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Huexotzinco: The Aztec Subsistence Tribute State
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Huexotzinco, a powerful city-state in the Valley of Puebla that maintained its autonomy through a complex system of subsistence tribute payments to the Aztec Triple Alliance. Unlike conquered provinces that paid regular tributes, Huexotzinco provided only symbolic offerings during specific religious festivals, leveraging its strategic location and military strength. The discussion covers the political maneuvering between Huexotzinco, Tlaxcala, and Tenochtitlan, the role of the Calpulli tribute system, and how the Spanish conquest disrupted these delicate arrangements. Lucas explains the Florentine Codex references, the Matrícula de Tributos, and the significance of the quauhpilolli tax. The episode also touches on modern archaeological work at the site, including the Huexotzinco Codex and the colonial-era lawsuits that preserved indigenous tribute records. This deep dive reveals the nuance of Aztec imperial economics beyond simple tribute extraction.