Matlatzinca civilization

The Matlatzinca civilization was an indigenous culture located in the Toluca Valley part of central Mexico, flourishing before and during the Aztec empire. The Matlatzincas have a rich history dating back to the Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology. They are noted for resisting Aztec expansion and maintaining their independence until the late 15th century. Once a people with their own governance and societal systems, the Matlatzinca civilization constructed urban settlements with buildings that had both religious and civic significance.

The Matlatzinca people built temples, pyramids, and ball courts indicative of their complex culture and the Mesoamerican tradition. As farmers, they developed sustainable agriculture despite the region’s volcanic soil and landscape. Their language, Matlatzinca, belongs to the Oto-Pamean branch of the Otomanguean language family and was spoken throughout the region. After the Aztecs conquered the Matlatzinca, they became integrated into the empire, and consequently, their culture and traditions were influenced by the dominant power. Despite this, elements of the Matlatzinca civilization’s rituals and artifacts remain valued parts of the region’s heritage.