Expression of Status in Sixteenth Century Tlaxcala
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Authors
Edmiston, Kelly J.
Issue Date
2013
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
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Abstract
The Tlaxcalans were Mesoamericans who allied with the Spanish conquistadors
during the Conquest of Mexico. Due, in part, to their alliance with the Spaniards, the
Tlaxcalans' experiences in the early colonial period were unique. The Tlaxcalans
capitalized successfully on their military service by petitioning for and receiving certain
privileges from the colonial Spanish authorities. This campaign was successful because
the Tlaxcalans chose to communicate their identity and status to the Spanish government
in a Hispanized manner. In sixteenth century Tlaxcala traditional ideas about the
communication of identity, social rank, and prestige quickly incorporated newly
introduced Spanish cultural norms. This thesis examines sources such as The Tlaxcalan
Actas, or municipal council records, to discern the ways in which Tlaxcalans – as
individuals, a community, and a corporate entity – attempted to express their status and
improve their position in the sixteenth century through adoption of Spanish ideas about
status expression.
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In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)