Outsiders and Outcasts in the Mexica World - Numilog

ook 10, chapter 29, of the Florentine Codex—compiled by the Franciscan friar
Bernardino de Sahagún in the second half of the sixteenth century, with the
collaboration of Nahua informants—to see what the Mexica, and the Nahuas
in general, thought of their foreign neighbors, both near and far. This text
exposes their Nahuacentric view of different ethnic groups, for it does not
stop at describing the physical characteristics and cultural ways of these
people but also criticizes them, measuring them against the Mexica’s own
ideals. This can be seen very clearly and schematically in references to the
Otomi and the Cuextecs. 3 While pointing out their supposed faults, instead of
giving an objective description of those aspects, the text exalts the Mexica
moral system. Everything that does not agree with that system becomes a
transgression. Thus, the foreigner was made out to be an immoral being,
moreover characterized by dullness and ineptitude. 4 At the same time, the
way in which the Mexica spoke of non-Nahua foreigners reflected the wars
they waged against them, since all were considered enemies of the Empire
for continually countering their military attacks and resisting their tribute.
Foreigners were incorporated not only in the moral system but also in rituals,
myths, and war; they played important religious and social roles.
Human sacrifice through heart extraction.
Florentine Codex.
Introduction
Contents 9