Chicomoztoc, the Place of the Seven Caves, in Nahua histories from the first colonial period (1540-1630)

Author(s)

Carla de Jesus Carbone

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2014-02-06

Examining board members

Eduardo Natalino dos Santos; Leila Maria França; Federico Navarrete Linares

• Advisor: Eduardo Natalino dos Santos

Abstract

The main goal of the present research is to analyse a vast group of Nahua histories both alphabetic and pictographic from the beginning of the colonial period in order to understand its identifying uses and the political roles which the representations of Chicomoztoc, the Place of the Seven Caves, assumed amongst the Nahua elite of said time. The start hypothesis is that the representations of such important element of identity of Nahua political entities of the Pre-Hispanic period (the altepeme) have undergone transformations in use and purpose but kept a central role in the conceptions of History and political power for the Nahua elite of New Spain, who re-wrote the History of their ancestors according the new order, even using them to legitimate landowning and privileges before new-Hispanic institutions. Based on that we believe that the understanding of the different historiographical uses of Chicomoztoc in colonial Nahua History will help us comprehend how the Nahua elites acted during the first colonial period, a moment discernible by the loss of privileges in front of the increasing Spanish power. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/04604-2 - The nahuas history of the early colonial period (1540-1630): the indigenous elites and the uses and transformations of Chicomoztoc, the place of the seven caves
• Grantee: Carla de Jesus Carbone
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master