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The Tarascan Empire: The Aztecs' Only Rival
Season 4
Episode 178
Published 3 weeks ago
Description
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 culture, military, and tragic end of Mesoamerica's second great empire, and why their story is often overlooked.