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: The Great Temple was a place for human sacrifice. Pri Continue Reading...
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 Continue Reading...
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 Continue Reading...
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 Continue Reading...
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 fertilit Continue Reading...
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 thou Continue Reading...
" 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 glorifyin Continue Reading...
Inca religious beliefs impacted the layout of their cities and the planning of their architectural design and the design of their public spaces. The same is true for the Aztecs, who stressed the importance of astronomy in layout and design. The situa Continue Reading...
Aztec Empire The Aztecs, who referred to themselves as Mexica, were a powerful tribe of people speaking the Nahuatl language. They founded one of the biggest empires in Central America which is believed to have lasted from the 1300s to the 1500s. On Continue Reading...
" 4. Social and Political Life There is a general paucity of information about the actual societal and political structure of the Olmec. While there is not much evidence to build a comprehensive picture of the daily and social life of these people, Continue Reading...
Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of America, edited by Miguel Leon-Portilla (Beacon Press, 1992). Broken Spears tells the Aztec peoples' account of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Throughout history, the conquest has been told from Continue Reading...
The American Dream was repeatedly exposed as a lie by American dramatists, ranging from Eugene O'Neill to Edward Albee to Arthur Miller -- but the PR machine had already been established: Orwell's warning was not heeded -- and "ignorance" became "st Continue Reading...
Mexico: Religion and Civilization From Ancient Times to Present Mexico is a nation that is affluent in history, culture and tradition. Being the third biggest nation in Latin America, Mexico has more Spanish speakers compared to any other country in Continue Reading...
In a culture that valued the accomplishments of its warriors in battle, the Aztecs needed a way to lift their greatest warriors up on a pedestal through a method that was understood by everyone in their society. They also needed a closely-guarded m Continue Reading...
Civilization Historical Analysis The daring voyages made by explorers from Spain and Portuguese resulted in exploration and discovery of new lands as well as new routes between various regions. It was by these endeavors that Aristotle's 350 BC idea Continue Reading...
Civilizations of Latin America Human beings have always expressed themselves through culture; throughout history. The achievements made are a product of continued refinement over the ages. They are an inherited product of a diverse modified and comp Continue Reading...
Women in Aztec Creation Compare and Contrast Women in Aztec creation story and women in the Book of Genesis (The Holy Bible) creation story Compare and Contrast the women in Aztec creation story and women in The Book of Genesis (The Holy Bible) cr Continue Reading...
Hispanic (Spanish and Portugese) Civilization History has proven that, regardless of the way in which civilization managed to overcome centuries of historical practices, there is a certain foundation in terms of defining elements that characterize t Continue Reading...
A slave was similar to a paid servant. The children of the poor people could be sold as slaves, but it was usually for a determined period of time. The slaves had the right to buy their freedom. War was a very important activity, because of their c Continue Reading...
Olmec Civilization Long before the Maya, Aztec or Toltec flourished in Central America, there lived the Olmecs, a civilization that has come to continue to intrigue and amaze the world. They were the most prevalent group in Mesoamerica and a highly Continue Reading...
The nine day festival approaching in late June is intended to honor Inti, the Sun God. The festival's importance is found not just in its explicit celebrations of the harvest, the winter solstice and the deity connected with the warmth, heat and sus Continue Reading...
open for interpretation: it always has been and it always will be. Throughout time, history has been revised and revised again; some perspectives or "takes" on history stick with particular generations only to be revised by the next. The reasons thi Continue Reading...
However, a number of large, border-zone areas did manage to maintain independence from the empire despite facing many military conflicts with such adversaries as the empire of the Tarascans in the west. 3 Economically, the Aztecs did openly encoura Continue Reading...
" (James, 2006) The strength and force of this ruthless creator of the sun became a justification of Aztec conquest of neighboring persons, in the name of his spirit. As the Aztecs were generated from the space where time began, and as the sun demand Continue Reading...
And Smiley, 2005-2007: 9). Because the Aztec rulers were also connected to the local religion, loyalty to these rulers was even easier to gain. Thus, the Roman, Incan, and Aztec empires allow students of archaeology and political science to underst Continue Reading...
The introduction of various kinds of technology for the railroad, cattle ranching and mining of gold and silver, and ecological disturbance resulting from agrarianism were among the major factors in the near-extinction of the buffalo. Permanent rail Continue Reading...
Of course, while technology and military strategy helped assist the Spaniards in their conquest of Mexico, one cannot overlook how important European diseases were in the conquest of the New World. Diseases such as the bubonic plague, measles, smal Continue Reading...
4). The other structures of Teotihuacan use the same architectural language in varying forms and to differing scales. Residential buildings stand upon platforms and are arranged around depressed courtyards; palaces follow a pattern of low buildings Continue Reading...
"The reason being that the colonized intellectual has thrown himself headlong into Western culture. Like adopted children who only stop investigation their new family environment once their psyche has formed a minimum core of reassurance, the coloni Continue Reading...
New Spain, Mexico The Culture of New Spain: the Rise and Fall of Mexico The conquest of New Spain defined contemporary Mexican culture to a great degree. But that conquest has been ongoing and did not stop with the conquistadors and the implementat Continue Reading...
In fact, despite the letter from Fra Motolina, the encomienda system may have been slowed down, but it was not eradicated. The actual plight of the Indian populations was not improved, and the manner in which the Spaniards continued to view the popu Continue Reading...
Atahuallpa was the ruler when the conquistadors arrived. The Spanish were under the leadership of Francisco Pizarro. There were a total of 168 Europeans in this group, and they challenged an empire of 6 million people. The Indians were puzzled by t Continue Reading...
Maya vs. Aztecs When it comes to civilizations that have come and gone over the years, there are many that can be mentioned. Many people point to the Ottoman Empire, the Romans and others. However, there are other civilizations that are often skippe Continue Reading...
Hernando Cortez The story of Hernando Cortez, who conquered the extraordinary Aztec peoples, is a story of many facets. Cortez is called the "Conqueror of Mexico." In some sense his story is indeed the story of a remarkable soldier and commander, on Continue Reading...
Soon after, an Aztec general murders several Spaniards from Cortez's band and prove that Cortez and his companions are frauds. Cortez takes Montezuma prisoner and compels him in surrendering the entire empire. The Aztec people choose to disobey thei Continue Reading...
Primary Source Analysis The Aztec chronicler who wrote the account of the Spanish conquest notes that, from the start, the Spaniards had come to make war, but does not give much account of Motecuhzoma's psychological motivations for approaching them Continue Reading...
Treatment of Women in Mexican Culture The choices for women have, across both time and space, almost always been far more constrained than the choices of men. They have in fact all too often been reduced to a single pair of opposing choices: The pur Continue Reading...
Anasazi civilization developed and prospered in the Four Corners region between 1 AD and 1300 AD and left precious traces of a swelling and prosperous civilization. Pottery, baskets, ornaments, tolls and especially architectural achievements (includ Continue Reading...
Born to Die Why did the native populations, such as the Incas and the Aztecs, appear to be, not equals to be met with military and diplomatic force, but as victims born to die in the eyes of the invading European powers? Why were they not feared, de Continue Reading...
Native Art of North and Meso America The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between native North American art and the art of Mesoamerica? Is an exchange of artistic influences seen between these two neighboring regions? Between Continue Reading...
