This cae study presents a reconstruction of the culture of the Cakchiquel Maya people of highland Guatemala during the seventeenth century. The Cakchiquel had been caught up in the early phase of European empire buliding and were fully incorporated within the Spanish regime. They were subjected to a range of demands from their Spanish overloads: that they adopt a new faith, change their settlement patterns and political organization, pay tribute in goods, services and money, and more. There was also a population loss due to the introduction of Old World diseases to which the Maya people had no immunity. This loss combined with Spanish demands caused them to have to adapt and survive as a culturally distinct population.