The Aztecs at independence : Nahua culture makers in central Mexico, 1799-1832

Nahuatl-speaking women and men left last wills in their own tongue during an era when the written tradition of their language was generally assumed to have ended. Describing their world in testaments clustered around epidemic cycles, they responded to profound changes in population, land use, and local governance with astonishing vibrancy. __The Aztecs at Independence__ offers the first internal ethnographic view of these central Mexican indigenous communities in the critical transitional time of Independence. Miriam Melton-Villanueva uses previously unknown Nahuatl-language sources—primarily last wills and testaments—to provide a comprehensive understanding of indigenous societies during the transition from colonial to postcolonial times. The book describes the cultural life of people now called Nahuas or Mexicas in the nineteenth century—based on their own words, their own written records. The book uses previously unknown, unstudied, and untranslated indigenous texts to bring Nahua society into history, fleshing out glimpses of daily life in the early nineteenth century. Thus, __The Aztecs at Independence__ describes life at the most local level: Nahua lineages of ritual and writing, guilds and societies, the people that take turns administering festivals and attending to the last wishes of the dying. Interwoven with personal stories and memory, __The Aztecs at Independence__ invites a general audience along on a scholarly journey, where readers are asked to imagine Nahua concepts and their contemporary meanings that give light to modern problems. Nahuatl-speaking Women And Men Left Last Wills In Their Own Tongue During An Era When The Written Tradition Of Their Language Was Generally Assumed To Have Ended. Describing Their World In Testaments Clustered Around Epidemic Cycles, They Responded To Profound Changes In Population, Land Use, And Local Governance With Astonishing Vibrancy. The Aztecs At Independence Offers The First Internal Ethnographic View Of These Central Mexican Indigenous Communities In The Critical Transitional Time Of Independence. Miriam Melton-villanueva Uses Previously Unknown Nahuatl-language Sources—primarily Last Wills And Testaments—to Provide A Comprehensive Understanding Of Indigenous Societies During The Transition From Colonial To Postcolonial Times. The Book Describes The Cultural Life Of People Now Called Nahuas Or Mexicas In The Nineteenth Century—based On Their Own Words, Their Own Written Records. The Book Uses Previously Unknown, Unstudied, And Untranslated Indigenous Texts To Bring Nahua Society Into History, Fleshing Out Glimpses Of Daily Life In The Early Nineteenth Century. Thus, The Aztecs At Independence Describes Life At The Most Local Level: Nahua Lineages Of Ritual And Writing, Guilds And Societies, The People That Take Turns Administering Festivals And Attending To The Last Wishes Of The Dying. Interwoven With Personal Stories And Memory, The Aztecs At Independence Invites A General Audience Along On A Scholarly Journey, Where Readers Are Asked To Imagine Nahua Concepts And Their Contemporary Meanings That Give Light To Modern Problems.-- Inside The Altepetl Of San Bartolomé -- Spanish-language Texts By Nahua Escribanos -- The Escribanos Who Still Wrote In Nahuatl -- Nahuatl Formulas Over Time And In Other Altepetl -- Death Rites, Local Religion, And Women On Church Grounds -- Household Ritual. Miriam Melton-villanueva. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 227-237) And Index. "This manuscript offers the first internal ethnographic view of central Mexican indigenous communities at the critical time of Independence. Melton-Villanueva uses previously unknown Nahuatl-language sources--primarily last will and testaments--to provide a more comprehensive understanding of indigenous society during the transition from colonial to post-colonial times. Describing their own world, Nahuatl-speaking women and men left last wills in their own tongue during an era when the written tradition of their language was generally assumed to have ended. In testaments clustered around epidemic cycles, they responded to profound changes in population, land use, and local governance with astonishing vibrancy. At the moment of Independence, after an entire colonial period of legal decrees aimed at eradicating indigenous languages, local notaries began to adopt Spanish as a means of preserving their communities' interests. The careful work of the notaries themselves allows a window into the development of modern Mexican Spanish, its unique character founded in indigenous concepts of space, time, and grammar"--Provided by publisher Cover Title Page, Copyright Page Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Inside the Altepetl of San Bartolomé 2. Spanish-Language Texts by Nahua Escribanos 3. The Escribanos Who Still Wrote in Nahuatl 4. Nahuatl Formulas over Time and in Other Altepetl 5. Death Rites, Local Religion, and Women on Church Grounds 6. Household Ritual Conclusion Epilogue Appendix 1. Testament List from the Independence Archive with Reference Codes Appendix 2. Notaries of the Independence Archive by Altepetl Appendix 3. Sample Testaments Notes Glossary Bibliography Index