Caterina Pizzigoni writes about the the people of the Toluca Valley and how trade was the center of their lives. Maize cultivation was the main occupation for the people in Toluca Valley (Pizzigoni, 143). Also, maguey, a type of plant that was of importance to the indigenous people of the Toluca Valley, was used almost like currency. It could be bought, sold, traded, grown on property, or passed along to children. Maguey was also used in alcoholic beverages. The idea of culture clash comes up when talking about drinking alcoholic beverages in the Toluca Valley because while it was a normal activity of the indigenous people, the church and the Spanish had a negative view on the matter and tried to suppress tons of drinking.<\/p>\n
Pizzigoni brings up the idea that maize and livestock was left for the men to deal with while the women dealt with maguey cultivation (Pizzigoni, 146). Fathers tended to give the oxen to their sons since the men cultivated the land while he would then give his daughters cows, or animals not needed for the lands. The idea of buying maguey for their children, depending on their standing in the family rather than gender, is interesting. It also looks like women had economic opportunities in the Toluca Valley, where they were able to buy and sell maguey. I agree with Diana Tran<\/a> that maguey cultivation was a central role in women’s lives. There are evidence of culture change taking place in the Toluca Valley with their names. Pizzigoni looks at the lives of individual’s with names like Don Juan and Rosa Maria which shows how strong Spanish influence was in that region.<\/p>\n Whether it was maize, livestock, maguey, or clearing land, it seems like life in the Toluca Valley was centered around trading goods and skills among one another in order to better their lives for their families.<\/p>\n