Pre Hispanic period Huamantla

portion of huamantla codex

the first settlement in huamantla area south of current city. became 1 of thirteen villages formed political union lasted 1800 1200bce , @ height had population of 3,500 inhabitants. village near huamantla extended on area of between 3 , 5 hectares. next regional center of power in settlement archeological site called los cerritos de natividad, east of huamantla, influence extended on fourteen communities. era distinguished building of pyramid , planned urban centers.

this followed texoloc era, center of power @ tlalencaleca between 800 , 600 bce. architecture included talud-tablero pyramids , ceramics show influence west of mexico , gulf coast. following tezoquipan era considered cultural , technological apex of region reflected water system, architecture , trade connections. era extended 350 bce 100 ce, , @ height included 297 settlements, fourteen of major cities. huamantla 3 of these settlements, pyramids , planned layouts centered on plaza.

the decline of area called tenanyecac phase, lasts 100-650ce. decline due rise of teotihuacan , cholula. people migrated away tlaxcala area , zone became tributary provinces of 2 powers. teotihuacan established trade corridor through huamantla connect points east , south, no major settlements.

sometime after this, between 650 , 900ce, there began otomi migration huamantla valley , other parts of tlaxcala in various waves. there evidence of olmeca-xicalanca , tlaxco influence, rise of cacaxtla. fall of teotihuacan allowed local control of trade corridor. however, until colonial period, major cultural force otomi. of history known huamantla codex, largest document of kind , 1 of few document history of otomi people. in 9 fragments, 7 @ national library of anthropology , history in mexico city , 2 in germany @ berlin state library . central story of codex battle between newly arrived otomis against established , aligned tlaxco @ atlangatepec. victory went newcomers, allowing them passage , settlement near malinche volcano, called tecoac dominion. these tecoac otomi still political force when spanish arrived. document commissioned shortly after conquest, possibly franciscans church , monastery of huamantla represented.

the last indigenous consolidation of power in huamantla creation of tlaxcallan dominion, state gets name. chichimeca political union formed around 1100 ce, pushed out olmeca-xilcalancas , divided territory 4 interdependent dominions. otomi immigration still continued area after this, after fall of tula in 1168. huamantla belonged dominion of tecoac, 1 of 4 made tlaxcallan kingdom. area first have contact cortés , army made incursion here in 1519 attacked, otomi vassals. first time spanish used advanced weaponry , dispersed native soldiers.