Maya Revolt and Revolution in the Eighteenth Century

Records of revolts, rebellions, and revolution provide insight into the nature of the Maya in the colonial period. In this book, Robert Patch presents five case studies - four in Guatemala and one in Yucatan, Mexico - of eighteenth-century Maya acts of violent resistance to Spanish colonialism. In the process, he reveals a great deal about indigenous culture, social structure, politics, economics, lineage, and gender. The author carefully analyzes the causes of, participation in, and resolution of each uprising, explaining the different political, economic, and cultural catalysts and the scope and outcome of each conflict. Through such detailed narratives, the reader not only learns about the reality of colonialism, but also is presented with the flesh-and-blood, real-life individuals and groups who resisted, counter-acted, circumvented, and defied the Spaniards. These stories reveal the drama, tragedy, and even comedy of the history of ordinary people and everyday life at the time.