What Aztec insect was worth its weight in gold?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
July 23, 2002
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The Aztec were the peoples of central Mexico, the Mexica [ma shee' ka] tribe created the culture we call the Aztec. The primary goal of conquests by the rulers of Tenochtitlan was tributes, taxes in the form of goods. The culture spread because craftsmen could specialize, needed to specialize to pay the tributes.
In 1519, Hernán Cortés and his men invaded the land of the Aztec. The Spanish found a wealthy culture—plantations, cities, temples, aqueducts, gardens, and marketplaces. For sale were foods, spices, flowers, pottery, and textiles.
In the History of the Conquest of Mexico (1843), William H. Prescott wrote, "...the rich crimson of the cochineal [co chi' neel]...was introduced into Europe from Mexico, where the curious little insect was nourished with great care on plantations of cactus, since fallen into neglect. The natives were thus enabled to give a brilliant coloring to the webs (woven cloth), which were manufactured of every degree of fineness, from the cotton raised in abundance...They had the art...of interweaving...the delicate hair of rabbits...which made a cloth of great warmth...beauty...on this they laid a rich embroidery...."
The Aztec had neither a large standing army nor military tacticians. Cortés succeeded because he took advantage of the enmity created by the payment of tributes. Outlaying areas had no loyalty to Tenochtitlan; they believed they would be liberated from rule.
The Aztec traded masters. Public works ceased; the cities, gardens, and marketplaces fell to ruins. In Indians of North America (1969) Harold E. Driver wrote, "...the Spanish rapidly regimented all available Indian labor to mine, farm, and produce export goods...Spain thus produced more silver and gold than all the rest of Europe....Second to metals in export value was the red cochineal dye...."
Cochineal became the crimson of the Renaissance masters, the coats of the British army, the robes of the Catholic cardinals, and fabrics of the royalty. In Europe, cochineal was valued in weight to gold. Driver added this footnote to the Aztec Empire, "...the population of Mexico was reduced from between 30 and 37.5 million to a mere 1.5 million between 1520 and 1650."
UCLA has an article, "RED SCALES IN THE SUNSET" about cochineal (Dactylopius coccus). To learn more about the cochineal of the Aztec, click on the link:
http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Cochineal/
Series: | 1 | | 2 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What Aztec insect was worth its weight in gold? Plants that Changed History - July 23, 2002
What was the scarlet of the Aztecs? Renfield's Garden - July 24, 2002
How did Aztecs cure fear? Herbal Folklore - September 30, 2002
Why were Celtic warriors blue? Plants that Changed History - April 8, 2003
What plant colored a rebellion? Plants that Changed History - February 4, 2003
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