, and expansion and consolidation,' (p. 211). Weigand also discusses trade routes, particularly that of turquiose.

Identification

Reviews and critiques

Theoretical orientation in research and its results

Acculturation and culture contact

West Mexico Postclassic

HRAF PubDate

2001

Region