por What is the pre-Hispanic political organization?
The prehispanic political organization It was the way in which the different American cultures before the arrival of the Spanish were ordered to function effectively from the political and social point of view.
The pre-Hispanic era in Mesoamerica is divided into three major periods: the Preclassic, the Classic, and the Postclassic.
Although many diverse cultures flourished, in each period one culture stands out as the most representative of the political and social organization characteristic of the time. This is the case of the Olmecs (Preclassic), the Mayans (Classic) and the Mexicas (Postclassic).
The Preclassic period is characterized by the importance of agricultural activity and political power concentrated in the hands of the priests. In the Classic, the increase in population gave rise to more complex political and social organizations, all of them of a theocratic and hierarchical nature. The Postclassic period is one of military alliances and the conquest of weaker peoples.
Next, we will highlight the most important features of the political-social organization in each of the three periods of the pre-Hispanic history of Mexico and Central America.
Preclassic period
It extends from 2500 to 200 before the common era. The representative culture of this stage is that of the Olmecs, although the Totonac, Zapotec and Cuicuilca also stand out.
It is a formative period during which the distinctive characteristics of Mesoamerican cultures take shape.
Political organization
Political power and religion are closely linked. The priests not only directed the worship of the gods, but also exercised political power. It was believed that the gods had granted them the right to decide on the affairs of the community.
Archaeologists think that the colossal heads for which the Olmec culture has become famous represent these priest-kings.
Along with the wealthiest priests, warriors, artists, architects, and merchants, they formed the ruling elite, which lived in the ceremonial centers of La Venta, San Lorenzo, and Tres Zapotes.
Members of the elite were the owners of arable land; they also controlled other fundamental resources, such as water and stone.
Social structure
At the base of the social pyramid of the Preclassic cultures were the peasants, who dedicated themselves to cultivating the lands of the elite and paid a tax for that right.
The peasants lived in communal villages, made up of several families and scattered around the large ceremonial centers. Agricultural work was reserved for men, while women made crafts with clay and made fabrics. Each village was under the authority of a priest-king.
Classical period
It covers from the year 200 of the ancient era to 900 of the common era. Although several important cultures developed, such as the Tarascan, the Mixtec or the Teotihuacan, the undisputed protagonists of this period are the Mayans.
During the Classic, the Mayan civilization reached a cultural and political complexity that placed it among the most notable in history.
Political organization
The vast Mayan Empire, which stretched from southern Mexico to El Salvador, was made up of a group of highly populated cities that enjoyed broad political independence.
At the head of each of these city-states was a king, who is considered a direct descendant of the gods and was called halach uinicwhich means «true man». He exercises power absolutely.
Immediately below the king in the political hierarchy are the Ah Kin Co’ob or «the highest of the sun», a group formed by the family of the king and previous kings.
This ruling caste made all political and religious decisions, with the advice and assistance of the priests, the military, and high administrative officials of the state. These last three groups made up the nobility.
Social structure
The lowest part of the Mayan social pyramid was made up of artisans, merchants, and peasants.
The first two groups had the function of providing luxury goods to the nobility. The peasants, for their part, cultivated above all corn, beans and squash. The land was divided into small plots called milpas.
There were also slaves. They had no rights and performed very hard work. They served as merchandise of commerce between the Mayan cities.
Postclassic period
It goes from the year 901 to 1500 of our era. The political and social organization of this period is represented by the Mexica, the Postclassic culture best known by archaeologists due to the numerous documents and archaeological sites it left behind.
Political organization
Like that of earlier periods, Postclassic political organization was strictly hierarchical.
At the head was the tlatoani or supreme ruler, who exercised power in an absolute manner assisted by members of the nobility: priests, high-ranking military and administrative officials.
The supreme ruler and the nobility not only made decisions regarding their own people, but also established military alliances with other cultures, with the aim of subduing the weaker populations and imposing a tribute on them.
This could consist of agricultural products such as corn and pumpkins or luxurious manufactured goods that required highly specialized craftsmen to manufacture. The Mexica official in charge of collecting taxes was called calpixque.
Some members of the defeated towns became slaves. According to historians, up to 400 towns came under the yoke of the Mexica and their allies.
Social structure
Below the nobles were the pochtecah, the majority social class, made up of merchants and artisans. The bottom of the social pyramid was occupied by slaves or tlacotli.
In Postclassic society there was no social mobility. The destiny of a person was marked by the social class in which he was born.
This defined the level of education they would receive, the place where they could live, the work they had to do and the rules that would govern their daily life.
References
(s/f). The social and political organization of Ancient Mexico. Taken from nte.mx.
Cultural Encyclopedia Publishers (2020). Political organization of the Olmecs. Taken from enciclopediacultural.com.
Mena, RF (2008). The failure of the Mayan organizations. Taken from acacia.org.mx.
Vargas, D. (2021). What was the social organization like in pre-Hispanic times? Taken from explica.me.