Enduring Myths

            A point was raised this Tuesday, one which I believe should be addressed. Professor Bristol asked why the legend of Aztec society being ancient was so enduring. We raised many points in response to this question, but one obvious point was never brought up: many today believe the Aztecs were ancient because the Aztecs wanted them to believe so.

            Conrad and Demarest put this right into the text of the book. The clear reference is on page 32 of the text, when Itzcoatl seizes power. After doing so he burns all of the religious and historical texts possess and orders new text to be written reflecting a different version of historical events. From that reorganizing to modern times the rewritten history of the Mexica has held sway over much of historians’ understanding of the Valley of Mexico and its past.

            However, even taking into account the hand that imperial propaganda had in rewriting history, it is worth noting that this alone does not account for all of the historical record. Upon making contact and establishing communication many conquistadors were fed the same propaganda by the Aztec imperial machine. The science of archaeology being as yet unfounded, the Spanish invaders had no other access to the history of the Mexica. Taken at face value, and in combination with the nearby remnants of other societies who were in fact long predating the Mexica, the Spanish would have no reason to doubt the Mexica accounts of events. The Aztec propaganda ties their history back to Toltec culture, and describes the Mexica in a very favorable light.

            This rewriting of history was thorough, and quite effective. On page 43 Conrad and Demarest speak about the education system put in place to ensure that the version of history taught would be that one which was decreed by the emperor. The calmecac schools were intended to educate the populace, but also served the purpose of indoctrination. No priest or noble would receive state sanction if they were educated outside of the calmecac, and the versions taught at the school were direct products of imperial propaganda. As a result, most of a century after the rise of Itzcoatl when the Spanish arrived they encountered a society which believed in the mythology that had been written to justify the power of the nobility and the existence of the empire.