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logistical capabilities were vastly exceeded.
66 Nevertheless, this campaign was made possible by the previous incursion against Coaixtlahuacan, which established at least a partial network of tributaries who would offer logistical support and intelligence. |
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But the Aztecs did not rely on tributaries or foraging alone for their logistical needs. They fell back on a range of strategies that took into account the political dependency of the transit areas. Where local tributaries already existed, these were relied on to provide obligatory supplies. Where they did not, the Aztecs' reputation could still compel considerable respect and, in effect, create new tributaries on the spot or at least induce support as the course of least resistance. If a town resistedwhether it was an incidental town or the targetit was conquered, if possible, and its supplies were taken to further the Aztecs' thrust or to support their return home. In addition to these manifestly coercive strategies the Aztecs also apparently relied on markets for resupply in areas that they did not want to disturb politically. But this last strategy underlies a persistent pattern of Aztec logistical expansion: conquest was less a qualitative than a quantitative matter. |
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There were many levels of Aztec conquest, based on political, military (strategic and tactical), and economic considerations. Thus, how different towns and cities supported the passing Aztec armies varied widely. Some towns of strategic importance, such as those dominating passes and those that could offer considerable resistance, were assessed lesser obligationsperhaps merely free passage for Aztec armies. Those towns capable of little resistance and having greater tributary importance were compelled to provide more support. In this the Aztecs far exceeded the other polities of central Mexico. Beyond their respective heartlands no others guaranteed outlying cities defense from hostile incursions, possessed the reputation on which Aztec power was based, or had the military or logistical capacity to project power as far as the Aztecs. Thus the Aztecs were in a dominant position, politically and militarily, and in extending their influence they were more concerned with the ability to mobilize and to project force than in its specific location. Consequently, to maximize their areas of dominance, they imposed markedly different administrative burdens on internal regions of the empire. |
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The city of Huaxyacac was an extreme in this regard. Because of its actions (and probably because of its strategic location so far from |
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