Aztec Culture Essay Example
Aztec Culture Essay Example

Aztec Culture Essay Example

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  • Pages: 15 (4056 words)
  • Published: December 12, 2018
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In the Aztec nation during the years 1400 and 1500 AD, a mesmerizing scene awaited explorers in Mexico. As they ventured through dense jungle, their attention was captured by the resonant beats of a deep drum. The presence of slithering snakes beneath their feet added an element of danger to the environment. Pushing through a thick stand of ferns, they were amazed by the breathtaking sight of a vast green valley.

Their focus quickly shifted to an awe-inspiring view before them - a colossal city adorned with gleaming buildings that reflected the spring sunlight. Some houses emitted smoke, while vibrant sounds of children playing echoed across open fields. People bustling about were engaged in lively commerce, trading llamas, chickens, and bags filled with valuable gold jewelry.

Beyond the market place unfolded a religious ceremony accompanied by piercing screams as human sacrifices were offered t

...

o the gods. Further on, stone roads and canals teemed with pedestrians and canoes revealing an intricate network for transportation. The explorer must have pondered about these intriguing people and their purpose within this extraordinary civilization.

The Aztec nation stood out from other nations at that time due to its unique history, economy, environment, and way of life. It was an incredibly advanced civilization surpassing even European nations in terms of advancements and quality of life.The Aztecs, also known as the "Crane People," traced their origins back to small hunting-gathering bands who migrated southward through different regions before eventually settling in what is now Mexico's Central Valley. This region had a long history dating back centuries before Christ, with established agricultural tribes making Teotihuacn their religious center. From the 10th century A.D., tribal conflicts an

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dominance played a significant role in shaping the history of the Central Valley.

During this time, a new tribe called the Toltecs settled in Tula, Hidalgo. They were part of a larger group known as the Nahua or Nahuatl-speaking people and appeared to have entered the Central Valley from the north or northwest (Nicholson 1985). Gradually, the Toltec civilization replaced the older agricultural civilization as they extended their influence to regions inhabited by Mayan peoples like the Yucatn Peninsula.

However, by the 11th century A.D., another tribe called Chichimecs started overshadowing the Toltecs in Central Valley. Eventually, around the 13th century (Wolf 1998),the Chichimecs took over completely replacing them. Around 1248 (Caso 1958), during this period of transition,the Aztecs migrated from their mythical homeland Aztln or Chicomoztoc through Michoacn (Len-Portilla 1992). Initially settling in Chapultepec, they were initially subjugated by other Nahua tribes but continued fighting for power.

In the 14th century, they established two settlements on islands located in lakes - Tlaltetalco and TenochtitlnTenochtitlan, founded in 1325 according to an Aztec myth, was established by a tribe banished from their homeland by the original Aztecs. During their exile, the Mexicas searched for a divine sign that would indicate their arrival in a promised land prophesied by their god. Once they discovered this omen, they established Mexico-Tenochtitlan on the sacred site. By the fifteenth century, Tenochtitlan had become the center of the Aztec world and represented growth, conquest, and expansion. Even during the sixteenth century, it remained superior to other cities in the Central Valley and reached its peak of power and grandeur.

The Aztec empire was located near the Lerma river in southern part of the Mexican plateau.

The plateau consists of five sections and is Mexico's largest and most diverse land region. Running southward across it is the Volcanic Axis which has many active volcanoes and fertile soil due to abundant rainfall. This area was crucial for cultivating corn and beans for the Aztec empire. To north lies Bajio region where Tenochtitlan was situated; this region experiences minimal rainfall leading to a dry climate.

Mesa del Norte encompasses more than half of plateau with an average elevation of 9,000 feet but puts crops at constant risk of freezing due to high altitude.Sierra Madre Occidental, a long mountain range that forms the western ridge of the plateau, acted as a barrier between the Aztecs and their enemies in ancient times. Some parts of this range remain unexplored to this day. On the other hand, Sierra Madre Oriental shapes the eastern rim of the plateau. Although not utilized by the Aztecs, this area now houses significant coal and old industry (Aschmann 1985).

The climate on the plateau has an average temperature ranging from 10 to 15 degrees centigrade in January and around 20 to 25 degrees centigrade in July, similar to that of B.C. The average precipitation varies from 30 to 50 cm at the Aztec capital but is less than 30 cm in the highlands.

Religion played a central role in all Aztec citizens' lives regardless of gender. If a baby was destined to become a priest, immediate rituals were performed after their birth. The newborn would be painted black and adorned with a beaded necklace placed around their neck. This necklace would then be kept in a temple until the child grew up and began

ecclesiastical training. There was never any doubt that these children would become priests as they firmly believed that their soul resided within those beads. According to their beliefs, this soul would guide them towards the temple without considering personal will.
Similarly, if a baby was destined to become a renowned warrior, this too would be determined at birth and followed by similar ceremonies.Parents decided their child's future at birth, ensuring they were surrounded by religion from the beginning. The Aztec religion was intricate and considered polytheistic because it involved worshiping multiple gods who possessed distinct characteristics. The Aztecs had a unique approach to their religion, incorporating deities from conquered civilizations into their own belief system. They viewed these deities as manifestations of the gods they already revered. Even lower-class Aztecs would create complete gods using attributes typically associated with a single god. In Aztec culture, there existed a dual creative principle represented by two gods named Ometecuhtli and Omechuatl, meaning "two lord" and "two lady," respectively. These gods resided in Omeyocan, which translates to "the place two." The creation of the Aztec gods occurred when Ometecuhtli and Omechuatl had four sons entrusted with the task of creating other gods, the world, and humanity. These sons were Red Tezcatlipoca (also known as Xipe or Camaxtle), Black Tezcatlipoca (commonly referred to as Tezcatlipoca), Quetzalcoatl (the god of wind and life), and Huitzilopochtli (the Blue Tezcatlipoca). It is believed that in ancient times, Quetzalcoatl was replaced by a White Tezcatlipoca. A significant concept within the Aztec religion involved categorizing all beings based on the four compass directions along with the central directions of up and down.
Heaven and earth were

represented by Ometecuhtli and Omechuatl, respectively, symbolizing the vertical direction. Each of their sons was associated with different colors and compass points. The North was connected to Black Tezcatlipoca, the South to Blue Tezcatlipoca, the East to Red Tezcatlipoca, and the West to Quetzlcoatl. This classification extended to various aspects such as animals, trees, days, men, and women. Men were assigned a region based on their birth day. According to Aztec mythology, there have been multiple creations of the world followed by cataclysms that wiped out humanity. The Aztecs believed this was necessary because perfection is rarely achieved on the first try; thus an initial perfect creation could not be attained.

Two significant Aztec myths highlight aspects of their culture. The first myth revolves around Quetzlcoatl and states that in order for humans to live, they must offer their own blood as a sacrifice as a reciprocal act for being created through Quetzcoatl's sacrifice. Human sacrifice was considered essential in Aztec religion because they believed that since humans relied on gods for existence, gods also needed human sacrifices for sustenance. The second myth revolves around Coatlicue, the ancient goddess of the earth. After giving birth to the moon and stars, Coatlicue became a chaste priestess at a temple.
While sweeping one day, she came across a ball of down and placed it in her waistband. However, she later realized that the ball had vanished and that she was pregnant. Upon hearing this news, Coatlicue's children - Coyolxauhqui (the moon) and Centzonhuitznhuac (the stars) - grew angry and decided to kill their mother. Despite facing imminent death, Coatlicue found solace in the presence of her unborn child.

When Coyolxauhqui

and Centzonhuitznhuac attacked her, Huitzilopochtli was born. With the assistance of the serpent of fire (sun's rays), Huitzilopochtli decapitated Coyolxauhqui and forced Centzonhuitznhuac to flee. From then on, Huitzilopochtli had to continuously battle his siblings armed only with the serpent of fire. His triumph signaled a new era for humanity.

After securing victory, deceased warriors' spirits carried Huitzilopochtli across the sky on a litter as a symbol of their sacrifice in combat or on the sacrificial stone. Later in early afternoon, deceased women who died during childbirth guided Huitzilopochtli as he descended with the setting sun. This divine conflict restarts each day, requiring Huitzilopochtli to possess enough strength to defeat his brothers using only his arrows of light.

To achieve this feat, he must be nourished by human blood because as a god, he has no interest in consuming ordinary food like humans do.The Aztecs believe it is their duty to provide sustenance in the form of chalchhuatl, a precious liquid, to Huitzilopochtli. They show their devotion by engaging in acts of war, as they believe Huitzilopochtli depends on them for this valuable substance. The Xochiyayotl, or "flowery war," is established solely for the purpose of capturing prisoners to be sacrificed to the sun as an offering to Huitzilopochtli. Each Aztec god requires specific sacrifices from their followers, creating a unique culture that combines beauty with brutality. In the sixth month, the Aztecs hold a ceremony called Txcatl where a young warrior with godlike qualities is chosen and undergoes training to become an esteemed member of the court. This includes learning how to play clay pipes and being attended to like a nobleman. Dressed like Tezcatlipoca himself,

this impersonator walks through the streets smoking luxurious tobacco from gilded reed pipes and carrying flowers. Citizens who encounter him regard him highly, similar to how they would treat their king.Twenty days before the festival, the young man's attire changes to that of a distinguished captain and he weds four young women who represent different aspects of providence's divine wives: Xochiqutzal, Xilonen, Atlatonan, and Huixtochuatl. On the day of celebration, lavish feasts, ceremonies, and dances are held in his honor. The entire population - both commoners and nobles - laud him. Suddenly, he is taken to an abandoned temple by the lakeshore along with his wives and entourage. Once there, his wives and attendants abandon him. Only a few pages and his clay pipes remain with him as he is guided to the base of the temple. However, even the pages desert him at this point. Alone, he ascends the temple steps while breaking one flute on each step to symbolize his former glory. Finally reaching the top of the temple, four priests seize him and strip off his remaining elaborate garments. Each limb is held by a priest as they stretch out the young man on an altar resembling a flattened cylinder while thrusting his chest upward. In Aztec culture, ritual sacrifices hold great importance. One example involves forcefully plunging an obsidian knife into a young man's chest followed by removing his heart - a moral lesson for those who indulge in wealth and pleasure that they will ultimately face poverty and sorrow (Caso 69).Txcatl, a sacrificial practice, demonstrates the concept of adorning captured warriors with red and white stripes resembling astral gods before

sacrificing them. Afterward, their lifeless bodies were brought to the captors' homes for dismemberment and distribution. The Aztecs engaged in gruesome rituals such as scraping flesh from skulls and thighbones, cooking and consuming fragments of flesh, stretching human skins over living flesh, and smearing blood clots on temple walls (Clendinnen 261). However, these rituals held deeper meaning for the Aztecs as they believed that consuming flesh represented a different form of matter within the vegetable cycle when performed on dried maize kernels (Clendinnen 209). It was also seen as a sacred communion since the victims wore attire representing gods whose godhood they embodied (Caso 75). To remember death, the victims' skin would be worn until decomposition occurred. This extreme act often took place during The Feast of the Flaying of Men (Clendinnen 261). Various sacrificial methods were employed by the Aztecs including tying men up and piercing them with arrows until unable to stand or burning them alive, flaying them alive, or decapitating them. Gladiator matches were also organized where prisoners armed with feather-adorned wooden swords faced off against skilled warriors from Jaguar and Eagle clans.If the prisoner failed to defeat them, a strong left-handed man would be brought in to ensure their extermination (Bray, 1968). The Aztecs placed great importance on family for survival. Men were responsible for building homes and working as farmers or craftsmen, while women took care of household chores, cooked food, raised children, made clothes, and tended to livestock. Barren women were criticized because marriage without children was considered incomplete. The average Aztec aimed for a respected position within their community and a happy family life with children from marriage.

The birth of a child was seen as significant with speeches given during important occasions. When the baby was born, the midwife would give a speech while severing the umbilical cord outlining the baby's future responsibilities. Boys were informed about their role as warriors who needed to shed enemies' blood to nourish the Sun; girls would assist their families with household chores. Around four days after birth, the father consulted an astrologer to interpret the child's horoscope and determine an appropriate date for the naming ceremony.After this ceremony, young boys would wander the streets loudly announcing the chosen name to inform everyone in public. Each child possessed two names - a calendrical name based on their birth date and a unique personal name. Education was highly valued, commencing from infancy until the age of four when children were gently taught. At four years old, practical instruction began under the guidance of elders. They learned the names of items that they would carry in baskets and how to assist their mothers and accompany their fathers to local markets. Girls focused on marriage preparations, acquiring skills like thread creation and manipulation. By 14, girls became proficient weavers who produced fabric to support their families. Home life emphasized self-discipline and obedience with strict punishments being enforced. Boys endured physical abuse including beatings, pricking with maguey spines, being bound naked on damp ground or held over chili pepper fires. Girls also experienced pricking or fire exposure but had domestic tasks assigned throughout the day such as cleaning the home and sweeping streets outside. Children faced various forms of oppression and societal hierarchy within society.The text illustrates rigid customs and

traditions surrounding marriage within a ruler's household.The ruler's daughter was required to follow rules such as not looking up while walking and maintaining silence while eatingMaidens required protection when leaving their homes, and unmarried young women were only allowed to see their fathers with permission, and had to present handcrafted gifts each time. In the presence of their fathers, everyone behaved solemnly and modestly without any laughter. Men possessed full control over decisions regarding marriage, while women had no say in the matter. Both families organized and oversaw the wedding ceremony, where the groom would be released from school and receive gifts symbolizing his transition into manhood. The bride, at 16 years old, spent most of her time preparing food for the event. The marriage ceremony occurred at night in a house with approximately 150 attendees. During the ritual, incense was used to create a pleasant aroma as traditional gifts were exchanged. A match-maker assisted in bringing together the young couple in matrimony, and festivities carried on until exhaustion for the youth or intoxication for the elders set in. Five days after the wedding ceremony, another celebration took place to honor the newly married couple (Bray 1969). Polygamy played a vital role in Aztec society's survival due to significant losses of men during battles and sacrifices. Additionally, polygamy served as a means of forming alliances for diplomatic purposes. Those who committed adultery faced punishments such as death by stoning or strangulation; they were allowed to choose their method of execution. The social structure of the Aztecs revolved around an intriguing figure known as the Great Speaker who held ultimate authority (Bray 1969).In contrast to automatic

inheritance, the Great Speaker's successor was determined democratically by a Council of Wise Men, similar to the Roman Senate. Interestingly, this election process for the Great Speaker paralleled that of the Byzantine Emperor, although it took place during Byzantium's decline and before America's discovery. Once elected, the Great Speaker held both governmental leadership and served as the principal priest at the Great Temple, representing Huitzilopochtli, the god on Earth. Acamapichtli (1376), regarded as their first ruler, introduced this distinctive method of selecting future Aztec rulers. Acamapichtli's main wife named Ilancueitl faced infertility issues, prompting Aztec Lords to offer their daughters and take women slaves as companions. This led to multiple pregnancies with each woman vying for the right to carry the future heir. When Acamapichtli's sons came of age, priests and warriors were tasked by the Emperor to choose his successor through a democratic process. Thus emerged the Council of Wise Men consisting of esteemed warriors and priests selected by their respective Calpullis. This selection process endured throughout the duration of the Aztec Empire preventing any single dynasty from ruling for too long. Similar to Russia's Czars and France's kings, this system ensured that civilization did not stagnate.
The core of Aztec society was the Calpulli, which existed even before the empire itself. The text explains how the Aztec society was organized into different Calpullis based on family relations or professions like priests, warriors, carpenters, and clay workers. Each Calpulli had its own self-governing body with an elected Speaker/governor chosen by older men within the group. These Calpullis also had their own schools, temples, and sometimes garrisons if they were significant. What set Aztec society apart

was its lack of exclusive groups; anyone could join the Council of Wise Men, although only noble men could become Great Speakers. An example of this inclusivity is seen in the story of Najahuatzin, a Tlaxcalteca who became a Main Voice after being caught stealing wood from Moctezuma's private forest and answering truthfully. This tale illustrates how even individuals with humble backgrounds could rise to esteemed positions in Aztec society. Such inclusivity played a role in enabling the Aztecs to control and dominate one of North America's largest empires.

An intriguing custom in Aztec society involved viewing Great Speakers as deities once they were elected; they were worshipped in the Temple Mayor and regarded as more than mere humans. It was customary for no one to directly interact with or speak to the emperor; instead, messages were relayed through a spokesperson between him and his subjects. However, during emergencies, direct communication between the king and his Council took place.

Corn served as a primary staple in the Aztec diet.
Corn was ground into flour to make masa, which is used for various foods like tortillas, drinks, and tamales. Along with corn, they also consumed cereal made from sage plants' seeds along with spicy peppers, eggs, turkey, rabbit, dog, lizards, locusts, snails,fish eggs,and a delicacy known as green slime extracted from Lake Texcoco that tasted similar to cheese. The Aztec nobles typically drank water but would consume beer and honey-sweetened chocolate on special occasions. Modern Mexican cuisine still heavily relies on corn products like tortillas and tamales as a result of the blend of Aztec and Spanish cultures. This cultural fusion can be seen in food traditions such as

making tamales during Christmas festivities. Incorporating beef into tamales started after the arrival of the Spanish. In rural areas, people still practice the traditional method of preparing meals by grinding corn on a metate to make masa and cooking it on a comal cooking sheet. On the other hand, urban areas have adopted meals similar to those in the United States. Farming played a crucial role in Aztec life as farmers performed tasks like land preparation, clump breaking using coa digging sticks,hoeing,
leveling planting ,weeding ,and irrigation.They also had knowledge of crop rotations and relied on almanacs for determining appropriate planting timesThe Aztecs constructed canals to ensure water supply for their towns and fields, bringing water from mountain springs. However, studies show that this system did not have enough water flow to support year-round farming. The clothing worn by individuals in Aztec society indicated their wealth and social status. Wealthy people wore cotton garments, while less fortunate people wore clothing made from maguey fibers. Men would wrap cloth around their hips and drape a cloak over one shoulder, while women wore sleeveless blouses and wraparound skirts (Baumann 1995 and Nicholson 1985). The level of adornment on the attire reflected the wearer's wealth and social standing.

Aztec homes prioritized practicality rather than aesthetics. In mountainous areas, houses were made with adobe, while in lowlands, thatched roofs and walls made from branches and leaves were common. Families typically had additional structures in their yards for tool storage and animal sheltering. Wealthy Aztecs lived in spacious adobe or stone houses surrounded by large patios. The yard was usually expansive with separate accommodations for servants (Weaver 1972).

Education included mastering oral communication

skills as well as technical abilities. Speaking effectively was an important aspect of education. Oral discourse played a crucial role in storytelling, recounting historical events, poetry recitation, legal proceedings, and trade activities.In Aztec society, an educated individual was expected to deliver eloquent speeches and adhere to high standards of formal etiquette on various occasions. The Aztecs used hieroglyphic writing, which utilized dots to convey names, locations, dates, and tallies. The language spoken by the Aztecs was called Nahuatl and before the Spanish Conquest, it was widely spoken by the Mexica or Azteca who were considered the most significant race in the prehispanic world. Nahuatl consisted of 23 different sounds including 5 vowels and 18 consonants. These consonants were further divided into 9 primary and 9 secondary sounds. Interestingly, the Aztec ancestors primarily used only the sacred primary consonants while the regular language of Mexicatl country incorporated all 9 secondary consonants as can be seen in Nezahualcoyotl's poetry - a philosopher and lord from Texcoco.

The reputation of the Aztecs as warriors dates back to their time as Mexica until their downfall. Initially considered barbarians, they were not allowed to settle with existing tribes in Central Mexico. The emphasis on military strength among them can be understood through their religion and way of life deeply rooted in war. Their main god Huitlilopochi is associated with warfare. While they did not possess a formal or permanent army, they were highly organized for war.War served multiple purposes for the Aztecs, including capturing prisoners for sacrifice, punishing tributary tribes, and expanding their territory. From an early age, soldiers received training at specialized schools led by nobles. These schools taught warriors

their war objectives, which involved capturing prisoners for sacrifice and gaining prestige based on the number of captives. Failing in battle brought dishonor and often resulted in sacrifice. The Aztec military was unified across the empire and focused on warfare. Failure to accomplish specific goals in battle brought shame and death.

Despite possessing a powerful military, the Aztecs were eventually conquered by the Spanish, whom they believed to be gods. Agriculture played a vital role in the Aztec economy, with corn being the most significant crop. Other crops included beans, avocados, squashes, potatoes, and tomatoes. In lower regions, cultivation extended to cotton plants, papayas, rubber trees, and cacao trees. Digging with pointed sticks was the primary agricultural technique employed.

In tropical jungles where slash-and-burn agriculture was practiced,the method involved cutting down trees and burning them alongside shrubs to enrich soil with ashes.Terraces were built on mountains in highlands to maximize farmland while massive irrigation systems utilized mud from these systems' bottoms to enhance crop growth.These agricultural practices enabled high yields contributing to the success of Aztec civilization

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