In 1608, Chimalpahin began the project of writing his people’s history on a grand scale.64 It would be a xiuhpohualli, or a collection of multiple xiuhpohualli, in the old tradition. He would record the history of the Mexica, of the Chalca people, and of anyone else for whom he could find sources, perhaps Azcapotzalco, Texcoco, and others. And he would do it before it was too late.
