TLAXCALLAN - An Indigenous American Republic

Throughout history people have experimented with more collective forms of government. Here's a fascinating example from what is now Mexico, Tlaxcallan.
Huge thanks to:
- Dr. Lane Fargher
- Rafael Mena (check out his artwork here)
/ pedrorafaelmena_artist
- & my patreons
/ stefanmilo
M.Laser's video on Aztec religion
• Aztec Human Sacrifices
Sources:
1 - Fargher, Lane F., et al. “Tlaxcallan: the Archaeology of an Ancient Republic in the New World.” Antiquity, vol. 85, no. 327, 2011, pp. 172-186., doi:10.1017/s0003598x0006751x.
2 - Cortés Hernán. Hernan Cortes: Letters from Mexico. Yale University Press, 2001.
3 - Fargher, Lane F., et al. “Egalitarian Ideology and Political Power in Prehispanic Central Mexico: The Case of Tlaxcallan.” Latin American Antiquity, vol. 21, no. 3, 2010, pp. 227-251., doi:10.7183/1045-6635.21.3.227.
4 - Zurita, Alonso de, and Benjamin Keen. Life and Labor in Ancient Mexico: the Brief and Summary Relation of the Lords of New Spain. University of Oklahoma Press, 1994.
Disclaimer: Use my videos as a rough guide to a topic. I am not an expert, I may get things wrong. This is why I always post my sources so you can critique my work and verify things for yourselves. Of course I aim to be as accurate as possible which is why you will only find reputable sources in my videos. Secondly, information is always subject to changes as new information is uncovered by archaeologists.
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www.stefanmilo.com
Historysmilo
historysmilo

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Native American cultures need SOOOOOOOO much more media exposure. Thank you so much for being part of the solution. Cheers, friend!

[@donzo8821]

Then you would find out they were never talking about modern Mexicans!

[@biomuseum6645]

I love how you refer to them as native americans, even if they lived outside modern day US

[@unomasdelsur]

Agreed, away from the narratives, history should be told completley.

[@tadeozapata4365]

​@@donzo8821 Well, the actual mexicans are a mix between native americans, africans and spaniards.

[@pezvonpez]

@@biomuseum6645 the continent they live in is called America

[@Discotekh_Dynasty]

Love stuff on Native American archeology, I’ve never heard of most of this

[@StefanMilo]

Yeah I had never heard of them either. That's why I thought they worth a video

[@Squirrelanditsnutz]

I lived in America and still have to seek this information out. Thanks, Eurocentric Education System.

[@jk-gb4et]

@@Squirrelanditsnutz keep brushing your teeth its good 👍😬🪥

[@krakendragonslayer1909]

@@StefanMilo Dou know what is impossible to find in YT? *Prehistory of Slavs:* - common Balto-Slavic period of Lusatian culture; did they settle their land starting from Morava River area after they arrived from Lech River Valley 1200BC, as Y-DNA suggests? - Proto-WesternSlavic area of Przeworsk culture, and Proto-SouthEasternSlavic area of Zarubnitsy culture; did they adopt name Rus from Rossolani (Roxolans) Iranians?

[@siv2877]

Check if The Dawn of Everything. It came out last month and is all about things like this.

[@SlavaMironov]

Just read about these guys in Dawn of Everything, absolutely bonkers how much diversity there was in Mesoamerican political systems.

[@Antaios632]

Such a landmark book! ❤️

[@tiagogon]

Incredible book ❤️

[@dnavid]

indeed DoE is a great book as it destroys the western myth that American or other indigenous nations were somehow thousands of years behind " enlightened europe" in terms of social and technological progress but I wanna know what Milo thinks!

[@nathansprinkle7237]

Hey, me too!

[@szymonbaranowski8184]

​@@dnavid Europe had enlightenmened Islam before enlightened Christianity XD

[@chrisball3778]

When I woke up this morning, basically all I knew about Tlaxcala was that they were Cortez' most reliable allies against the Aztecs. To my eternal shame, I essentially thought of an entire culture as patsies for imperialism. They're now one of the aspects of Mesoamerican history I'm most interested to learn more about. Thank you for this video.

[@KateeAngel]

More like Cortez was their ally in fighting against centuries old enemy. Also, Triple Alliance was imperialist nation

[@NCRonrad]

Out of the 4 or 500 Spanish who came in 1521 revolt, only like 8 survived. Hardly a Spanish victory, especially when the revolting natives totaled 20000-4 E 30000plus

[@chibiromano5631]

Tlaxcala made up like 98% of the troops. They had already sacked Tenochtilan 100 years before the Iberians arrived, during the Aztcapuzalco war. they also helped establish the tripple alliance with Nezacoyotl. Basically, Tlaxcala is Russia and Aztec tripple alliance is Germany. During the Napeolonic wars, France captured Berlin and then Russia bailed out the Prussians-Germans and allied with them to take out the French. Now that Germany had peace it was allowed to grow and unify a became a powerhouse, this eventually sets up a war with Germany and its old ally Russia in WW2. So by the time the Americans arrived in WW2 the Russians already had the war won. .. By the time the Iberians arrived, the Tlaxcalans had already won the war with Cholula defecting and joining Tlaxcala. People also sleep on Malinche, she was actually leading the resitance of the veracruz mayans. She was basically backing Tlaxcala to become a buffer state against the growing Aztec power. Even if the Spanish never arrived and they had defeated the Tlaxcalans, the Aztec would have faced a far larger threat in Guadalajara in the TARASCAN empire. Surely indeed, when colonization happened, Guadalajara became more powerful than Mexico City in the 1600s. Mexico City was cultuaral and religious powerhouse but Guadalajara was an economic and military power. Mexico City does not become a super city again until the early 1900s under Lazaro Cardenas.

[@Idkidki]

@@poleroso85 stop with this Spanish apologist nonsense

[@danielawesome36]

When I woke up this morning, basically all I knew about Tlaxcala was that my knowledge about me even having knowledge about the mere existence of Tlaxcala doesn't exist.

[@jafersorianocamargo6723]

Really liked this video! I think fo us Mexicans it's a touchy subject, how the modern state of Tlaxcala set certain "stones" in the way for the Spanish conquest and all... Growing up in cdmx we know there are two sister republics; Yucatán and Tlaxcala. Yucatán because they had a very strong secession movement (and even were their own country for a ridiculous short time) and Tlaxcala because of what you exposed. They're the reminder of the broad palette of nations that are now under the Mexican state, but sometimes this also becomes negative. There's another popular saying, that Tlaxcala doesn't even exist. Back when the PRI created the Mestizo narrative of a homogeneous mixture of european and indigenous culture as the prevailing population in México, the glorious past of the mesoamerican civilizations was uniformed towards the Mexica and Tenochtitlan, thus making Tlaxcallan traitors and parias in the eyes of history, even though officially they've also been recognized as the cradle of mestizaje and even the model for Patria, the humanized icon of the motherland México comes famously from Tlaxco, Tlaxcala. The state has been really underdeveloped, it's lightly populated, lacks in infrastructure at the federal and private level (they celebrated a couple of years ago their first escalator in the whole state and the grand opening of their own Starbucks) and lack in opportunity and justice (the biggest network of child sex trafficking has taken over certain region) plagues their daily life, but we need to reappropriate and revalue the historical and cultural achievements of our natives from this modern state, sister republic of Tlaxcala. Thank you for this vid.

[@StefanMilo]

Damn I did not know the legacy of the conquest has created such hardship for people of Tlaxcala. I didn’t touch on the conquest so much here because I didn’t want to distract from their political system. I just mentioned it at the start because Cortes’ letters are a glimpse into this society. That’s a real shame. Still I think we’re living in a time where many of the old ideas of history are changing for the better.

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Leaders tend to create amazing things, but it never prevents them from doing evil. Powerful people don't typically feel obliged to follow a script other than the one they write for themselves.

[@jdnw85]

Tlaxcala No Existe!! Just kidding.

[@jdnw85]

@@StefanMilo it is not as much as the legacy of Conquest but of the Modern Mexican State. Tlaxcaltecas and Otomi where an active part of the Spanish Army in North América, they conquered Other tribes. The mexican nationalistic ideas portrays them as traitors.

[@ivjay5741]

Man there is so much i dont know! Wow thanks the elaborate comment giving nuanced context and depth to the subject. Shout out to the Tlaxcala.

[@thr8thjuice]

As someone born in Tlaxcala this was very good, most Mexicans just think we are traitors, when in reality we where just defending ourselves from potentially being turned into pozole, very good video, loved it.

[@zackordonez7802]

Exacto, además de que probablemente muchos de los que se burlan o llaman traídor a tlaxcala probablemente desciendan de los tlaxcaltecas que salieron con los españoles a conquistar el territorio que hoy es México.

[@efilopialul2494]

I am really intrested in that if you can develop, I read that in colonial and aztec and tlaxcalan accounts Xicotencatl I was regarded as a traitor, but his reputation was restored after Mexico gained independence as an indigenous state powering colonialism. Are people still refering to Xicotencatl I as a traitor or to Tlaxcalans as a whole as traitors (I also read that one of the first promoters of a joint acction against aztecs with spaniards was pushed forward by Maxixcatl, what is the public opinion on him, if any)

[@thr8thjuice]

@@efilopialul2494 Tlaxcalans as a whole are regarded as traitors, but mostly due to Hernán Cortez translator "Malinche" who was a Tlaxcalan woman who helped him, so there's a term some people still use to refer to someone doing something "traitorous" its an old term and not used a lot "malinchista" but in the end Tlaxcalans never betrayed the mexicas or Aztecs as most know them but in reality Tlaxcala was its own republic holding itself against the triple alliance which was a Tenochtitlan and its allies so when the Spaniards came they saw an opportunity to get rid of the mexicas, later on the Tlaxcalan population decreased significantly not only by decease but by migration, when Spaniards went on to colonize Mexico the first people they took with them were Tlaxcalans leaving Tlaxcala with a very small population so until today most people who hold that "traitors" grudge are people who mostly live in Mexico city.

[@efilopialul2494]

@@thr8thjuice Really interesting, I 100% agree with you that Tlaxcala did not betray, I think their republic si fascinating and I hope antropologists manage to get more info about exactly how their democratic council worked (aside from the things we already know). Also someone should change that wiki of them, it's misleading. Thanks for response.

[@jonathanwells223]

Tlaxcala was only a traitor if you are actually retarded enough to view pre-Mexico Mexico as a monolith, which was anything but the reality.

[@seribelz]

I always imagined the first republics on well protected rocky shores (or close to them) not in the middle of the land completely surrounded by a strong warrior empire. I wonder what conditions pushed the tlaxcalans to develop their fascinating political system

[@SomeGuy1117]

Perhaps it was as an adaptation to the empire above it. I wouldn't be surprised if they started out as a collection of culturally similar but separate tribes that when faced with a large external pressure were forced to compromise with each other for mutual defense. Overtime this could cause them to get more interconnected until they fully integrate each other into their larger political framework. I wouldn't be surprised if they were bolstered by runaway slaves from the Aztec who also wouldn't want to have a new unaccountable master either.

[@Bassmasterwitacaster]

Cum makes the world go round brother

[@TristanCleveland]

I noticed that one of the three things that could get you promoted was being successful in commerce. The Italian republican cities were merchant cities, and Weber hypothesized that commerce was key to the development of democracy. It left me wondering what role this centrally-located state played in regional commerce.

[@fern7306]

Teamwork

[@Xaeonx7GamingUXF]

@@SomeGuy1117 The Aztec slave population was actually tiny, never exceeding 2% of the population.

[@Rafael_Mena_Ill]

Fantastic video! It was a pleasure working with you! A very underrated and underappreciated region and period of history no doubt!

[@StefanMilo]

The master himself! thanks for all your help Rafa!

[@BFDT-4]

Stefan, this is great. Not that it "rewrites" history, but that it UN-DOES bad history. Very nice.

[@orrinnirro]

It's a bit dated now but I'd recommend reading 1491 if you haven't! I literally just read about the stuff in this video this morning!

[@landon8214]

That's it, you're being sacrificed to Huitzilopotchli

[@MajoraZ]

Great video! Something I think that's important to note though is that most if not all Nahua altepeme/city-states existed along a spectrum of being monarchial, to aristocratic, to oligarchical/democratic: Tlaxcala merely existed on the extreme latter end of that spectrum. Even Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, had a council of 4 political officials which allegedly elected kings (just in practice always from the same royal family), and a council of nobles which also had at least nominal power (though the specifics of these varies between sources). Likewise, recorded customary speeches and certain discussions between officials recorded in the Florentine Codex or Duran's history have kings of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco, it's sister city, consulting the common people and framing descions as things that they public needed to approve or deny. Now, surely some, likely most, of this is merely custom and nominal, and as you've explained the Tlaxcalteca take these to further extremes, but it still shows that more communal political systems was a shared cultural foundation across Nahua states. On the other hand, I'm also under the impression that Tlaxcala, in turn, DID technically have Tlatoani/kings (you mention Tlatoque in the video, but I am specifically thinking of Tlatloque for each of the 4 subcities, like Tiztlan, tho I also know some researchers have refuted Tlaxcala being a compound city at all and such accounts being erronous) but their role in the political system was minimized compared to Tlaxcala's version of the councils Tenochtitlan had, which as you note in Tlaxcala were open to commoners. I don't have a particular source for this off the top of my head (which is how I am typing this all up, apologies for that!), but I am pretty sure that I've read that, much like how colonial period sources exaggerated the differences between Tenochtitlan and Texcoco, the former as warlike (sort of a Sparta) and the latter as intellectual (sort of like Athens), such sources also exagerrated the differences between Tenochtitlan and Tlaxcala (not that such differences don't exist or aren't significant) I also think it would have been worth mentioning how Teotihuacan fits into this. You bring up the city and it's unusual layout, but any disscusion of represenative rule in Mesoamerica should talk about it's potential political system. For those who aren't aware, during the Mesoamerican Classic period, Teotihuacan was a major metropolis in Central Mexico (actually in a subvalley inside of the larger Valley of Mexico the Aztec political core would be located in a millennia later), It is unusual, for a number of reasons: One, it's gigantic. Housed 100,000+ denizens, and covered a total area (as of surveys from 50 years ago, so there may be more!) of 37 square kilometers. Of course, larger Maya cities had sprawls covering dozens or even hundreds of square kilometers, but in Teotihuacan, around 20 of those 37 square kilometers was the urban core itself. On that note, all the structures in that core were on a planned grid, organized not around a plaza, but a central road. As for what structures could fill this massive urban grid, it was almost all palaces: Almost every denizen in Teotihuacan lived in fancy palace/villa compounds with dozens of rooms, courtyards, painted frescos, some with toilets and running water, etc. We also know the city was multi-ethnic, with certain neighborhoods showing writing, burial patterns, art, etc from Zapotec, Maya, Gulf Coast, and West Mexican cultures. Finally (there's also no ball courts aside from a small one early in the city's history that was buried, but, while unusual, doesn't tie into my point here) there's been no royal tombs or signs clear signs of authoritarian leadership found so far inside the city. So quite a few researchers believe it had a represenative or democratic government as well; though there's also some evidence that it invaded and installed rulers on some Maya cities like Tikal and the inscriptions that suggest that do mention Fire-Is-Born and Spearthrower-Owl, who are often talked about as Teotihuacano generals or kings, but could of course be elected officials too, perhaps (and not everybody agrees they were actually Teotihuacano) If you (though you may already know most of it!) or anybody else is curious for more info, there's a video on the Ancient Americas channel I helped them with on Teotihuacan, there's also a pinned comment from me there with extra resources that didn't make it into the video... on THAT note, if you ever cover Mesoamerica again, feel free to reach out and I'd be glad to help if my schedule permits it, be it with research, resources, script proofreading, lending photos I have taken, etc. Rafael (who always does amazing art but really knocked it out of the park here!) or Aztlanhistorian can send you my info!

[@Rafael_Mena_Ill]

The existance of the four lordships is somewhat contentious and I'm inclined to agree that they likely were a colonial invention based on prior administrative districts.

[@mindstalk]

A spectrum of common elements also applies to the ancient Greek city-states, AIUI. Popular assembly, council or aristocrats, king; but differing in the balance. Athens ended up with a very powerful Assembly, and unique(?) elements like the juries, but there are still traces of the others. Homer's Odyssey portrays Telemachus, the young prince, calling and speaking to an assembly of citizens, asking for aid against the suitors.

[@davidhlnda]

Ya Graeber in his work talks about Teotihican especially during that era when many temples were evidently abandoned and a more egalitarian system began afterwards

[@Jidosh]

There was another republic too in the north east, the iroquois confederation. A lot of the archaeology research on it was done by French Canadians and is only available in french, but there’s quite a lot of material in English too. It’s an all around fascinating video, thank you Stefan for the quality of the content you produce. What a man.

[@eliscanfield3913]

I first thought of them, too. The Iroquois Confederation was really close to where I grew up. Hearing about Tlaxcalla is really cool as well

[@professor_kaosdrama3993]

pheonicians came, the ancestors of Vikings!, did you know most of bronze from greek shields come from mines in lake michigan

[@Jidosh]

@@professor_kaosdrama3993 no it doesn’t and no they didn’t come. It’s a myth without empirical evidence to back it up even though Michigan archeology is pretty well developed. Two lines of evidence proves this : 1) there is no stuff, no material evidence whereas vikings left material evidence of their journey. Every traveling party leaves evidence and exploitation of ressources on a large scale would leave unambiguous traces in the archeological record mostly around extraction sites. There is none. 2) I’d like to see solid chemical evidence in provenance analysis done, a field that is well developed in archeometry and has been since the early 1940s on most elements, on said bronze in a peer reviewed journal. Since you bring up a contesting hypothesis to actually consensual and well documented processes of the metallurgical chain of production in the Mediterranean area, the burden of proof falls on you man. Why would they go through the trouble of crossing a dangerous sea when all the ressources necessary were available way closer in multiple sources? The earliest contact between North American natives and europeans dates to the viking expeditions and was restricted to a quite small range of sites mainly in greenland and some places in eastern canada. They didn’t even make it down the saint lawrence.

[@TruthArrows]

The "Iroquois Confederacy" still exists. There is no need to speak of all Indigenous Peoples in past tense form.

[@luc-i-guess]

@@TruthArrows thanks for saying this.

[@jcm7814]

I’m from Tlaxcala but have been raised in California most of my life. I knew a little bit about Tlaxcala history, and today I learned much more. Thank you for that! Amazing history!!

[@longline]

Yes! I love me some not-all-civilisation-starts-in-Greece. This is great. I am now googling all the lesser known ancient republics, that's my christmas sorted...

[@StefanMilo]

Hells to the yes! Yeah ancient republics are super interesting!

[@100c0c]

No one ever said that lol. You just watch European content and are upset they focus on European history 😂

[@HistoryDose]

Great video! Slick editing and a topic I knew nothing about.

[@IHateThisHandleSystem]

The Iroquois Confederacy has been classified as a "representative democracy", very close to being a republic.

[@xscale]

More participatory than representative, so far as I understand it. Small councils at every level of society with consensus-based treaty-barter rather than majority rule and autonomy baked in at every level. In many ways far superior to a modern republic, imho.

[@cathjj840]

I immediately thought of that when reading the title. Would like to see Stefan give his take on it. Of course, he'd use the proper names for the people and places, because the ones most non native Americans know are not authentic, including one borrowed from an Englishman's poem. That political system, which prexisted colonization by a few hundred years, apparently served as one of the influences on the US Constitution. Another interesting aspect is the role of women, both in its elaboration and in practice.

[@xscale]

@@cathjj840 As I understand it, it was Longfellow who borrowed Hiawatha's name, not the other way around. Obviously the Longfellow poem has nothing to do with the Haudenosaunee. He just liked the way the name scanned, and appropriated it. Mind you it is a ripping poem and kids especially adore it. As for the Haudenosaunee influence, it's much deeper than you imagine. Franklin wrote a whole book about Iroquois treaties and the US congress explicitly acknowledged their inheritance of ideas from the Haudenosaunee in 1988. But Rousseau's "The Republic" was also influenced - so not just the American but the French Revolution also derived from them. And Marx and Engels wrote extensively about the Haudenosaunee system so you can pin the Russian revolution on them too. And Stanton and Mott - the original suffragettes - they acknowledged the Haudenosaunee influence as well. So the Feminist revolution as well ...

[@sophiejones3554]

Not really representative, or democratic, unless you consider the American Constitution “representative” and “democratic”. The Iroquois Confederacy actually worked much the same way that the Holy Roman Empire did: there were electors, and they chose people for leadership positions. The difference is 1) the topmost level wasn’t a despot but a council and 2) the electors were all elderly women who represented their matrilineal clans.

[@KhAnubis]

*Slowly steals Stefan‘s video-making process *

[@user-yo9sm4zz1l]

Just finished my first semester of college for anthropology, thanks for all the inspiration and keep up the good work!

[@StefanMilo]

Thanks for watching!

[@AncientAmericas]

Fantastic and well done! Happy new year!

[@Imperiused]

Hey Stefan! Maybe another tip to pursue: Roderick McIntosh's research into early urbanism along the Niger river. I thought of it when you spoke of the archaeology of Tlaxcalla supporting the evidence of a Tlaxcallan republic.

[@Nuevomexicano]

Great video, a lot of my fellow Mexican Americans pride themselves on being Aztec, when in reality youre much more likely to be Tlaxcala as the Spanish would bring them when setting up colonies.

[@Coconut____________214]

Yeah they brought them to San Antonio, Texas after the coahuiltecans were wiped out by disease. My great great grandparents were born in San Antonio and I’m trying to figure out if I’m descended from the coahuiltecans or the Tlaxcala.

[@jj-bp3fr]

The Aztecs cover many states in mexico, they also came from the northern part of mexico (Aztlan). The mexicas covered many tribes, also includes aztecs (many groups/tribes together). Tlaxcaltecas are in a small area, many more tribes exist. Rule of thumb is the taller you are, your more from the central north to northern areas (hopi, yaqui, apache, otomi, purepechas, raramuri, etc), if your short, that's the south (mayans w larger heads and very short) or you are more from tribes in the veracruz area (toltecs) or oaxacan región (mayans, zapotecas, miztecas). Depending on the tribes, your physical appearance varies. I can usually tell what mexican region people are from. Example, Chichimecas from the Queretaro region defeated Aztecs bc they were tougher, taller, stronger than the Aztecs. I've been in their land, inside caves, visit Peña de Bernal, you can still see remnants and desendants, as well as tours. Raramuris are strongbrunners. Otomis are very creative craftsmen. Etc.

[@jj-bp3fr]

No, tlaxcaltecas do not compare in population to Aztecs, more likely they're Aztecs or a different tribe (they need to learn how each tribe has different physical attributes) , I highly double their Tlaxcaltecas. Ask for what state their parents were born and it'll pinpoint what tribe is located there.

[@LUC1FER_R1S1NG]

traitors

[@SebastianEpicurus]

​@@jj-bp3frRomans were shorter than their barbarian adversaries, i have no idea where you came to this conclusion

[@HistoryofAztlan]

Thank you for covering the Tlaxcallan republic Stefan! When I saw your last Insta post I knew it would have to do with the Americas! It’s also interesting to note the Tlaxcallan republic was divided into four parts and was pretty multi ethnic, made up of Nahuas, Otomis, Acolhuas, and ‘wild Chichimeca’. I’d also like to ask you if you plan on covering the peoples of Winnemucca and Spirit Caves in the future

[@StefanMilo]

It was deffo multi ethnic for sure. I didn’t include the 4 part division because it seemed like there wasn’t consensus on whether that was a development post Spanish contact. I actually haven’t heard of spirit caves but I’ll look into it

[@rippspeck]

The indefinite article in the title makes me hope for even more awesome content in this vein. Keep 'em coming, Stefan!

[@Calyrekt]

YES! Was just rewatching your last two videos and thinking “I hope we get a new video before the end of the year”. Love your work! ♥️

[@StefanMilo]

Thank you! I tried to get it done as quickly as possible but not being an expert on mesoamerica I had to fact check a lot!

[@Calyrekt]

@@StefanMiloi can imagine it took a lot of research, wishing you all the best and have a happy new year! ♥️

[@thehistorybuff1883]

What an incredibly interesting topic! I love the visuals and layout of the video as well. This is some of your best work Stefan!

[@openlifestyle4198]

You very quickly became my favourite KZbin channel last year, cannot wait to see what this year has in store! Keep up the incredible videos brother. Much love.

[@xibalbalon8668]

That painting of the Tlaxcalan senate by Rodrigo Gutiérrez has fascinated me for years, I'm so happy that people are finally looking into these ignored parts of history

[@MicroStarlight]

Stumbled upon this, I'm surprised by how low the views are! I love your editing style and the way you tell the story, it makes it very interesting! I hope you will gain the attention your channel deserves.

[@_Uhtcaru]

Just found your channel a week ago and binged most of it!! Love your stuff!!! Really sparked an interest in me in prehistory particularly archaic humans. Thanks for another fascinating and insightful video, great christmas present!

[@jesserowlingsify]

The Stefan Milo production quality is just going up and up. What a video, what a man. Keep it up SM, loving your work.

[@zakattack8624]

In general, I'm a 1/3 Indeginous American, English and Spanish, so it's always nice to learn about my potential ancestors. My maternal haplogroup (A2g) lived in the Bering Strait, and after the Ice Age, they finally entered North America about 14,000 years ago. My father's side also has Meso-American ancestry.

[@negative_0892]

Oh interesting I also come from the A2g halogroup, hello really distant relative wave 👋

[@teaser6089]

Amazing video Stefan! Been following your channel for a year or two now! Learned so much about history!

[@0mVi]

Lovely video once again Stefan, I always enjoy that you explore some of the more unique and lesser known aspects of history and research it so thorougly. Including actual experts is that step beyond that I really appreciate. The art was once again of the very highest quality, extend the compliment to Rafael, his art is so good and always fits the videos so well. This was a nice Christmas present altough I kind of missed the spoon, guess it's on a well deserved holiday.

[@StefanMilo]

Thanks OmVi, this next year I'm deffo trying to include more experts in the vids.

[@prophetofbara1214]

Awesome video! Very cool seeing you tackle other regions like you did with the Swahili. Can't wait for other content ❤

[@sizanogreen9900]

Damn that was interesting. I was expecting the iroqouis from the title and was pleasantly suprised to learn something entirely new to me:) Happy holidays to you!

[@DrLesleyStevens]

Happy holidays and a healthy new year! Much love and success. Miss your uploads . Also thanks for turning me on to so many other great channels.

[@gustavovillegas5909]

I saw this video from the artist who made the thumbnail and I love it, great work! Thank you for uplifting and sharing indigenous history!

[@Vodgepie1]

Wow the production quality has just gone to insane levels!!! Amazing content!!! We remain blessed!!!

[@DoctorDeSotoTheBand]

Loved it! Great information, visually rich production with the expanded artwork, and some face-to-camera stuff which we all love too. Cheers, Mikey Green.

[@StefanMilo]

Thanks Doc!

[@hom3chuk]

New mr Stefan video right before new year, what a treat! And what a topic, wink wink ✊ Love the art, and cheers to everyone else participated in the creation of this video 💙

[@readmycomment3157]

So excited to see you've posted. Thank you so much for another wonderful video, brilliant insight and engaging presentation

[@ivjay5741]

Great video again! i love the variaty of subjects and the effort you put in every on of them. It is comforting to see that reading a dozen books on different subjects can be used as a blessing and at the same time so gosh darn inspiring! Thanks Milo.

[@qustosh34]

Great video, i knew about the modern state of tlaxcala but had no idea about its fascinating history, please consider making a video about early slavic history, i love your style

[@Pixxelshim]

Thank you. I wonder so much about the pre-Columbian civilizations that existed in the Americas. I wish we knew more. And we will.

[@StefanMilo]

Yeah they're really fascinating. I'll have to cover them more!

[@Pixxelshim]

@@StefanMilo It is such a shame that some of the earliest evidence of migration and early "settlements" are likely deep under water now, coverd by sediments.

[@callusklaus2413]

@@StefanMilo I would love to see any of your work on the Muskogee civilization along the Mississippi, I only learned about it recently thanks to my partner, who is Choctaw and has access to some of that remembered knowledge. Cheers mate!

[@gnostic268]

@@callusklaus2413 Why don't you contact the Mvskoke tribe in Okmulgee Oklahoma? They would have most of the historical information. My late mother in-law was an enrolled member in the tribe. They were part of the Five Civilized Tribes but that designation was given because most accepted Christianity. The Mvskoke (Creek) people were more closely related to the Seminole and traded with the Hitichi and even the Natchez because they lived in proximity with them. They along with the Choctaw (Chahta) spoke a language that was part of the Muskogean language stock. These videos are good for raising interest but the tribe is the best place to learn the history because it's their history and they've preserved it and survived hundreds of years of attempted genocide and land thievery and broken treaties by the U.S. government.

[@callusklaus2413]

@@gnostic268 That's a really good suggestion, I think I'll spin up an email!

[@danielschmidt9427]

This is incredible Stefan, also your new logo is dope AF

[@simonward-horner7605]

What an eye-opener! Thanks, good to see another Stefan Milo Video!

[@darrelray4673]

I just learned about this culture as I was reading The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by Graeber and Wengrow. They speak of many more cultures like this that experimented with republican and democratic forms of self government. They make a great case that our traditional views of history and statehood are very inaccurate and a product of our own historians looking back and imposing our current ideas on other times and cultures. They also show that much is missed in history by focusing on the main cities and empires and kingdoms. Very few humans actually lived in these early "civilizations" and we miss much by imposing our ideas and ideals on the past. I highly recommend the book, though it is long and very involved. Thanks Stephan, I always enjoy your work. Dr. Darrel Ray,

[@StefanMilo]

I actually just got it myself, haven’t reached the part about Tlaxcala but I’m enjoying it for sure.

[@dcchillin4687]

wow your production quality is progressing so fast. great content!

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Love your channel, your humility, your babyface and enthusiasm for history. Thanks for a wonderful year of content and hoping 2022 will bring you exciting projects. Big hug.

[@bentufte7774]

I have known of the Tlaxcala since I initially learned about the conquest of Mexico, but I never knew about their form of governance. This video is beyond fascinating, Stefan, and I thank you for enlightening me to this wonderful civilization!

[@luxvult5202]

The quality of your videos have improved so much, that makes me happy :D

[@yegirish]

Excellent video, as ever. And hugs props to Rafael Mena for his fantastic artwork. He does such a great job bringing these scenes to life.

[@adrianbrink9358]

Been waiting so long for a new video, great stuff

[@chloepeifly]

hadnt heard from you in awhile, i just checked your channel yesterday! so excited to see a new vid out :)

[@igor-yp1xv]

I loved this video, very well made. I've recently discovered and subscribed to your channel and I'm really enjoying it. Thanks for your work!

[@eduardodaflon8949]

Hi Stefan! I really like your videos and I think it is amazing that you subtitled this one in Spanish. If you want to make the effort to translate the subtitles into Portuguese, I'll be more than happy to help!

[@A808K]

Dood, I greatly appreciate your informative content on most any topic but what makes them memorable is your friendly delivery. Feel like I had an intelligent conver with a friend over a couple beers. mahalo

[@paulhenry8174]

This just popped up today. I’ve been looking for new content from you for a couple weeks including looking into my subscribed creators. Don’t know how I missed it for so long. Good show. Though I’m only a couple minutes into it.

[@keithklassen5320]

I don't easily subscribe to KZbin channels, but I just subbed to you, and it's been long overdue. Every time I see one of your videos in my feed, I know it's going to be damn good.

[@Dragons_Armory]

Fascinating, utterly fascinating Please cover more non European Republics. Idk if this is within your age brackets but there was an ethnic Chinese Republic in what is today's Borneo called Lanfang Republic. It got quite an interesting history and it was made a republic around the same time US declared independence from Britain

[@hjelsethak]

Dude, you make all this knowledge of history so accessible for the lay person, me included. Thank you so much for all your content. PuhLEASE keep up the hard work in years to come!

[@jerrymiller2367]

I love your videos; you put the "unknown" humbly as the conclusion that's most appropriate sometimes. I like how you present evidence and conflicting theories.

[@PavlockProducts]

I think I’ve re-watched this video 5 times. Great stuff spoon man!

[@atomdent]

Always interesting and educational and well researched, great film,great channel, great host thanks Stefan. Happy new year!

[@doomoo5365]

Thanks for the great overview of History and I loved all the artwork and pictures of architecture

[@Artur_M.]

Great video! I already knew some things about the Tlaxcalans (Tlaxcalteca) and found them very interesting but this makes them tem ten times more fascinating.

[@grindsaur]

Amazing! Thanks Stefan, brilliantly fascinating topic! :)

[@semaj_5022]

God damn this was interesting. Really love your channel man, keep up the great content!

[@joaomt3123]

Great video as always Stefan!

[@mharth6594]

Thanks for doing the hours upon hours of research so we can enjoy the condensed version.

[@gregegg-ef1kl]

I'm extremely thankful to see more coverage of this portion of history! (I have a very slim blood connection to my ancestors) Very often it's never discussed, especially around the south western region of the US where the general narrative doesn't recognize the existence of Tlaxcalla in highschool social sciences.

[@MidKnightblue0013]

"loads more videos on history and archaeology to come" glad to hear that! I wonder if there is any connection between the Tlaxcallan civilization model and the Zapatista movement?

[@Peter-dk2ov]

I love your work Stefan. Such a fresh take on history

[@fukemnukem1525]

My absolute favorite archaeological channel on the whole internet.....thank you for the education and escape into the past.

[@8ahau279]

Always great to see quality videos on the americas. I greatly appreciate it!

[@leesnotbritish5386]

Fascinating that the way we build our cities shows how we are governed, one of those differences you never think of. A modern example: the distance by road from capital to closest airport is shorter in autocracies

[@voidgeometry794]

Your stuff is always great, Thanks Bud!

[@Stu161]

Very interesting to hear Cortez making direct comparisons between Tlaxcallan and Granada & Genoa, love it when primary sources can deliver like that!

[@Alan-Cummins]

Thank you for this wonderful piece of work! Happy New Year 😊

[@jonathanturek5846]

The acoustics at the ball court I experienced 1st hand. You can whisper from one captain's chair to the other across over hundred yards. It's amazing. I climbed the pyramids and sat on the altar where they sacrificed prisoners etc. Really heavy

[@annoyinbegga2921]

OMG, I am SOOOOOOO happy to find a new video!!! THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!

[@englishiguana4304]

Such a great video, this information is gold. Excellent presentation. Thank you very very much, the fact that is free content is such a priveledge!

[@anasevi9456]

great video as always, thanks mate!

[@rdp316]

What perfect timing! I just finished the chapter in David Greaber and David Wengrow's The Dawn of Everything where they talk about Tlaxcallan

[@StefanMilo]

lol that’s what everyone’s commenting. I just got that book myself but haven’t read the chapter on democracy in the Americas yet. Shame they probably would’ve said something that would’ve added to this video.

[@rq9jgbbv386]

Currently the most underrated channel on KZbin.

[@FUBARGunpla]

can i just say as a latin american, i LOVE the art in this series, it depicts in such a dignified and human manner, something not found in period art. great video!

[@adamcfmacdonald]

Glad to see you’re digging Graeber and Wengrow. Please consider doing a review sometime. Thanks for the video and stay well.

[@stevel379]

Nice to see you back Stefan. I was worried that you have retired from YT.

[@joshbaxter7966]

Absolutely love your channel! Thank you so much for these videos.

[@Eljefe003]

Very well done! Always enjoy your work!

[@michaelm-bs2er]

Stefan Milo. Your content is brilliant. Love your videos.

[@katherinegilks3880]

Great to learn about this! I would be interested in your take on David Graeber and David Wengrow’s book “The Dawn of Everything”. On a different note, it is disconcerting how many people who are vehemently opposed to human sacrifice have no problem with capital punishment (especially of the extra-judicial variety).

[@ArturdeSousaRocha]

That maquette of the plaza/market with all the details was something else.

[@callusklaus2413]

One of the coolest and most interesting videos I have seen in a long time, thanks for reading up on this and consulting an expert. I'm really fascinated by ancient democracies, unfortunately I'm a bio major and German minor with too much on his plate as it is, so I'm going to eagerly look over the shoulder of y'all!

[@Nabium]

Incredibly interesting, never even heard of this culture before. Thanks a lot, sir.

[@StefanMilo]

Thank you!

[@DavidAguilar-wo6ho]

Great video! Thanks for taking the time to make a video about my Mexican cultural heritage! The Tlaxcallan Senate reminds me of the Iroquois Confederacy and their Great Law of Peace, examples of democracy in Precolombian cultures shows that the political idea of “Democray” isn’t solely a European/Western invention!

[@mattcooper2899]

I just learned about the Tlaxcalans in David Graeber’s The Dawn of Everything. It also talks about the egalitarianism among the Harappans like you did in your previous video. Fascinating stuff!

[@Pixxelshim]

I shared this with the chair of Latin American Studies at a major university. His comment to me: "Looks interesting. I think he’s well read on the scholarship"

[@ashleyteece4237]

Very interesting. Superbly presented, as always.

[@ManiacMageetheG]

Great video, as always. It's a fascinating topic. I wonder how many more ancient American civilizations operated in a similar way.

[@lindanickell8565]

I too love learning about this stuff! You do good work! Thank you!