Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish America — John Shaqi
Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish AmericaJoyce, Thomas Athol
History
Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish America
Joyce, Thomas Athol
Mayas -- Antiquities; Mexico -- Antiquities
later that this place seems to be connected with the early history of
certain Maya tribes whose migration legends have been preserved. Indeed
it seems bound up with the mythical history of all the tribes of Mexico
and the greater part of Central America, with one striking exception,
the Zapotec, and as such must belong to an earlier movement of tribes
than the actual Aztec migration from Aztlan. The Nahua-speaking tribes,
including the Toltec, and the Michoacans, called themselves Chichimec,
a term which, as mentioned above, possesses rather a cultural than a
racial significance, and means wandering hunters. In fact the Aztec are
shown in manuscripts as skin-clad archers on their migration, fighting
with the inhabitants of the valley, who are represented as dressed in
textiles and armed with the macquauitl, or wooden sword edged with
obsidian. The first inroad of Chichimec after the destruction of Tulan
(though no doubt that destruction was caused, at any rate in part,
by the pressure of nomadic tribes from the north), is said to have
taken place under the leadership of a chief called Xolotl, coming
from a country named Amaquemacan _via_ Chicomoztoc and Tulan. Xolotl
established his court at Tenayocan, and proceeded to extend his power
over the other cities round the lake, incorporating such of the Toltec
as remained in his empire. Shortly after, another influx of Chichimec
took place, under three chiefs, Acolhuatzin, whose immediate followers
called themselves Tepanec, Chiconquauhtli, leading a band of Otomi,
and Tzontecomatl, chief of the Acolhua (in the narrower sense). These
chiefs allied themselves with Xolotl, and the first two were given
his two daughters in marriage, receiving at the same time the towns
of Azcapotzalco and Xaltocan respectively as residences. Tzontecomatl
married a woman from Chalco and established himself at Coatlichan.
Colhuacan at this time was ruled by Pochotl, a descendant of the last
Toltec king, and Xolotl seems to have exercised a loose suzerainty over
all. The invaders rapidly adopted the remains of civilization which
they found in the valley, and applied themselves to agriculture; the
old name of Chichimec was dropped, and that of Acolhua, in the wider
sense, was adopted. From this point historical tradition has been
so well reduced to order by Clavigero, whose work, translated into
English, is still easily accessible, that I do not propose to give more
than a mere summary of events. A list of the various “kings,” together
with approximate dates which I suggest after a careful comparison of
many sources, is given in Appendix III. The principal point to be noted
is the transfer of the political centre from Tenayocan to Tezcoco,
which took place in the reign of Xolotl’s third successor, Quinatzin,
who removed his “court” thither; from this point dates what may be
termed the “Acolhuan” domination of the Mexican valley. Meanwhile the
Aztec had arrived, but being the latest of the migrants they were
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