The Legacy of Mesoamerica History and Culture of a Native American Civilization, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 3 THE MESOAMERICAN WORLD AT SPANISH CONTACT 143

Figure 3.4 Huaxtec carved statue of an

unclothed man with tatoos on one side of his

body. Drawing by Ellen Cesarski.

Even prior to the emergence of the Aztec empire, there was considerable direct
exploitation of the Huaxtecs by the Central Mexican city-states. The Aztecs them-
selves are said to have first attacked the Huaxtecs during the reign of Motecuhzoma I
(A.D. 1440–1468), in retaliation for the Huaxtecs’ having killed merchants trading in
the area. The Huaxtecs apparently relied heavily on magical rites to win this battle;
they were defeated, however, and many men, women, and children were killed by the
victorious Aztec warriors. Only when the Huaxtec chiefs agreed to pay handsome