The Tarascans were a powerful empire in 16th century Mexico, neighbors and fierce rivals of the Aztec Empire. While they aren't as well-known as their rivals, they were once one of the most powerful forces in Mesoamerica, and their descendants are still alive today.

1. Meet the
Tarascans
By Todd Proa

2. Who were
they?
• Contemporaries (and fierce
rivals) of the Aztecs!
• Had a massive empire in
modern-day Mexico based
around Michoacán (shown in
green)

3. Where did
they come
from?
• According to their legends, they
migrated into Michoacán from
elsewhere, then conquered their
hostile neighbors!
• They built an empire of various
ethnic groups, who were allowed
to keep their old customs as long
as they paid tribute to and fought
for the Tarascan king

4. What were they like?
• Similar to other
Mesoamerican
cultures in regards
to technology and
religion!
• Fought constantly
with their
neighbors, the
Aztecs

5. What happened to
them?
• After the Spanish conquered
the Aztecs, they turned their
attention to the Tarascans!
• Because the Tarascans were
dealing with a succession
crisis and had no energy to
deal with the Spanish, they
quickly submitted without
much of a fight!
• Their descendants still live
around Michoacán

6. Why don’t we hear about
them?
• The Spanish paid more
attention to the Aztecs
when they came to
Mexico, because they put
up more of a resistance!
• Mexican archaeology is
focused on tourism, so
people aren’t as interested
in the relatively small-
scale Tarascan sites as
they are in the massive
monuments of the Aztecs
or Mayans