Networks of Power: Politcal Relations in the Late Postclassic Naco Valley, Honduras (Mesoamerican Worlds: From the Olmecs to the Danzantes)

Little is known about how Late Postclassic populations in southeast Mesoamerica organized their political relations. Networks of Power fills gaps in the knowledge of this little-studied area, reconstructing the course of political history in the Naco Valley from the fourteenth through early sixteenth centuries. Describing the material and behavioral patterns pertaining to the Late Postclassic period using components of three settlements in the Naco Valley of northwestern Honduras, the book focuses on how contests for power shaped political structures. Power-seeking individuals, including but not restricted to ruling elites, depended on networks of allies to support their political objectives. Ongoing and partially successful competitions waged within networks led to the incorporation of exotic ideas and imported items into the daily practices of all Naco Valley occupants. The result was a fragile hierarchical structure forever vulnerable to the initiatives of agents operating on local and distant stages. Networks of Power describes who was involved in these competitions and in which networks they participated; what resources were mustered within these webs; which projects were fueled by these assets; and how, and to what extent, they contributed to the achievement of political aims. Networks Of Power Describes Who Was Involved In These Competitions And In Which Network Drew Participated; What Resources Were Mustered Within These Webs; Which Projects Were Fueled By These Assets; And How, And To What Extent, They Contributed To The Achievement Of Political Aims. --book Jacket. Describing The Material And Behavioral Patterns Pertaining To The Late Postclassic Period Using Components Of Three Settlements In The Naco Valley Of Northwestern Honduras, The Book Focuses On How Contests For Power Shaped Political Structures. Power-seeking Individuals, Including But Not Restricted To Ruling Elites, Depended On Network Of Allies To Support Their Political Objectives. Ongoing And Partially Successful Competitions Waged Within Networks Led To The Incorporation Of Exotic Ideas And Imported Items Into The Daily Practices Of All Naco Valley Occupants. The Result Was A Fragile Hierarchical Structure Forever Vulnerable To The Initiatives Of Agents Operating On Local And Distant Stages. -- Little Is Known About How Late Postclassic Populations In Southeast Mesoamerica Organized Their Political Relations. Networks Of Power Fills Gaps In The Knowledge Of This Little-studied Area, Reconstructing The Course Of Political History In The Naco Valley From The Fourteenth Through Early Sixteenth Centuries. -- The Interpretive Structure -- Activity Structures And Networks At Site Pvn 306 -- Activity Structures And Networks At Site Pvn 144 -- Activity Patterning At Roble Phase Naco -- Power In The Roble Phase Naco Valley -- Crafts And Power -- Ritual, Ideology, And Power -- Networks And Social Memory. Edward Schortman And Patricia Urban. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 245-269) And Index. Networks of Power reconstructs the course of political history in the poorly documented Naco Valley from the fourteenth through early sixteenth centuries. Describing the material and behavioral patterns pertaining to the Late Postclassic period using components of three settlements in the Naco Valley of northwestern Honduras, the book focuses on how contests for power shaped political structures. Power-seeking individuals, including but not restricted to ruling elites, depended on networks of allies to support their political objectives. Ongoing and partially successful competitions waged within networks led to the incorporation of exotic ideas and imported items into the daily practices of all Naco Valley occupants. The result was a fragile hierarchical structure forever vulnerable to the initiatives of agents operating on local and distant stages