Cacao: The Currency That Built an Empire

The Mixton War: Mexico's Bloodiest Revolt

In 1540, a coalition of Indigenous peoples in western Mexico rose up against Spanish rule in a conflict that would become known as the Mixtón War. Led by the Caxcan leader Tenamaztle, the rebellion swept through the provinces of Nueva Galicia, targeting encomiendas, missions, and Spanish settlements. The Spanish response was brutal: Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza personally led an army of conquistadors and Indigenous allies, including Tlaxcalans and Aztecs, to crush the revolt. This episode examines the causes, key battles, and aftermath of the Mixtón War, including the role of the infamous Nuño de Guzmán's earlier atrocities, the use of war dogs, and the legal debates over just war that followed. We also explore the fate of Tenamaztle, who escaped to the mountains and later appealed to the Spanish crown for justice. This is a story of resistance, betrayal, and the violent consolidation of colonial rule in Mexico. #MixtonWar #Tenamaztle #Caxcan #NuevaGalicia #AntonioDeMendoza #NunoDeGuzman #Conquistadors #IndigenousResistance #ColonialMexico #MexicanHistory #WarDogs #JustWar #Encomienda #Tlaxcalan #Aztec #1540 #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Siege of Tenochtitlan Begins: Cortés's First Assault

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the opening days of the siege of Tenochtitlan in May 1521. They examine Cortés's strategy of cutting off the city's water supply from Chapultepec, the devastating impact of the brigantines on the lake, and the fierce resistance led by Cuauhtémoc. The conversation highlights the role of Tlaxcalan allies, the use of cannons and crossbows, and the gradual encirclement of the Aztec capital. Drawing on Bernal Díaz del Castillo's firsthand account and the Florentine Codex, they explore a moment of high tension: the failed assault on the Tacuba causeway, where the Spanish suffered heavy losses. The episode also touches on the psychological warfare of the Spanish, including the destruction of temples and the relentless pressure on Tenochtitlan's defenders. A brief donation segment supports ad-free history. #Tenochtitlan #Cortés #Cuauhtémoc #Siege1521 #Chapultepec #Brigantines #Tlaxcalan #BernalDíaz #FlorentineCodex #TacubaCauseway #AztecResistance #Mesoamerica #Conquistadors #SpanishConquest #History #FexingoHistory #MilitaryHistory #IndigenousHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Totonac: Cortés's First Allies on the Gulf Coast

When Hernán Cortés landed on the Mexican Gulf Coast in 1519, he found a people simmering with resentment against the Aztec Empire: the Totonac. Based in the prosperous city of Cempoala, the Totonac had been forced to pay heavy tribute to Moctezuma II—cacao, cotton, feathers, and even human sacrifices. Their leader, a rotund cacique nicknamed the Fat Chief by Spanish chroniclers, saw in Cortés a chance to break free. This episode explores the Totonac alliance from their perspective: why they allied with a handful of Spaniards, how they provided crucial support at Cempoala and Villa Rica de la Veracruz, and how they were ultimately betrayed by the very system they helped install. We examine their civilization—known for monumental stone sculptures, a unique language, and a long history of resistance—and trace their fate after the conquest, including devastating epidemics and forced labor under the encomienda. A story of pragmatism, hope, and tragic miscalculation. #Totonac #Cempoala #FatChief #Cortés #Veracruz #AztecEmpire #Mesoamerica #Conquistadors #IndigenousAllies #GulfCoast #Tribute #Cacao #VillaRica #Encomienda #Smallpox #BernalDíaz #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Cortés and the Tribute System: How Indigenous Wealth Funded Conquest

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica was financed not by Spanish gold but by Indigenous tribute networks. They trace the Mexica tribute system—recorded in the Matrícula de Tributos—which funneled cacao, cotton, maize, and jade from 38 provinces into Tenochtitlan. After 1521, Cortés repurposed these same mechanisms through encomiendas, demanding labor and goods from native communities to fund expeditions into Oaxaca, Michoacán, and beyond. The discussion highlights figures like Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, Cuauhtémoc, and the cihuacoatl Tlacaelel, whose administrative genius was co-opted by the conquerors. The episode also touches on the tribute's human cost: macehualtin forced to produce for both native lords and Spanish encomenderos, leading to famine and rebellion. A detailed look at one province, Tochtepec, reveals how a single region supplied rubber, feathers, and warriors—first for the Aztec Empire, then for Cortés. #TributeSystem #MatriculaDeTributos #Cortes #Moctezuma #Cuauhtemoc #Encomienda #Mesoamerica #AztecEmpire #Mexica #Tlacaelel #Cihuacoatl #Tenochtitlan #Tochtepec #Macehualtin #Nahuatl #Conquistadors #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Cacao: The Currency That Built an Empire

Before chocolate became a sweet treat, it was money. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the role of cacao beans as currency in Aztec society. They discuss how cacao was harvested, processed, and used for everyday purchases from food to brides, touching on the tribute system, the cacao drink enjoyed by nobles, and what happened when Cortés and his men encountered this strange 'brown gold.' They also look at how the Spanish adapted cacao for their own use, adding sugar and vanilla to create the forerunner of modern chocolate. The episode draws on sources like the Florentine Codex and Bernal Díaz del Castillo's account to bring this rich history to life. A donation appeal seamlessly weaves in: just as cacao was a medium of exchange for the Aztecs, listener support keeps this ad-free podcast going. #Cacao #AztecCurrency #ChocolateHistory #Mesoamerica #FlorentineCodex #BernalDíazDelCastillo #Nahuatl #Xocolātl #Tribute #Cortés #Conquistadors #History #FexingoHistory #AztecEconomy #CacaoBeans #FoodHistory #PreColumbian #SpanishConquest Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]