1986/03/01 by Michael E. Smith · 154 citations
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Alliance #Ancient history #Archaeology #Coercion (linguistics) #Culture, Economy, and Development Studies #Economic history #Empire #Gentry #History #Latin American history and culture #Law #Mesoamerica #Nobility #Philosophy #Political science #Politics #Politics and Society in Latin America #Polity #Social science #Social stratification #Sociology #Tribute
paper · pdf · doi:10.1525/aa.1986.88.1.02a00050
published in American Anthropologist 88(1), 70-91 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 1986/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
This paper explores the role of social stratification in the regional organization of the Triple Alliance, or Aztec empire. Unlike previous interpretations that see military coercion as the main force integrating the empire, I argue that the primary integrative factor was collusion between rulers of the core states and the nobility of the provinces, who gained economic rewards for their participation in the tribute empire. The common interest of the Mesoamerican nobility transcended political boundaries. The fundamental social and economic cleavage in Postclassic Mesoamerica was not between the Triple Alliance states and the provinces, as many have argued, but rather between the nobles and the commoners. The proposed model is supported through examination of the provincial polity of Cuauhnahuac in western Morelos, Mexico.