WAR, CONQUEST AND COMBAT TECHNIQUES FROM THE ANCIENT TARASCAN

Abstract

The main intention of this paper is to make a first synthesis of the data concerning
the conception of the war between the fifteenth century Purépechas. This synthesis
is based on the contrast found in archaeological data, -primarily from mortuary
contexts, and ethnohistoric- contained in chronicles, dictionaries and pictures.
Therefore the symbolism of weapons, the role of war and the sacrifices will be
addressed, as well as the tactical aspects and technology. From all these data it is
concluded that most of the strategies were not aimed at killing the enemy on the
battlefield but their subjugation and subsequent death on the sacrificial stone. To
sum up, the final section is an attempt to understand the war not only as a means
to feed the deities, but also as a predatory mechanism for exchanging life forces
between conflicting groups.