The Mayan chiefdoms were geographical divisions that were part of the Mayan manors or provinces in the Yucatan peninsula.
Its existence dates back to the beginning of the 16th century due to the Spanish occupation, which in turn led to the dismantling of the chiefdoms.
Historians believe that this fragmentation of the territory originated some one hundred and sixty or two hundred years before the arrival of the Spanish, with the destruction of Mayapán.
As a result, several peoples disintegrated throughout the territory of the peninsula, creating independent chiefdoms but without leaving aside the constant wars that arose among themselves.
Indigenous disunity and enmity continued for several years, fostering disastrous wars between various sides that only ended in human losses.
Unfortunately with the Spanish interference a free crack was seen for the invasion, taking advantage of this opportunity while the chiefdoms were divided, to prepare their occupation that later brought them to an end.
Names of chiefdoms
There were nineteen chiefdoms or as the Spanish called them "provinces": Ekab, Chauac-ha or Chikinchel, Tazes, Cuzmil, Cupul, Zotuta, Hocabahumún, Cochuah or Kokolá, Maní, Alcalán, Tixchel, Ceh Pech, Chakán, Chacanulkan, Aputún Kinpech, Uaymil, Akinchel and Zipatán.
Structure and hierarchy among chiefdoms
Cacicazgo refers to the "responsible lord or authority of men." The caciques or batabil uinic, were chiefs who ruled a particular chiefdom and were members of the most elite families in the region.
The caciques ruled for many years and even centuries under the values of justice and righteousness.
Each cacicazgo was divided into districts or cacabil in the Mayan language, which in turn were subdivided into villages and towns.
All the districts had a subordinate chief called halach uinic, a title conferred only on the relatives of the ruling chieftain in the chiefdom capital.
Life in the chiefdoms
In all the towns or regions of the chiefdoms, the payment of tributes was considered an obligation, which the Batabil generally demanded.
In addition, there was a labor tax that had to be met in various professions such as artisans, fishermen or farmers.
Even so, something good produced the displacement of the population to other provinces in the region. There is evidence that migration and settlement of peoples originated a market system based on the exchange of goods between the different regions.
Due to the little reliable information that has been found on the Mayan chiefdoms during the last centuries, it is not possible to specify with absolute certainty the jurisdictional division of the Mayans at the time when the Spanish conquerors arrived.
This is due to the lack of written documentation of the time in relation to this issue. In some places in the Caribbean Sea and to the southeast of the Yucatan peninsula there is a region that extends through the territory of Belize.
In it there are still several vestiges of the Mayan presence at the time of the Spanish occupation. There are some that especially date from the same historical period of the chiefdoms.
References
- Garcia, Rubén. (2011). The pre-Hispanic cultures of Mexico: the Mayans. (sf). Retrieved on January 23, 2011, Biblioteca Universia.
- Helms, MW (1975). Middle America: A Culture History of Heartlands and Frontiers. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
- Mann, Charles C. (2006). 1491: A new history of the Americas before Columbus. Taurus.
- Newson, Linda. (2007). The cost of the conquest. Tegucigalpa: Editorial Guaymuras.
- Okoshi, Tsubasa. (nineteen ninety five). Government and people among the postclassic Yucatecan Maya. Journal of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Vol 50, num. 534535.