Totonac

The Totonac people resided in the eastern coastal and mountainous regions of Mexico at the time of the Spanish arrival in 1519. Today they reside in the state of Veracruz. They built the Pre-Columbian city of El Taj?n, and until the mid-19th century were the world's main producers of vanilla.

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The region of the Totonac was called Totonacapan and extended roughly from Papantla in the north to Cempoala in the south. Totonacapan was largely hot and humid. Along with the normal agricultural crops of maize, squash, beans, and chilis, the region was noted for its production of liquid amber and cotton. Even during the disastrous central Mexican famine of 1450-1454, the region remained a reliable agricultural center. At this time many Aztecs were forced to sell themselves or their family members as slaves to the Totonac in exchange for subsistence maize. Totonac women were expert weavers and embroiderers; they dressed grandly and braided their hair with feathers. The Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahag?n stated that, in all aspects of their appearance, the women were "quite elegant." Likewise, the men dressed well, adorning themselves with multicolored clothing, necklaces, arm bands, and devices made of the prized quetzal feathers.

Mexico: The United Mexican States or Mexico (Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos or M?xico; regarding the use of the variant spelling M?jico, see section The name below) is a country located in North America, bordered by the United States to the north, and Belize and Guatemala to the southeast. It is the nort...

State: :This article discusses states as sovereign political entities. For other meanings, see state (disambiguation)....

Veracruz: Veracruz is the name of both a state in Mexico and that state's largest city. This article is about the state. For the city, see Veracruz, Veracruz. For other uses, see Veracruz (disambiguation).The state of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is one of the 31 states of Mexico....