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Consequently, the social distinctions were not as static as their European counterparts.
Religion was also a major aspect of Aztec life and it has become, perhaps, what they are best known for: Overall, the European perception of the Aztecs as pagan barbarians, and the substantial wealth they had at their fingertips was too much for the conquistadores to resist.
The Great Temple was a place for human sacrifice. Prisoners captured in battle were led up the steps to the platform on top. Here, the prisoners were stretched on their backs over a stone block. That an Aztec priest cut out their hearts with a stone knife. The hearts were burned as offerings to Huitzilopochtli, god of war and the sun, and the bodies were thrown down the steps (Chrisp 2000:16).
This practice was clearly what the conquistadores found most deplorable, most barbaric, and the most incongruous with the rest of Aztec society. The obvious monuments to Aztec achievement -- the towering temples of the sun and the moon -- were used for bloody and horrific shows on a daily basis. Although warfare was used by the Aztecs as a way of achieving monetary gains -- in the form of tributes -- it was also the chief avenue by which they were able to conduct their religious demonstrations. To Christian Europeans, these activities were absolutely inhuman, and made Cortes' subsequent imprisonment of Emperor Montezuma and destruction of Mesoamerican civilization justifiable in their minds. In 1521 Cortez laid siege to Tenochtitlan with an
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Sadly, "The end of the Aztecs was also the end of Mesoamerica's 2500-year-long civilization. In a few years, millions died as a result of war, famine, slavery, and European diseases." (Hull 1998:55). Fortunately, the Aztecs left behind substantial amounts of writings, buildings, and artwork that people can continue to admire today. Additionally, the descendents of the Aztecs still maintain a number of beliefs and traditions that come directly from their ancestors. Nevertheless, this is little consolation for the great loss of a civilization that was at once equally powerful as it was beautiful.
Works Cited
Berdan, Frances. Indians of North America: The Aztecs. New York: Chelsea House, 1989.
Chrisp, Peter. The Aztecs. Austin: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2000.
Fagan, Brian M. The Aztecs. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 1984.
Hicks, Peter. Look into the Past: The Aztecs. New York: Thomson Learning, 1993.
Hull, Robert. The Ancient World: The Aztecs. Austin: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1998.
Smith, Michael E. The Aztecs:…
Works Cited
Berdan, Frances. Indians of North America: The Aztecs. New York: Chelsea House, 1989.
Chrisp, Peter. The Aztecs. Austin: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2000.
Fagan, Brian M. The Aztecs. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 1984.
Hicks, Peter. Look into the Past: The Aztecs. New York: Thomson Learning, 1993.
The author points out that there were more commoners than nobles but the commoners were often at the mercy of nobles and were expected to serve them. Although this was the case, it was also true that commoners had a great deal of control over their lives and in most cases they had enough to meet their basic needs and the needs of their family. Religion One of the most interesting aspects
Also, these cotton capes were so valuable that a family or individual lucky enough to own twenty or more could support themselves for an entire year in the city of Tenochtitlan; these capes could also be used to barter for more expensive items like gold jewelry and necklaces made from jade (Van Tuerenhout, 184). Out of all the goods that were available in the Aztec marketplaces, two were of primary
AZTECS The ancient Mexican region not only stands out as a mythological haven, but also as a culturally vibrant and technologically advanced civilization. Among the Mesoamerican civilizations, the Aztecs standout for their significant contributions in the fields of astronomy, medicine, and also for their bizarre ritualistic practices. The Aztecs represent an important group of the Mesoamerican civilizations. They arrived from the north to the 'valley of Mexiaco' or what is currently the
Gods of fertility were highly prized in the Aztec religion, and Tatloc was worshiped almost as strongly as the sun god. One of the most important temples in the Aztec religion was dedicated to Tatloc, as this was believed to help ensure the fertility of the Aztec women and therefore ensure the continuation of the Aztec race. It is easy to see, based on the way that Smith (2003)
This new identity provided them with both the symbolic and material means to distinguish themselves from the masses." (Rounds, 74) This strategy would prove ingenious. The result was such a greater fluidity of trade and transport of goods that though a class system did persist, the connectivity would improve the opportunity for personal acquisition in all classes. Of course, this would not alter the essential nature of society which, in
" The author continues, "Anger, love, and jealousy may trouble them, but these passions rarely make them commit the extravagances so common among Europeans," (Biart p. 48). Here the author demonstrates a serious bias in the work: repeatedly glorifying the Aztecs. The Aztecs sometimes seems to be about the author's impressions of Aztec culture more so than about the culture itself. Sometimes the book seems like an account of encounter