Religion Determined Everything In Aztec Culture And Society
Religion determined everything in Aztec culture and society. Dan Hofstadter explains that Aztec religion was polytheistic. The Mexica worshipped thousands of gods but these gods were seen more as forces or spirits, not as individual beings. These gods represented things like the sun, moon, or stars, not people. Smith states that Aztec religion was based on the belief that “the gods sacrificed themselves at the beginning of the world to create and benefit humankind… To repay that debt, these gods had to be constantly served through ritual offerings of human blood and life” (Hofstadter 76-77). The Legends and Chronicles website also adds additional information about religion. The website states that Aztec religion was a mix of astronomy and cosmology. All religious events and celebrations revolved around the
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calendar, which was made by the Aztecs. The website explains how the Mexica believed there were three parts to their world—the heavens, the underworld, and the world in which they lived. The Templo Mayor, the main temple for worship in society, connected all three parts of the universe. Based on Aztec belief, Templo Mayor was the center of the universe. The sun, moon, and stars were the also major elements the Aztecs believed in and worshipped.
The Legends and Chronicles website also speaks about the major gods in Mexica culture. The main Aztec gods represented the four cardinal directions. Xipe Totec represented the North while Huitzilopochtli represented the South. Quetzalcoatl represented the East and Tezcatlipoca represented the west. It was believed that these four gods created everything in the world. They also created a half fish half crocodile sea monster named Cipatli. They later killed the monster, which resulted in 13 heavens being created from the monster’s head, the world in which people live being created from its body, and the underworld, Mictlan, containing nine different regions, to be made from its tail. Light was created for humans after the four gods created all parts of the world and the sun god was sacrificed. The website goes on to mention different gods for agriculture, creation, nature, culture, the underworld, trade, fertility, and many more. Legends and Chronicles points out that “The main Aztec deity was the creator god Ometeotl, who was both male and female and therefore he was able to create the other gods” (Legends and Chronicles web).
Education was also highly valued in Aztec society. According to David Carrasco and Scott Sessions, parents chose their child’s educational path twenty days after the initial birth. The parents would then take the child to the appropriate school or temple based on the path chosen. Once at the appropriate institution, a pact was forged, through prayer, between the family and gods. Small incisions were made on the child’s body in order to seal the pact. For males, a small jewel was inserted inside a lower lip incision. For females, small incisions were made on the hips and breasts. The incisions, for both sexes, signified an initiation into a life long process involving education and knowledge. The acts also reaffirmed the belief that a child’s “true parents” were the gods. The Mexica believed that education played a key part in the transformation from childhood to adulthood (Carrasco and Sessions 97-98).
The Legends and Chronicles website also analyzes Aztec education in great depth. The website explains that a child’s chosen path in education was actually chosen by a midwife who helped deliver the baby. The Mexica believed it was important to separate the sexes when it came to education. A girl’s education was mostly taught at home. By the age of 12, when she was able to cook and weave, she was ready to be a wife. That was all a girl needed to know in Aztec society. Boys on the other hand, started their educations at a very young age and were not officially done until after the age of 15. If a boy excelled, he was sent to calmecac, which was a school for high-level learning. It is equivalent to college and university in today’s world. Students of the calmecac went on to become the leaders in government and politics or were priests. If a boy did not get the opportunity to go to calmecac, he was sent to a junior military academy called cuicacalli. Here, he learned more about the art of war. The website also mentions that social class played a role in educational opportunity. For example, the commoners were usually never accepted into calmecac unless they were extremely exceptional whereas the nobility were automatically guaranteed an education at the higher level. However, one truly unique aspect to education in the Aztec society was that education was mandatory. Slaves were even allowed to attend school and receive the same privileges as all other students (Legends and Chronicles web).
The information provided by Smith about class system and human sacrifice seemed trustworthy and accurate. He provides detailed explanations of the levels within the two classes, nobility and commoners. He is very clear in explaining the differences between each group along with their place on the social ladder. In terms of human sacrifice, his information was also very precise and detailed. He thoroughly explains the whole process of the sacrifice—who, what, when, where, why, and how frequently. Overall, he was a reliable source because his facts matched with many I had read from other sources and he was also objective when presenting his information. He was also very detailed and clear when explaining his topics, which made him a good source.
The book, The History and Culture of the Aztec, by the Charles River Editors was also a fairly good source. It summarized the timeline and history of the Aztec civilization from the beginning to the end. It explained the major events that took place and why in a clear manner. It agreed with the other information I have read and also seemed to be fairly accurate. It did seem a bit one sided when explaining the fall of the Aztec empire towards but almost all information I have read is the same about the demise of the empire. Overall, it was a reliable source.
Hassig, who wrote about the military and expansion strategy of the Mexica, was also a good source. He explained the types of warrior and states within the army in a clear way. He explained the hegemonic-style rule, indirect control, in a way that was easy to understand. His article was in History Today, which is a reputable history journal that is unbiased and reliable. His information also matched with much of what I have read on Aztec military and hegemonic type rule.
The information provided by Roberts, on human sacrifice, also seemed very reliable. He pointed out things that Smith failed to mention such as what was done with the body of the sacrificed victim. He also mentions domestic worship and sacrifice, which Smith failed to mention at all. Although he did not have much to present on the topic at hand, his information was clear and reliable. Much of what Roberts mentioned, I have learned in my previous Latin American history class.
Hofstadter, who wrote about the class system and religion, was an adequate source.
When speaking about the class system, he gave the basic information provided by most of the material I have read. He explains the social hierarchy in Aztec society in a clear, brief manner. He does explain each class and it’s criteria very well. When speaking about religion he was very brief. He did not explain much, failing to mention the main deities and basis for Aztec religion. He simply did not explain religion as thoroughly as he should have. Although, his article was published in the Smithsonian, which is a reliable source, and his information agrees with what I have read.
I think that the Legends and Chronicles website was a very good source. The website explained religion and education. The website mentioned the main deities and basis of religion, unlike Hofstadter, and Aztec beliefs about mankind and the universe. When speaking about education, it was also very thorough and detailed. It spoke of all levels of education for each gender. It matched with the material I have read and was unbiased. It just gave vast amounts of information that was very clear and
concise.
I feel that David Carrasco and Scott Sessions, who wrote about education, were not a very good source. Although their information was clear and somewhat accurate, they failed to mention what took place in terms of education after childbirth and how it differed for each gender. They simply did not provide enough information and did have some facts wrong.
In conclusion, the Aztec empire was an intelligent and powerful civilization. It was more than just human sacrifice. It consisted of education, religion, a strong military, and even a class system. The Aztecs were extremely intelligent and advanced for their time period and many people fail to remember their mighty empire. It is important to remember this great civilization and acknowledge the contributions it made to our world today.
calendar, which was made by the Aztecs. The website explains how the Mexica believed there were three parts to their world—the heavens, the underworld, and the world in which they lived. The Templo Mayor, the main temple for worship in society, connected all three parts of the universe. Based on Aztec belief, Templo Mayor was the center of the universe. The sun, moon, and stars were the also major elements the Aztecs believed in and worshipped.
The Legends and Chronicles website also speaks about the major gods in Mexica culture. The main Aztec gods represented the four cardinal directions. Xipe Totec represented the North while Huitzilopochtli represented the South. Quetzalcoatl represented the East and Tezcatlipoca represented the west. It was believed that these four gods created everything in the world. They also created a half fish half crocodile sea monster named Cipatli. They later killed the monster, which resulted in 13 heavens being created from the monster’s head, the world in which people live being created from its body, and the underworld, Mictlan, containing nine different regions, to be made from its tail. Light was created for humans after the four gods created all parts of the world and the sun god was sacrificed. The website goes on to mention different gods for agriculture, creation, nature, culture, the underworld, trade, fertility, and many more. Legends and Chronicles points out that “The main Aztec deity was the creator god Ometeotl, who was both male and female and therefore he was able to create the other gods” (Legends and Chronicles web).
Education was also highly valued in Aztec society. According to David Carrasco and Scott Sessions, parents chose their child’s educational path twenty days after the initial birth. The parents would then take the child to the appropriate school or temple based on the path chosen. Once at the appropriate institution, a pact was forged, through prayer, between the family and gods. Small incisions were made on the child’s body in order to seal the pact. For males, a small jewel was inserted inside a lower lip incision. For females, small incisions were made on the hips and breasts. The incisions, for both sexes, signified an initiation into a life long process involving education and knowledge. The acts also reaffirmed the belief that a child’s “true parents” were the gods. The Mexica believed that education played a key part in the transformation from childhood to adulthood (Carrasco and Sessions 97-98).
The Legends and Chronicles website also analyzes Aztec education in great depth. The website explains that a child’s chosen path in education was actually chosen by a midwife who helped deliver the baby. The Mexica believed it was important to separate the sexes when it came to education. A girl’s education was mostly taught at home. By the age of 12, when she was able to cook and weave, she was ready to be a wife. That was all a girl needed to know in Aztec society. Boys on the other hand, started their educations at a very young age and were not officially done until after the age of 15. If a boy excelled, he was sent to calmecac, which was a school for high-level learning. It is equivalent to college and university in today’s world. Students of the calmecac went on to become the leaders in government and politics or were priests. If a boy did not get the opportunity to go to calmecac, he was sent to a junior military academy called cuicacalli. Here, he learned more about the art of war. The website also mentions that social class played a role in educational opportunity. For example, the commoners were usually never accepted into calmecac unless they were extremely exceptional whereas the nobility were automatically guaranteed an education at the higher level. However, one truly unique aspect to education in the Aztec society was that education was mandatory. Slaves were even allowed to attend school and receive the same privileges as all other students (Legends and Chronicles web).
The information provided by Smith about class system and human sacrifice seemed trustworthy and accurate. He provides detailed explanations of the levels within the two classes, nobility and commoners. He is very clear in explaining the differences between each group along with their place on the social ladder. In terms of human sacrifice, his information was also very precise and detailed. He thoroughly explains the whole process of the sacrifice—who, what, when, where, why, and how frequently. Overall, he was a reliable source because his facts matched with many I had read from other sources and he was also objective when presenting his information. He was also very detailed and clear when explaining his topics, which made him a good source.
The book, The History and Culture of the Aztec, by the Charles River Editors was also a fairly good source. It summarized the timeline and history of the Aztec civilization from the beginning to the end. It explained the major events that took place and why in a clear manner. It agreed with the other information I have read and also seemed to be fairly accurate. It did seem a bit one sided when explaining the fall of the Aztec empire towards but almost all information I have read is the same about the demise of the empire. Overall, it was a reliable source.
Hassig, who wrote about the military and expansion strategy of the Mexica, was also a good source. He explained the types of warrior and states within the army in a clear way. He explained the hegemonic-style rule, indirect control, in a way that was easy to understand. His article was in History Today, which is a reputable history journal that is unbiased and reliable. His information also matched with much of what I have read on Aztec military and hegemonic type rule.
The information provided by Roberts, on human sacrifice, also seemed very reliable. He pointed out things that Smith failed to mention such as what was done with the body of the sacrificed victim. He also mentions domestic worship and sacrifice, which Smith failed to mention at all. Although he did not have much to present on the topic at hand, his information was clear and reliable. Much of what Roberts mentioned, I have learned in my previous Latin American history class.
Hofstadter, who wrote about the class system and religion, was an adequate source.
When speaking about the class system, he gave the basic information provided by most of the material I have read. He explains the social hierarchy in Aztec society in a clear, brief manner. He does explain each class and it’s criteria very well. When speaking about religion he was very brief. He did not explain much, failing to mention the main deities and basis for Aztec religion. He simply did not explain religion as thoroughly as he should have. Although, his article was published in the Smithsonian, which is a reliable source, and his information agrees with what I have read.
I think that the Legends and Chronicles website was a very good source. The website explained religion and education. The website mentioned the main deities and basis of religion, unlike Hofstadter, and Aztec beliefs about mankind and the universe. When speaking about education, it was also very thorough and detailed. It spoke of all levels of education for each gender. It matched with the material I have read and was unbiased. It just gave vast amounts of information that was very clear and
concise.
I feel that David Carrasco and Scott Sessions, who wrote about education, were not a very good source. Although their information was clear and somewhat accurate, they failed to mention what took place in terms of education after childbirth and how it differed for each gender. They simply did not provide enough information and did have some facts wrong.
In conclusion, the Aztec empire was an intelligent and powerful civilization. It was more than just human sacrifice. It consisted of education, religion, a strong military, and even a class system. The Aztecs were extremely intelligent and advanced for their time period and many people fail to remember their mighty empire. It is important to remember this great civilization and acknowledge the contributions it made to our world today.