Episodes
The First Brothels in New Spain: Prostitution and Power
In this episode of The Conquistadors, Lucas and Luna explore the hidden world of prostitution in early colonial Mexico. After the fall of Tenochtitlan, Spanish authorities established licensed brothels in Mexico City and other urban centers, aiming to control the sexual behavior of both Spanish settlers and Indigenous women. Drawing on the records of the Real Audiencia and the writings of chroniclers like Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Francisco Cervantes de Salazar, the episode traces how these…
The Lienzo de Tlaxcala: A Conquered People's Visual Chronicle
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Lienzo de Tlaxcala, a sixteenth-century pictorial manuscript created by the Tlaxcalan allies of Hernán Cortés. Unlike Spanish accounts, this document offers a rare indigenous perspective on the conquest of Mexico, depicting battles, alliances, and the crucial role of Tlaxcalan warriors. The hosts discuss how the Lienzo was commissioned, its unique artistic style blending Mesoamerican and European conventions, and its political purpose: to argue for…
The First Smallpox in Mexico: A Pandemic's Arrival
In 1520, a single infected African slave arrived in Veracruz and unwittingly unleashed a catastrophe that would kill more Aztecs than any Spanish sword. In this episode, we trace the path of smallpox through the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, its devastating impact on the Aztec people, and its role in the fall of their empire. We explore the Nahuatl concept of 'huey cocoliztli' (the great pestilence), the testimony of survivors like those in the Florentine Codex, and the devastating loss of life…
The Chichimeca War: Mexico's Forgotten Frontier
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Chichimeca War, a long and brutal conflict that shaped Mexico's northern frontier. They discuss the specific groups—Zacatecos, Guachichiles, and Guamare—and the challenges the Spanish faced in the arid, mountainous terrain. The episode covers the role of the silver mines at Zacatecas, the strategic use of presidios, and the controversial policies of Martín Enríquez and the Marqués de Villamanrique. They also examine the devastating impact on the…
The Trial of Cuauhtemoc: Inquisition and Legacy
In this episode, we examine the final chapter of the Aztec Empire through the trial of its last emperor, Cuauhtemoc. After the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521, Cuauhtemoc was captured, tortured, and later executed during Hernán Cortés's disastrous expedition to Honduras in 1525. We explore the evidence from the Florentine Codex and other sixteenth-century sources, the accusations of conspiracy and treason, the brutal methods of Spanish justice, and the symbolic weight of Cuauhtemoc's death. We…
The Chichimeca War: Mexico's Forgotten Frontier
While the Aztec and Maya conquests dominate the story, the Spanish fought a violent 40-year conflict against nomadic archers in the north that nearly broke their empire. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Chichimeca War (1550–1590), a guerrilla war fought across the silver-rich Bajío region. We meet the Chichimeca peoples—the Zacatecos, Guachichiles, and Guamare—who used hit-and-run tactics, fire arrows, and poison-tipped shafts to resist the Spanish advance. Along the way, we uncover…
The Forgotten Bridge: Ixtlapalapan and the Siege of Tenochtitlan
In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the overlooked role of the Ixtlapalapan causeway in the Spanish siege of Tenochtitlan. While the Tacuba causeway dominates the narrative of the Noche Triste and the final assault, the southern causeway at Ixtlapalapan was equally crucial. We trace its strategic importance from the initial Spanish entry in 1519 to the brutal fighting in 1521, examining how Cortés, with thousands of Tlaxcalan and other indigenous allies, used it to cut…
The Tlaxcalan Alliance: Cortés's Indigenous Army
Before the Spanish ever reached Tenochtitlan, they nearly died in Tlaxcala. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the alliance that made the conquest possible—and the people who chose to join it. How did four mountain city-states, fiercely independent and surrounded by the Aztec Empire, become Cortés's most crucial allies? We trace the Tlaxcalans' long resistance against Moctezuma's trade blockade, the brutal battles on the border in 1519, and the political calculus that turned enemies into…
The Cholula Massacre: Myth, Massacre, or Misunderstanding
In 1519, months before the fall of Tenochtitlan, Cortés and his allies carried out a massacre at the great religious center of Cholula. Was it a preemptive strike against an ambush, or an unprovoked slaughter? In this episode, Lucas and Luna untangle the conflicting accounts—from Cortés's self-serving letters to the visceral testimony of Bernal Díaz del Castillo and the often-overlooked perspective of the Tlaxcalteca and Cholulteca sources. They explore the political calculus behind the attack…
The Women of the Conquest: Doña Isabel and La Malinche
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the lives of two Indigenous women whose choices shaped the conquest of Mexico: La Malinche, the Nahua interpreter and strategist who navigated between worlds, and Doña Isabel, the daughter of Moctezuma who became a symbol of the new colonial order. We trace how La Malinche's linguistic skills and political acumen made her invaluable to Cortés, and how her legacy has been twisted into the myth of the traitor. We also follow Doña Isabel's journey from Aztec…
The Tarascan Empire: Aztec's Only Rival
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the fascinating history of the Purépecha Empire, also known as the Tarascan Empire, which was the Aztec Empire's only real rival in Mesoamerica. Discover how this powerful state, centered around the city of Tzintzuntzan, managed to resist Aztec expansion and maintain its independence, thanks to its formidable military, skilled bronze-working, and strategic diplomacy. Learn about the legendary ruler cazonci Tangáxuan II, who faced the Spanish conquistadors…
The First Smallpox in Mexico
In 1520, a single infected African slave named Francisco de Eguía stepped ashore in Veracruz and changed the world. Within months, smallpox — which the Nahua called cocoliztli — swept through Mesoamerica, killing up to half of the population in Tenochtitlan and beyond. It killed the emperor Cuitláhuac, decimated the Aztec leadership, and paved the way for Cortés's final siege. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the disease arrived, why it was so devastating, and how it shaped the fate…
The Death of Moctezuma: Stoning or Strangulation?
In this episode of Fexingo History, we explore the mysterious death of Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, the Aztec emperor during the Spanish conquest. Was he stoned by his own people, as Spanish accounts claim, or strangled by the conquistadors, as Indigenous sources suggest? We examine the conflicting narratives from Bernal Díaz del Castillo, the Florentine Codex, and other Indigenous accounts, and consider the political context that made his death so convenient for Cortés. We also discuss Moctezuma's…
The Conquest of Cholula: Massacre or Misunderstanding
In 1519, Hernán Cortés and his army—along with thousands of Tlaxcalan allies—marched into the sacred city of Cholula, home to the great pyramid of Quetzalcoatl. What happened next is one of the most debated episodes of the conquest: a preemptive massacre, a brutal act of terror, or a misunderstood moment of political violence? This episode unpacks the evidence from Spanish accounts, including Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Cortés's own letters, against the Nahua perspective preserved in the…
The Noche Triste's Missing Piece: The Tacuba Causeway
In this episode, Lucas and Luna revisit the legendary Noche Triste — the night in 1520 when Hernán Cortés and his men fled Tenochtitlan under a hail of stones and arrows. But this time, they focus on the Tacuba Causeway, the narrow stone road that became the stage for one of the most disastrous retreats in military history. Drawing on the Florentine Codex and Bernal Díaz del Castillo's account, they trace the route, the panic, the gold-laden soldiers who drowned, and the crucial role of the…
The Battle of Otumba: Cortés's Narrow Escape and Resurgence
In June 1520, Hernán Cortés and his men fled Tenochtitlan on the Noche Triste, where hundreds died. As they limped toward Tlaxcala, an Aztec army of thousands blocked their path at the plain of Otumba. Lucas and Luna break down the desperate battle that turned the tide: how Cortés, outnumbered and exhausted, led a cavalry charge that killed the Aztec commander Matlatzincatl, shattered the enemy formation, and saved the Spanish-Tlaxcalan alliance. They explore the tactical decisions, the role of…
The Nahua Scribes: How the Conquered Wrote Their Own Conquest
We've heard the Spanish version of the conquest — but what about the voices of the conquered? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the indigenous scribes and chroniclers who recorded their own history in the aftermath of the fall of Tenochtitlan. From the Florentine Codex — a monumental twelve-book encyclopedia produced by Bernardino de Sahagún and his Nahua collaborators — to the annals of Chimalpahin and the poetic Cantares Mexicanos, we see how Nahua scholars used alphabetic writing in…
Cuauhtémoc The Last Aztec Emperor's Defiance and Death
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of Cuauhtémoc, the last huey tlatoani of Tenochtitlan. After the death of Cuitláhuac from smallpox, Cuauhtémoc took command of the Aztec defense at just 25 years old. He organized the desperate resistance during the siege of Tenochtitlan, using chinampas as barriers and acalli for transport. Lucas recounts his capture on August 13, 1521, his torture by Cortés—who burned his feet to reveal the location of gold—and his eventual execution…
Cortés's Private Kingdom: The Marquesado del Valle
After the fall of Tenochtitlan, Hernán Cortés was granted the Marquesado del Valle, a vast feudal domain spanning modern-day Oaxaca, Morelos, and Veracruz. This episode explores how Cortés governed as a quasi-independent lord, exploiting indigenous labor through the encomienda system while clashing with the Spanish crown over taxes and jurisdiction. We examine the rebellion of the Mixtec and Zapotec peoples, the establishment of Cortés's palace in Cuernavaca, and the legal battles that stripped…
The Conquest of Guatemala: Alvarado's Maya War
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the brutal campaign by Pedro de Alvarado to conquer the Maya highlands of Guatemala. They delve into the battle against the K'iche' at Quetzaltenango, the legendary figure of Tecún Umán, the shifting alliances with Kaqchikel and Tz'utujil peoples, and the founding of Santiago de los Caballeros. The conversation examines the use of Tlaxcalan allies, the encomienda system's rapid imposition, and the bloody suppression of indigenous revolts. They also touch…
The Encomienda System: How Conquest Became Labor
After the fall of Tenochtitlan, Spanish conquistadors were granted encomiendas—rights to the labor and tribute of entire indigenous communities. In episode 180 of The Conquistadors, Lucas and Luna explore how the encomienda system actually worked, from the brutal encomiendas of Nuño de Guzmán in the west to the privileged, tribute-only status of Tlaxcala. They trace the legal debates that led to the Laws of Burgos (1512) and the New Laws (1542), the role of missionaries like fray Toribio de…
The Long Conquest of Yucatán: Montejo vs the Maya
While the Aztec capital fell in two years, the Maya of the Yucatán Peninsula resisted Spanish conquest for nearly two decades. This episode follows Francisco de Montejo—a veteran of Cortés's campaign—and his son Montejo the Younger as they lead three grueling attempts to subdue the Maya. We explore the fierce resistance of Maya lords like Nachi Cocom, the strategic alliances that split the Xiu and Cocom factions, and the eventual founding of Mérida on the ruins of T'Hó. Discover why the Maya…
The Tarascan Empire: The Aztecs' Only Rival
While the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs dominates the story, another powerful empire held sway in western Mexico: the Purépecha (Tarascan) state. This episode explores how the Tarascans resisted Aztec expansion for decades, built a centralized state from their capital Tzintzuntzan, and developed advanced copper and bronze metallurgy. When the Spanish arrived, the cazonci Tangáxuan II initially submitted to Cortés, but brutal treatment under Nuño de Guzmán sparked a fierce uprising. We uncover…
The Mixtón War: Caxcan Rebellion Against Spanish Rule
In 1540, a massive indigenous uprising erupted in Nueva Galicia, led by a Caxcan leader named Tenamaxtli. This episode explores the Mixtón War—a desperate rebellion against the brutal encomienda system imposed by Nuño de Guzmán. We trace the causes from Guzmán's slaving raids to the spark at Nochistlán, the siege that drew Pedro de Alvarado to his death, and Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza's final campaign. Drawing on indigenous accounts and Spanish records, we examine how this war shaped colonial…
How Smallpox Toppled the Aztec Empire
In 1520, as Hernán Cortés and his allies fought to take Tenochtitlan, a far deadlier enemy arrived without a single sword drawn: smallpox. This episode explores how the cocoliztli—the 'great sickness'—swept through Mesoamerica, killing an estimated one-third of the population in just years. We trace the outbreak from the arrival of a enslaved African from the Narváez expedition to the death of the Aztec emperor Cuitláhuac. Drawing on the Florentine Codex and other indigenous accounts, we…
The Great Debate: Las Casas vs Sepúlveda on Indigenous Rights
In 1550, at the Colegio de San Gregorio in Valladolid, Spain, two men clashed over the moral and legal status of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, a Dominican friar and former encomendero, argued that the Indians were rational beings fully capable of self-governance. On the other side, Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, a humanist scholar, championed the Aristotelian concept of 'natural slavery' to justify conquest and forced conversion. The debate, convened by Emperor…
The Huastec Rebellion: Cortés's Forgotten War in the North
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the little-known Huastec rebellion of 1523-1524, a violent uprising against Spanish rule in the Pánuco region of northeastern Mexico. They discuss how Cortés, fresh from the fall of Tenochtitlan, faced a coordinated resistance from the Huastec people, who had initially allied with the Spanish but turned against them due to brutal encomienda policies and forced labor. The conversation delves into the key figure of Nuño de Guzmán, the ruthless conquistador…
The Noche Triste: Cortés's Night of Sorrows
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Noche Triste — the night of June 30, 1520, when Hernán Cortés and his forces fled Tenochtitlan under a hail of Aztec arrows and stones. They discuss the events that led to the Spanish retreat: the Toxcatl massacre ordered by Pedro de Alvarado, the death of Moctezuma, and the desperate escape across the Tacuba causeway. Lucas explains how the Tlaxcalan allies played a crucial role, how Cortés regrouped at Otumba, and why the Aztecs failed to finish him…
Cortés's African Companions: The Unseen Conquistadors
When we picture the Spanish conquest of Mexico, we tend to imagine armored Europeans and their Indigenous allies. But among Cortés's small army were men whose stories have been almost entirely erased: African conquistadors, both free and enslaved, who fought, built, and died alongside the Spaniards. This episode follows figures like Juan Garrido, a free black conquistador who crossed the Atlantic, participated in the siege of Tenochtitlan, and later became the first known wheat farmer in New…
The Man Who Burnt the Maya Books: Diego de Landa
In 1562, in the town of Maní on the Yucatán Peninsula, Spanish Franciscan friar Diego de Landa ordered the destruction of thousands of Maya codices — bark-paper books containing centuries of knowledge about astronomy, ritual, history, and medicine. Only four authenticated Maya codices survive today. This episode explores who Landa was, why he burned the books, and the paradox of his legacy: the same man who erased the Maya literary tradition also wrote the single most detailed account of Maya…
The Dogs of Conquest: How Spanish Mastiffs Terrorized Mesoamerica
This episode examines the role of war dogs—specifically Spanish mastiffs and wolfhounds—in the conquest of Mesoamerica. Often overlooked in favor of guns and horses, these animals were deliberately used as weapons of terror. We explore their training, appearance in indigenous codices like the Florentine Codex and Lienzo de Tlaxcala, and their legal status under Spanish law. Key figures include Pedro de Alvarado, whose dog became legendary, and the indigenous perception of these beasts as…
The Tlaxcalan Alliance: How Cortés Won Mexico
We all know Cortés conquered the Aztecs with just a few hundred Spaniards — or did he? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the single most decisive factor in the fall of Tenochtitlan: the massive Indigenous alliance that fought alongside the conquistadors. Centered on Tlaxcala, the small republic that defied the Aztec Empire for decades, we trace how Cortés turned former enemies into the backbone of his army. Lucas walks us through a key battlefield in the Tlaxcalan border wars — the Otumba…
La Malinche: Beyond the Myth of the Traitor
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of Malintzin, also known as Malinche or Doña Marina, the Indigenous interpreter and advisor who played a pivotal role in Hernán Cortés's conquest of the Aztec Empire. They move beyond the simplified label of 'traitor' to examine her as a Nahua woman from a noble family, sold into slavery, who leveraged her multilingual skills to survive and wield influence. The conversation delves into her early life in the borderlands between the…
The Totonac of Cempoala: Cortés's First Major Indigenous Ally
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the pivotal alliance between Hernán Cortés and the Totonac people of Cempoala, the first major indigenous group to side with the Spanish against the Aztec Empire. We trace the Totonac's motives: resentment of Aztec tribute demands, a strategic gamble to free themselves from Moctezuma's grip. Through firsthand accounts from Bernal Díaz del Castillo and the Lienzo de Tlaxcala, we examine the dramatic meeting between Cortés and the Cacique Gordo, the Totonac…
The Cholula Massacre: Cortés's Bloody Prelude to Tenochtitlan
In October 1519, just months after landing in Mexico, Hernán Cortés and his Tlaxcalan allies slaughtered thousands of unarmed nobles in the sacred city of Cholula. This episode unpacks what happened, why, and whether it was a preemptive strike or a calculated act of terror. We explore the competing accounts from Bernal Díaz del Castillo, the Florentine Codex, and indigenous sources; the role of Malintzin in the alleged conspiracy; and the lasting image of Cholula as a warning to Mesoamerican…
The Siege of Tenochtitlan: How Cortés Beat 300,000
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the final siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521—the brutal, year-long campaign that ended the Aztec Empire. Lucas unpacks Cortés's tactical brilliance: building a fleet of 13 brigantines on Lake Texcoco, cutting off causeways, and orchestrating a water blockade that starved the city. He explains how thousands of Tlaxcalan and Texcocan allies provided the bulk of the fighting force, and how smallpox—introduced by a Spanish slave—devastated the Mexica population.…
The Forgotten Fortress: Quauhquechollan's Alliance Against the Aztecs
While the Tlaxcalans are famous as Cortés's primary indigenous allies, another crucial alliance was forged with the Quauhquecholteca of central Mexico. This episode follows the story of the Quauhquechollan fortress, a hilltop stronghold near modern-day Puebla, whose people suffered under Aztec domination and chose to side with the Spanish. We examine the Quauhquechollan Map, a pictorial manuscript that documents their participation in the conquest of Guatemala, led by Jorge de Alvarado. Lucas…
The Cempoala Alliance: Cortés's First Indigenous Allies
Before the Tlaxcalans, before Malintzin, Hernán Cortés made his first critical alliance with the Totonac people of Cempoala. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a coastal city-state with 20,000 households became the linchpin of Cortés's strategy against the Aztec Empire. Meet the Cacique Gordo, the rotund leader who defied Moctezuma's tribute collectors in 1519, and learn how the Totonac provided Cortés with gold, porters, and crucial intelligence. We examine the political calculus…
The Oñate Entrada: New Mexico 1598
In 1598, Juan de Oñate led a Spanish expedition of 500 men, women, and children into the Pueblo world of New Mexico, aiming to establish a permanent colony. This episode examines the entrada itself: the brutal journey across the Chihuahuan Desert, the initial encounters with Pueblo leaders at Acoma and other villages, and the violent crackdown that followed the Acoma Massacre of 1599. We look at the complex motives of Oñate, a wealthy Zacatecan mining heir seeking glory and a governorship, and…
The Siege of Tenochtitlan: How the Aztec Capital Fell
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the final siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521, a brutal 75-day campaign that ended the Aztec Empire. They walk through Cortés's strategy of cutting off the city's causeways and water supply, the role of Tlaxcalan allies and brigantines, and the devastating smallpox outbreak that swept through the city. The conversation highlights key figures like Cuauhtémoc, the last huey tlatoani, and the relentless fighting on Lake Texcoco. Lucas explains how the Spanish used…
The Mexica Flower Wars: Ritual Combat or Conquest
Before the Spanish arrived, the Mexica (Aztecs) fought a very different kind of war: the xochiyaoyotl, or Flower War. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the ritualized battles between the Triple Alliance and their neighbors, especially Tlaxcala and Huexotzinco. Why did warriors fight for prisoners instead of territory? How did the flower war system actually strengthen the Aztec empire—and ultimately contribute to its downfall? Lucas unpacks the religious underpinnings, the…
The Encomienda's Grip: How Spanish Lords Ruled Indigenous Lives
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the encomienda system actually functioned on the ground in early colonial Mesoamerica. They move beyond the legal decrees and the Valladolid debate to focus on daily life under encomienda lords — the tribute demands, the labor obligations, and the simmering resistance. Specific figures include the encomendero of Yanhuitlán, the Nahua lord don Domingo de San Antón Muñón Chimalpahin, and the Dominican friar Francisco de Burgoa, who documented the…
The Panuco Expedition: Cortés's Shipwrecked Men
In the fall of 1522, a Spanish ship carrying troops and supplies for Hernán Cortés was wrecked off the coast of the Huasteca region, near modern-day Tamaulipas. The survivors washed ashore into a world they did not understand: a densely forested, swampy lowland controlled by the Huastec people, who spoke a language completely different from Nahuatl. This episode follows the stranded Spaniards—their desperate attempt to walk back to Veracruz, the ambush that killed most of them, and the two…
The Lost Fleet of Cortés: Shipwreck and Survival
In 1519, Hernán Cortés scuttled his own ships at Veracruz to prevent desertion. But one vessel never made it to the rendezvous—a supply ship carrying horses, crossbows, and the first Spanish women to set foot in Mexico. Lucas and Luna trace the journey of the lost ship, its wreck on the coast of present-day Tamaulipas, and the extraordinary survival story of its passengers, who spent months among the Huastec people before being ransomed. They explore what the ship's cargo tells us about early…
The Trial of Cuauhtemoc: Cortés's Last Aztec Emperor
In 1525, three years after the fall of Tenochtitlan, Hernán Cortés led an expedition to Honduras that ended in one of the most controversial episodes of the conquest: the torture and execution of Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec huey tlatoani. This episode examines the events surrounding Cuauhtémoc's capture after the siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521, his treatment as a hostage in Coyoacán, the accusations of rebellion that led to his trial, and the brutal interrogation by Cortés and his interpreters.…
Malintzin: The Interpreter Who Shaped the Conquest
This episode explores the life and legacy of Malintzin, the Nahua woman who served as Hernán Cortés's interpreter, advisor, and intermediary during the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Often called Malinche, she has been vilified as a traitor and celebrated as a survivor in Mexican history. We discuss her linguistic skills, her role in pivotal events like the Cholula massacre and the siege of Tenochtitlan, her relationship with Cortés, and her treatment in both Spanish and Indigenous sources. The…
The Caciques Who Fought Back: Indigenous Resistance in the Caribbean
Before the Aztecs and Incas, the Spanish conquest began in the Caribbean, where Taíno caciques like Hatuey, Caonabo, and Anacaona led fierce resistance against European colonization. This episode explores the early indigenous rebellions in Hispaniola, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, examining how these leaders used guerrilla tactics, alliances, and diplomacy to fight the Spanish. We look at the first major slave revolt in the Americas, the destruction of La Navidad, and the brutal reprisals under…
The Tarascan Empire: Bronze Age Rivals to the Aztecs
The Tarascan Empire, known to its people as the Purépecha, was the only Mesoamerican state that successfully resisted Aztec expansion. Centered around Lake Pátzcuaro in modern Michoacán, the Tarascans built a powerful kingdom based on bronze metallurgy, a centralized bureaucracy, and a formidable army. This episode explores their rise under the Cazonci (emperor), their use of bronze tools and weapons that outpaced Aztec obsidian, and their unique society that avoided human sacrifice on the…
The Nahua Lords Who Ran Mexico for Spain
When Cortés conquered Tenochtitlan, he didn't just replace Aztec rule with Spanish rule — he relied on an existing network of indigenous nobles, the pipiltin, to govern on his behalf. This episode explores how the Nahua elite of central Mexico adapted to Spanish colonialism, keeping their titles, lands, and local authority well into the 1600s. We look at figures like don Juan de Guzmán Itztlolinqui of Coyoacán, who commissioned the Codex Osuna to protest excessive tribute demands, and don…
The Codex Mendoza: Aztec Tribute, History, and Daily Life
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Codex Mendoza, a stunning 16th-century manuscript created by Aztec scribes under Spanish supervision. Commissioned by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza, the codex documents the tribute system of the Aztec Empire, the history of Tenochtitlan's rulers, and the daily life of the Mexica people. Lucas explains how the codex was painted on European paper by indigenous tlacuilos (scribes) using traditional pictographic style, with Nahuatl glosses added by a Spanish…
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