Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization

E31618
Mesoamerican culture indigenous civilization of Mexico pre-Columbian civilization

The Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization was a powerful pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture centered in western Mexico, noted for its sophisticated metallurgy, strong military state, and successful resistance to Aztec expansion.

Observed surface forms (6)

Surface form As subject As object
Purépecha people 0 2
Tarascan state 0 2
Purépecha Empire 0 1
Purépecha civilization 0 1
Tarascan (Purépecha) culture 0 1
Tarascan civilization 0 1

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Mesoamerican culture →
indigenous civilization of Mexico →
pre-Columbian civilization →
alternateName Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization →
surface form: Purépecha civilization

Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization →
surface form: Tarascan civilization
archaeologicalSite Tzintzuntzan archaeological zone →
surface form: Ihuatzio archaeological site

Pátzcuaro region →
Tzintzuntzan archaeological zone →
capital Ihuatzio →
Pátzcuaro →
Tzintzuntzan →
conqueredBy Spanish Empire →
conquestDate early 16th century →
continent North America →
economy long-distance trade →
tribute system →
enemy Aztec Empire →
ethnicGroup Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization self-linksurface differs →
surface form: Purépecha people
floruit c. 1350–1521 CE →
governmentType centralized monarchy →
knownFor bronze working →
ceramic production →
copper working →
elaborate featherwork →
lacustrine agriculture →
obsidian tools →
sophisticated metallurgy →
strong military state →
successful resistance to Aztec expansion →
yácata pyramids →
language Purépecha language →
languageFamily language isolate →
locatedIn Basin of Pátzcuaro →
Michoacán →
Western Mexico →
surface form: western Mexico
mainCrops beans →
chili peppers →
cotton →
maize →
squash →
majorDeity Cuerauáperi →
Curicaueri →
Xaratanga →
namedAfter Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization self-linksurface differs →
surface form: Purépecha people
politicalCenter Basin of Pátzcuaro →
surface form: Lake Pátzcuaro basin
politicalStructure Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization self-linksurface differs →
surface form: Tarascan state
region Mesoamerica →
religion polytheism →
rulerTitle cazonci →
source Lienzo de Tlaxcala →
surface form: Relación de Michoacán
timePeriod Late Postclassic period →

Referenced by (9)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization → alternateName → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization →
this entity surface form: Purépecha civilization
Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization → alternateName → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization →
this entity surface form: Tarascan civilization
Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization → ethnicGroup → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization self-linksurface differs →
this entity surface form: Purépecha people
State of Michoacán → historicalRegionOf → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization →
this entity surface form: Purépecha Empire
Mesoamerica → knownFor → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization →
Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization → namedAfter → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization self-linksurface differs →
this entity surface form: Purépecha people
Aztec Empire → neighboringPolity → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization →
this entity surface form: Tarascan state
Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization → politicalStructure → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization self-linksurface differs →
this entity surface form: Tarascan state
Central Mexico → preColumbianCulture → Tarascan (Purépecha) civilization →
this entity surface form: Tarascan (Purépecha) culture