Aztecs and Andean Civilizations. The Writer Presents

¶ … Aztecs and Andean civilizations. The writer presents each civilization and explores the differences and the similarities in them both. There were two sources used to complete this paper.

The Aztec civilization hailed in the South Central region of what the world now calls Mexico. They built their homes in the highlands of Mesoamerica. It is believed that the Aztecs migrated to the area in the 13th century. The Aztec survived on fishing, hunting and gathering. In addition the Aztecs were known for their gardening abilities even in those early times. History has shown that the Aztecs were once captured in whole and made into slaves by another tribe early in their history (Aztec (http://www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu/cultural/mesoamerica/aztec.html).Aztecs were also capable of warring and raiding. This was done mostly for the purpose of religious sacrifice. Aztecs took over many tribes during their reign but even after capture the tribes were allowed to maintain their own religions and governments. " However, the tribes were expected to supply the Aztecs with food, textiles, pottery and other items needed to support the nobles, priests and administrators of the city of Tenochtitlan, which numbered perhaps in the hundreds of thousands (Aztec (http://www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu/cultural/mesoamerica/aztec.html)."

Aztecs near the ocean "ate crabs, oysters, fish and turtles. Thus, the water was a major source of food for the Aztec who wished to utilize them. Among the wild animals are rabbits, snakes, armadillos, deer, pumas and coyotes. Along with the hunting of some of these, the ancient Aztecs also hunted the wild turkey (Aztec (http://www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu/cultural/mesoamerica/aztec.html)."

Aztecs were responsible for the domestication of many crops including vanilla, bananas, pumpkin, tobacco, onions, red tomatoes and maize..

The Aztecs are most well-known for their elaborate religious sacrifices of other humans.

The Andean civilization by contrast was in Peru and Bolivia as well as parts of Chile. One of their accomplishments was the domestication of the Lama (PRE-COLUMBIAN ANDEAN CIVILIZATION http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/andean~1.htm).They are also well-known for their lumber abilities and the growth of the tubers and millet grains. The Andeans also are credited with the discovery of cocoa which is a main staple of their diet (PRE-COLUMBIAN ANDEAN CIVILIZATION http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/andean~1.htm).

The social and economic base of ancient Andean civilization was the ayllu, which was a rural social unit or village based on kinship organization (PRE-COLUMBIAN ANDEAN CIVILIZATION http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/andean~1.htm)." The civilization grew their crops on steep hills which forced them to understand the nuances of sunlight and water so that they could plant and harvest the best crops on the best levels they had available to them.