Episodes
The Siege of Tenochtitlan: Cortes's Final Gamble
In 1521, the Spanish and their Indigenous allies laid siege to Tenochtitlan, the island capital of the Mexica. This episode follows the brutal eighty-day campaign that ended the Aztec Empire. We trace the Spanish strategy, the Mexica defense under Cuauhtémoc, the devastating smallpox outbreak, and the final assault that left the city in ruins. Along the way, we examine the role of the Tlaxcalans, the infamous massacre at the Templo Mayor, and the controversial figure of Cortés himself. How did…
The Mexica Surrender
In Episode 198 of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna examine the final days of Tenochtitlan through the lens of the Mexica surrender to Hernán Cortés—a moment of brutal siege, smallpox, and the last stand of Cuauhtémoc. They explore how the city fell not just to Spanish steel but to disease, hunger, and the strategic isolation of its causeways. Along the way, they touch on the role of La Noche Triste, the capture of the last huey tlatoani, and the eerie silence that followed the fall. With fresh…
The Marketplace of Tenochtitlan: A Day at the Tianguiztli
In this episode, Lucas and Luna wander through the great tianguiztli of Tlatelolco, the vast market that staggered Hernán Cortés and Bernal Díaz del Castillo with its order, wealth, and sheer scale. We explore how the pochteca traded goods from the Gulf to the Pacific, how cacao beans and quachtli cloaks functioned as currency, and how the market was policed by twelve judges who settled disputes on the spot. We also look at what the Florentine Codex reveals about daily commerce, from gold dust…
The Tlatoani's Table: Feasts and Power in Tenochtitlan
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the culinary world of Tenochtitlan's elite. From the bustling markets of Tlatelolco to the emperor's private dining hall, they uncover how food was more than sustenance—it was a language of power. Lucas describes the lavish feasts of Moctezuma II, where dishes like turkey, tamales, and exotic delicacies were served on ceramic vessels, while the emperor dined behind a golden screen, waited on by nobles who tasted every bite for poison.…
The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco: Aztec Agriculture's Last Stand
When the Spanish first saw Tenochtitlan's floating farms, they thought they were dreaming. This episode dives into the chinampas of Xochimilco — the ingenious raised-bed gardens that fed a city of 200,000. We trace how the Mexica transformed swampy lake shallows into a patchwork of fertile islands, using canals, willow trees, and mud scooped from the lake bottom. We look at the crops that thrived there: maize, beans, squash, amaranth, chiles, tomatoes — and how this intensive agriculture…
The Rise of the Mexica: From Azcapotzalco to Empire
Before Tenochtitlan became the gleaming capital that stunned Cortés, the Mexica were mercenaries for the Tepanec empire, earning their place through blood and tribute. This episode traces the Mexica's dramatic ascent under Itzcoatl and the great Tlacaelel, from the brutal war against Maxtla of Azcapotzalco to the formation of the Triple Alliance. We explore how they rewrote history to elevate Huitzilopochtli, built a tribute machine that fed an empire, and transformed a swampy island into the…
The Mexica Sun Stone: Calendar, Cosmos, and the Fifth Sun
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Mexica Sun Stone — the massive carved disk unearthed beneath Mexico City's Zócalo in 1790. They unpack its layers of meaning: the four previous suns that perished before the current era, the sixth era to come, the faces of Tonatiuh and Tlaltecuhtli, and the stone's true purpose as a sacrificial vessel, not just a calendar. They also delve into the controversy surrounding its name — some scholars argue it's a cuauhxicalli, an eagle bowl for offerings…
The Aztec Chinampas: Floating Gardens That Fed an Empire
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the chinampas, the ingenious raised-field system that fed Tenochtitlan's hundreds of thousands of people. They trace the origins of chinampa farming in the Valley of Mexico, explain how these 'floating gardens' were actually built and maintained, and reveal the staggering productivity that supported urban life. Along the way, they explore the role of the chinampa in Aztec mythology, the labor that kept them fertile, and the legacy of these ancient fields…
The Feathered Serpent of Tenochtitlan: Quetzalcoatl's Many Faces
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the multifaceted god Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, as he was worshipped in Tenochtitlan and across Mesoamerica. They trace his origins from Teotihuacan's Temple of the Feathered Serpent, through his role as a creator deity and culture hero in Tollan (Tula), to his controversial identification with the historical ruler Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl. The conversation unpacks the different manifestations of Quetzalcoatl — as Ehecatl, the wind god…
The Mexica Flower Wars: Ritual Combat or Imperial Strategy?
In this episode of Tenochtitlan, Lucas and Luna explore the xochiyaoyotl, or Flower Wars — the ritualized battles between the Mexica and their neighbors that scholars have long debated. Were these conflicts a sacred ceremony to capture prisoners for sacrifice, or a cynical strategy to weaken rivals and train warriors? Lucas unpacks the evidence: the first Flower War declared by Tlacaelel against the Huejotzincans, the tlacateccatl and tlacochcalcatl commanders who led these campaigns, the…
The Templo Mayor's Hidden Depths: Excavating Aztec Ritual
Beneath Mexico City's Zócalo lies the buried heart of the Aztec world: the Templo Mayor. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the 1978 discovery of the Coyolxauhqui stone and the decades-long excavation that followed. They trace the temple's seven rebuildings, its twin shrines to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, and the offerings—from jaguar remains to coral and gold—buried in its foundations. Along the way, they confront the human sacrifices that shocked the Spanish, and the rituals that tied…
The Great Market of Tlatelolco and Its Hidden Power
This episode zeroes in on the great market at Tlatelolco, the beating commercial heart of the Aztec Empire — a place that stunned the Spanish with its order, size, and wealth. Lucas and Luna explore how this daily market of tens of thousands operated without currency, relying on cacao beans, cotton cloaks, and intricate barter. They uncover the market's role as a hub for the pochteca long-distance traders, its strict legal codes overseen by twelve judges, and the infamous moment when Bernal…
Tenochtitlan's Dazzling Birds: Featherwork and Empire
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the vibrant world of Aztec featherwork, an art form that rivaled gold in value and prestige. From the iridescent quetzal feathers used in royal headdresses to the intricate amantecayotl crafted by skilled artisans, discover how feathers became a currency of power, a symbol of divine connection, and a tribute that fueled an empire. Learn about the legendary quetzal bird, the pochteca traders who sourced feathers from distant jungles, and…
Tenochtitlan's Aqueduct: Engineering an Island's Thirst
In this episode of the Fexingo History podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable aqueduct system that supplied fresh water to Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital built on an island in Lake Texcoco. Built under the reign of Huey Tlatoani Moctezuma Ilhuicamina in the 1460s, the aqueduct carried water from the Chapultepec springs across the lake to the city. The discussion covers the engineering marvels—two parallel clay pipes, a raised causeway, a pressurized delivery system—and the meticulous…
The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan: Layers of Power and Blood
In this episode, we climb the 114 steps of the Templo Mayor, the sacred pyramid at the heart of Tenochtitlan, and uncover the layers of history buried beneath its stone. From the first humble shrine to Huitzilopochtli to the towering twin temples of Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli, we explore how each expansion mirrored the growing might of the Mexica empire. We talk about the Coyolxauhqui stone, the tzompantli skull rack, the ritual of sacrifice, and the shadowy figure of the Cihuacoatl who oversaw…
The Mexica Migration: From Aztlan to the Eagle's Promise
Before Tenochtitlan rose from Lake Texcoco, the Mexica people wandered for generations. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the legendary migration from the mythical island of Aztlan, guided by the god Huitzilopochtli. They follow the Mexica through centuries of wandering, their political struggles with the Tepanecs of Azcapotzalco, and the dramatic omen of an eagle perched on a nopal cactus that marked the founding of their island capital in 1325. The story covers key figures like the war…
Ullamaliztli: The Aztec Ball Game of Life and Death
In this episode of Tenochtitlan, Lucas and Luna dive into one of the most overlooked aspects of Aztec life: the sacred ball game, ullamaliztli. Played on an I-shaped stone court called a tlachtli, the game used a heavy rubber ball (olli) that players could only hit with their hips. It was far more than sport—it was a cosmic reenactment of the sun's journey, a venue for massive gambling, and sometimes a prelude to human sacrifice. Lucas walks Luna through the game's rules, its religious ties to…
Women of Tenochtitlan: Weavers, Priestesses, and Power
While much is said about Aztec warriors and emperors, the women of Tenochtitlan held the empire together. In this episode, we explore the lives of cihuapipiltin (noblewomen) and macehualtin (commoner women)—their roles in weaving, healing, market trading, and even politics. We discuss the temple of the cihuacoatl goddess, the warrior women of legend, and how the Florentine Codex reveals their daily routines. Learn about the tlamatinime (wise women) who advised rulers, the midwives who were…
The Aztec Obsidian Trade: Blades, Mirrors, and Empire
In this episode of Tenochtitlan: The Aztec Capital That Shocked the Spanish, Lucas and Luna explore the vital role of obsidian in Aztec society. From the green obsidian mines of Pachuca's Sierra de las Navajas to the terrifying macuahuitl swords and polished mirrors used in divination, they trace how this volcanic glass shaped Aztec economy, warfare, and religion. Learn about the pochteca traders who controlled its flow, the skilled knappers who crafted blades thinner than a razor, and the…
The Omens of Tenochtitlan: Prophecy and the Fall of an Empire
What signs did the Aztecs see before the Spanish arrived? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the omens recorded in the Florentine Codex that preceded the fall of Tenochtitlan. From the weeping woman of the night—Cihuacóatl—to the comet that blazed across the sky, the bird with the mirror on its head, and the mysterious fires that could not be extinguished. They examine how Moctezuma Xocoyotzin and his priests interpreted these portents, the prophecy of Quetzalcoatl's return, and the debate…
The Causeways of Tenochtitlan: Engineering an Island City
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the engineering marvels that connected the island city of Tenochtitlan to the mainland: the three great causeways of Tlacopan, Iztapalapa, and Tepeyac. They explore how the Mexica built these massive roads with stone, earth, and removable bridges, creating both a lifeline for trade and a formidable defense. The conversation moves from the daily flow of goods and people to the dramatic role these causeways played during the Spanish siege—including the…
Aztec Justice: The Legal Code of Tenochtitlan
In Tenochtitlan, justice was swift, harsh, and deeply intertwined with religion. This episode explores the Aztec legal system through primary sources like the Florentine Codex. We meet the tlamatinime—the professional judges who sat in the Teccalli de la Justicia—and learn how they handled theft, adultery, and corruption. Lucas and Luna discuss the role of the Cihuacoatl as chief justice, the use of divination in trials, and the death penalty for nobles who abused their power. Discover a system…
The Calpulli The Wards That Organized Tenochtitlan
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the calpulli system, the fundamental social and territorial units of Tenochtitlan. Each calpulli functioned as a clan-based neighborhood, managing its own temple, school, and lands. We discuss how these wards shaped daily life, from land ownership to tax collection, and how the Spanish conquest fractured this indigenous organization. Learn about the role of the calpullec, the distinction between pipiltin and macehualtin, and the survival of calpulli in…
The Aztec Pochteca: Spies, Traders, and Secrets
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the world of the pochteca, the elite long-distance traders of the Aztec Empire. More than mere merchants, the pochteca served as spies, diplomats, and intelligence gatherers for the Huey Tlatoani. Operating from the great market of Tlatelolco, they traveled to distant lands like the Maya region and the Gulf Coast, bringing back exotic goods such as quetzal feathers, jade, gold, and cacao. But they also brought back information about enemy cities, tribute…
The Eagle and Jaguar Knights of Tenochtitlan
Lucas and Luna dive into the martial orders of the Aztec capital — the cuāuhocēlōtl, or eagle and jaguar knights. They explore how these elite warriors were recruited, trained, and equipped, from the obsidian-studded macuahuitl to the feathered suits that marked their status. The conversation covers their role in xochiyaoyotl (flower wars), the path to glory through capturing prisoners, and the tactical legacy that faced Cortés. Along the way, they touch on the enigmatic otomih fighters and the…
Cuauhtémoc and the Final Siege of Tenochtitlan
In 1521, the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan faced its final ordeal. Lucas and Luna explore the desperate defense led by the young emperor Cuauhtémoc, the brutal siege tactics that cut off food and water, the role of smallpox, and the decisive battle on the causeways. They discuss how Cuauhtémoc's resistance nearly turned the tide, the betrayal that led to his capture, and the aftermath that sealed the fate of the Mexica empire. This episode covers the strategic brilliance and tragedy of the last…
The Aztec House of Darkness: Sacrifice and Divination at the Templo Mayor
Ep 173: Lucas and Luna explore the Aztec 'House of Darkness' — the mysterious Tlacochcalco inside the Templo Mayor complex. We unpack the ritual journey of war captives, the role of obsidian mirrors in divination by priests called tonalpouhque, and the controversial claim by archaeologist Eduardo Matos Moctezuma that the House of Darkness was where the Mexica 'created' their gods through human sacrifice. We draw on evidence from the Florentine Codex, the excavations beneath Mexico City's…
The Aztec New Fire Ceremony: A Night That Held the World
Every 52 years, the Aztec Empire held its breath. This episode explores the New Fire Ceremony—the Xiuhmolpilli—a ritual that determined whether the Fifth Sun would rise again. We trace the ceremony from its origins in the myth of the Four Suns to its performance atop Mount Huixachtlan, where a priest cut the heart from a sacrificial victim and kindled the fire that would light new torches across the Valley of Mexico. We discuss the calendar cycles that governed this event, the role of the…
The Aztec Calendar Stone: Cosmic Time and Imperial Power
In this episode, Lucas and Luna delve into the Aztec Calendar Stone, one of the most iconic yet misunderstood artifacts from Tenochtitlan. Discovered in 1790 beneath Mexico City's Zócalo, this massive basalt monolith is not a calendar but a cosmic and political statement commissioned by the Huey Tlatoani Moctezuma Ilhuicamina around 1479. They explore its intricate carvings: the central face of Tonatiuh the sun god, the four previous suns or world ages, the 20 day signs, and the fire serpent…
Tenochtitlan's Floating Gardens: Aztec Chinampa Agriculture
In this episode, we explore the chinampas — the artificial floating gardens that fed Tenochtitlan. Lucas explains how the Mexica transformed the swampy shallows of Lake Texcoco into a grid of fertile rectangles, each built from layers of mud, vegetation, and willow trees. He describes the engineering: how canals between the plots provided irrigation, transport, and natural refrigeration. Luna wonders about the labor involved, and Lucas details the calpulli-based organization that maintained the…
The Aztec Cacao Bean: Currency and Culture in Tenochtitlan
In Episode 169, Lucas and Luna explore the role of cacao beans as currency and sacred substance in the Aztec Empire. They discuss how the humble cacao bean functioned as money in the bustling market of Tlatelolco, its use in elite feasts and rituals, and the production of chocolātl — a frothy, spicy drink reserved for nobles and warriors. The episode also examines how cacao was traded across Mesoamerica, its connection to Quetzalcoatl, and how its value was measured against other goods like…
The Calmecac: Aztec School for Nobles and the Making of Moctezuma
Before Moctezuma Xocoyotzin faced Cortés, he spent years in the calmecac, the rigorous Aztec school for noble boys. This episode explores the daily life, discipline, and curriculum of the calmecac—where future tlatoque studied ritual, law, astronomy, and warfare under the priests of Quetzalcoatl. We contrast it with the telpochcalli, the school for commoners, and discuss how the calmecac shaped the mindset of the Aztec elite. Drawing on the Florentine Codex and Bernardino de Sahagún, Lucas and…
The Aztec Sage of Texcoco: Nezahualcoyotl the Philosopher King
This episode explores the remarkable life of Nezahualcoyotl (1402-1472), the poet-king of Texcoco who was also a philosopher, engineer, and lawgiver. We discuss his dramatic exile and return to power, his construction of the famous Albarradón de Nezahualcoyotl dike, his creation of the beautiful gardens of Texcoco, and his profound poetry that questioned Aztec religious orthodoxy. Hear about his friendship and rivalry with Tenochtitlan's Tlacaelel, his codification of laws that limited capital…
The Cihuacoatl: Tenochtitlan's Shadow Emperor
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the role of the cihuacoatl, the high official who served as the emperor's second-in-command in Tenochtitlan. They focus on Tlacaelel, the most famous cihuacoatl, who served under multiple Huey Tlatoanis and was instrumental in shaping Aztec ideology, military strategy, and religious reform. The conversation dives into his role in the Flower Wars, the burning of old codices to rewrite history, and the expansion of the Templo Mayor. Lucas explains how…
The Aztec Matrícula de Tributos: An Empire's Tax Map
Episode 165 dives into the Matrícula de Tributos, the magnificent Aztec tribute roll that recorded over 370 towns paying goods to Tenochtitlan. Lucas and Luna explore how this document—painted on amate paper—mapped the empire's economic reach from the Gulf coast to the Pacific. They discuss the pochteca merchant-spies who gathered intelligence alongside goods, the role of tribute in political control, and what the glyphs reveal about conquered provinces. Specific towns like Tochtepec and…
The Aztec Tribute System: How Tenochtitlan Fed an Empire
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the vast tribute network that sustained Tenochtitlan — a system of goods, labor, and political control stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific. They discuss the Matrícula de Tributos, a pictorial codex listing the exact items demanded from conquered provinces: jaguar skins, cacao beans, cotton armor, jade beads, and thousands of military costumes. Lucas explains how the pochteca (long-distance merchants) gathered intelligence alongside goods, how…
The Aqueduct of Chapultepec: Aztec Water Engineering
In this episode of Tenochtitlan: The Aztec Capital That Shocked the Spanish, Lucas and Luna explore the engineering marvel that supplied Tenochtitlan with fresh water: the aqueduct of Chapultepec. Built under Moctezuma Ilhuicamina and expanded by later rulers, this dual-channel system carried spring water from the Chapultepec springs across the causeway into the city, serving hundreds of thousands. Lucas explains how the aqueduct worked, why it had two channels for maintenance, how it was…
The Aztec Market of Tlatelolco: Inside Tenochtitlan's Economic Heart
When the Spanish first entered Tenochtitlan, they were awestruck by the great market at Tlatelolco. Bernal Díaz del Castillo wrote that it was larger than any market in Spain and teeming with goods from across Mesoamerica. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the daily operation of the tianguis, the role of pochteca long-distance traders, the use of cacao beans as currency, and the market's connection to Aztec tribute systems. They also discuss how the market survived the fall of…
The Aztec Palace Menagerie: Animals That Shocked the Spanish
When Spanish conquistadors entered Moctezuma II's palace in Tenochtitlan, they didn't just find gold and jewels — they encountered a vast zoo and aviary unlike anything in Europe. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Aztec emperor's private menagerie: from jaguars and pumas fed on human hearts in sunken pits, to the House of Feathers where thousands of quetzal and macaw plumes were sorted, to the captive albino animals considered divine messengers. Bernal Díaz del Castillo recorded these…
Tenochtitlan's Canals: The Aztec Venice
When the Spanish first saw Tenochtitlan in 1519, they compared it to Venice. But the city's canals were far more than a picturesque curiosity—they were the circulatory system of an empire. In this episode, Lucas and Luna paddle through the network of artificial waterways that connected island-city neighborhoods, transported food from floating chinampas, moved armies, and handled sewage. We look at the albarradón dike system that kept freshwater separate from salt, the acalco boatyards that…
Moctezuma II: The Emperor Who Met Cortes
When Hernán Cortés and his men marched into Tenochtitlan in 1519, they were met not by a warlord but by a god-king named Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, the ninth Huey Tlatoani of the Mexica. This episode focuses on Moctezuma himself—his upbringing in the calmecac school, his military campaigns, his role as a priest and diplomat, and the complex web of prophecy, politics, and paralysis that shaped his response to the Spanish arrival. We examine the conflicting accounts from the Florentine Codex, Bernal…
The Aztec Tonalpouhque: Priest-Readers of Destiny
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the role of the tonalpouhque — the Aztec priest-diviners who read the 260-day sacred calendar to guide every major decision in Tenochtitlan. From selecting auspicious days for war and marriage to diagnosing illness and foretelling the future, these specialists held immense power. The conversation covers their training, their tools (including the tonalamatl codices), and how their predictions shaped the reigns of Moctezuma Xocoyotzin and even Cortés's…
The Aztec Flower Wars: Ritual Combat or Imperial Strategy
Episode 157 of Fexingo History dives into one of the most misunderstood aspects of Aztec warfare: the flower wars, or xochiyaoyotl. Lucas and Luna explore how these ritualized battles between Tenochtitlan and its neighbors—especially Tlaxcala—served as both a religious obligation to Huitzilopochtli and a brutal tool of imperial expansion. Drawing on the Florentine Codex and accounts from Spanish chroniclers, the hosts untangle fact from fiction: Were flower wars truly 'bloodless'? Why did the…
The Great Dike of Tenochtitlan: Aztec Engineering That Tamed a Lake
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most ambitious engineering projects of the ancient world: the Albarradón de Nezahualcoyotl, a massive dike built by the Aztecs to control flooding in Tenochtitlan. They dive into the reign of Nezahualcoyotl, the philosopher-king of Texcoco, who designed this 16-kilometer barrier that separated fresh water from salt in Lake Texcoco. The conversation covers the political alliance between Tenochtitlan and Texcoco, the role of the macehualtin…
Tenochtitlan's Great Temple: The Templo Mayor Excavation
In 1978, electrical workers digging in Mexico City's Zocalo uncovered a massive stone disk depicting the dismembered goddess Coyolxauhqui. That accidental discovery launched the Templo Mayor Project, one of the most ambitious urban archaeological excavations in history. Over four decades, archaeologists peeled back the colonial city to reveal the sacred heart of Tenochtitlan — the Great Temple of the Mexica. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Templo Mayor was built and rebuilt…
The Tlatoani Who Built Tenochtitlan: Itzcoatl's Revolution
Before Moctezuma, before Cortés, there was Itzcoatl — the fourth Huey Tlatoani of the Mexica who transformed a vassal city-state into the heart of an empire. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Itzcoatl (meaning 'Obsidian Serpent') led Tenochtitlan from 1427 to 1440, forging the Triple Alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan, smashing the power of the Tepanecs of Azcapotzalco, and rewriting history itself. Lucas unpacks the brutal Tepanec War, the political assassination of the previous…
The Aztec Game of Patolli
In this episode of Tenochtitlan: The Aztec Capital That Shocked the Spanish, Lucas and Luna explore patolli, the ancient board game that captivated Mexica society. Played on a cross-shaped board with beans as dice and stones as pieces, patolli was far more than entertainment—it was a sacred ritual tied to the god Macuilxochitl, a high-stakes gamble where players sometimes bet their freedom or even their lives, and a social leveler that brought together pipiltin and macehualtin in fierce…
The Siege of Tenochtitlan: Water, Famine, and the Fall of an Empire
In 1521, the Spanish and their Indigenous allies laid siege to Tenochtitlan, cutting off the island city's water supply from Chapultepec and destroying its aqueduct. Lucas and Luna examine the strategic decisions of Cortés, the desperate defense led by Cuauhtémoc, and the role of brigantines on Lake Texcoco. They discuss the famine caused by destroyed chinampas, the smallpox epidemic that ravaged the Mexica, and the final assault across the Tacuba causeway. The episode explores how the siege…
The Aztec Rite of Sacrifice: What the Spanish Actually Saw
When Spanish conquistadors entered Tenochtitlan in 1519, they witnessed something that would haunt their chronicles for centuries: the public heart sacrifice atop the Templo Mayor. But what did they actually see? In this episode, Lucas and Luna peel back the layers of colonial bias and modern sensationalism to reconstruct the ritual of teōcēhui — 'death by the god's knife' — as the Aztecs themselves understood it. Drawing on the Florentine Codex, archaeological evidence from the Templo Mayor…
The Aztec Ban on Alcohol: Pulque and Social Control
Long before the Spanish arrived, the Aztec state enforced a strict ban on public intoxication — punishable by death for commoners. Lucas and Luna explore the role of pulque, the fermented agave drink sacred to the goddess Mayahuel, and how the Mexica rulers used sumptuary laws to maintain social order. They discuss the ritual exceptions for elders and festivals, the four-hundred rabbit gods of drunkenness, and the double standard for the pipiltin nobility. Drawing on the Florentine Codex and…
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