Ancient Warriors Inspire Mayans to Defend Culture David Dudenhoefer - Indian Country Today
go to original September 17, 2013

The facade of a church in Tihosuco destroyed during the Caste War. (David Dudenhoefer)

In the town of Tihosuco, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, is a museum dedicated to a little-known war called the Guerra de Castas, or Caste War, which resulted in an independent Mayan state within Mexico that lasted for half a century. Though few people have heard of the Caste War, there are plenty of Mayans who keep its memory alive, and turn to it for inspiration as they defend their culture from the pervasive influence of the modern world.

The Caste War began in 1847, when an estimated 40,000 Mayans took up arms against the people of European descent who had dominated their territory for three centuries. Its name stems from the racially stratified society that Spain established in its colonies, in which Natives constituted the lowest caste. Over the course of two decades, Mayan troops managed to kill or expel most of the non-Natives from the southeastern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula, and their leaders establish an independent Mayan state that endured until 1901, when the Mexican army captured its capital, Chan Santa Cruz (now Felipe Carrillo Puerto).

“The Caste War is very important because it represents the knowledge of our ancestors,” said Antonia Poot, a guide at the Caste War Museum, in Tihosuco. “At the same time, I don’t think we should fight with arms as our ancestors did. The question is, how can we defend our knowledge and experience and everything that our ancestors left us.”

She explained that the Museum contributes to this goal by serving as a cultural center where young people can learn about Mayan history, music, ceremonies, natural medicine and other traditions.

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