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Aztec civilization
Aztec civilization
The role of religion in the Aztec life
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Meso-American religion involves a variety of beliefs and rituals of the people of Central America and Mexico before the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s C.E. The beliefs of the ancient Meso-American religious traditions were focused around an annual calendar that had an accompanying ritual cycle. This calendar was associated with various Meso-American deities, often representing different aspects of the cosmos including a creator god, a god of war, a sun god, a fire god, etc. Various beliefs were practiced by the ancient Meso-American peoples that included diverse forms and levels of the afterlife, with each containing its own deity. Religious rituals and practices were typically governed by priests that had been educated in astronomy and …show more content…
In Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca developed the fifth world and as part of their creation they placed Mictlantecuhtli and his wife, Mictecacihuatl, in the underworld. In order to create human life the twin gods Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl were sent to the underworld to steal the bones of the previous generation of gods from the fourth world. Mictlantecuhtli sought to ruin Quetzalcoatl's escape by having a pit placed in the path of the exit of the underworld. Quetzalcoatl fell into the pit forcing him to drop the bones, scattering and breaking them in the fall. However, Quetzalcoatl escaped the pit with the shattered bones and carried them back to the land of the living. It is there where Quetzalcoatl placed his own blood upon the bones and the gods transformed them into the various races of humans. Because of this popular myth, many Aztecs feared the violence of Mictlantecuhtli. Aztecs believed in various paradises in which they could gain entry, each different depending upon the matter in which they died. Those who did not gain entry to a paradise were forced to undergo a “four-year journey through the nine hells of Mictlan.” Once the treacherous journey was completed, they reached the judgement of Mictlantecuhtli and remained in the underworld for eternity. Mictlantecuhtli is usually depicted as a blood-spattered …show more content…
In Aztec religion, Tlaloc ruled in the heavens in the fourth layer of the upper world. The area in which he ruled was called Tlalocan, described as a “water-filled paradise of lush green plants.” Tlalocan was known as the destination in the afterlife for those who died violently by water, such as drowning, lightning, or water-borne diseases. As with Aztec religion, in order for entry into Tlalocan you were to be buried, not cremated. Tlaloc would then bestow upon the dead a blissful and eternal life in his paradise. Although greatly admired, Tlaloc was also deeply feared. It is believed that the cries and tears of children were pure and precious, therefore in order to produce rain, Tlaloc required children to be sacrificed. However, during the sacrifice the child would have to be crying at the time of death or rain could not be created. Tlaloc was known to have four jugs of water in his possession in which he would pour the contents onto earth. The first jug brought life to plants, the second would cause blight, the third would bring frost, and the fourth would bring total destruction. Tlaloc is usually depicted with goggle-eyes and jaguar fangs. His skin is tinted blue and he is typically wearing a net of clouds and a crown of heron feathers. In his hand, he can be seen carrying rattlers, or a rattle snake, that he used to bring about thunder. Comparable to Tlaloc is the Hindu god Varuna
The religion and culture of the Aztecs played a role in the way the way they thought and fought. They worshiped the war-god Huitzilopochtli. He was identified with the sun and was called "the Giver of life" and "the Preserver of Life" (xxxix). The religion carried some ridiculous rituals such as human sacrifice along with using magicians and wizards to cast spells. In war conditions, human sacrifice played a big role because the Aztecs would not fight to kill,...
... god. Religious meeting were held in secrecy in the homes of members of the church, mainly female members of the church. Amalia risked her freedom by holding a meeting in her home. (p232) Both the Ladinos and the Indians believed that they were being punished by their gods for the sufferings they experienced. The Mayans believed that they were being punished by their gods for the suffering their people were experiencing at the hands of the Europeans. “They came, who were destined to come; haughty and hard of manner and strong of voice, such were the instruments of our chiding”. (Castellanos, year, p 56) The religious rites and customs practised by the indigenous people were constructed by Europeans as “lies and deceptions which the devil had invented” (Tignor et al 2002, p97) They were to worship only the Christian God instead of bowing to their many idols.
In an essay by Carrasco titled “The Exaggeration of Human Sacrifice," the purpose of nextlaoalli seemed logical, as it was believed that the gods had died in order to create the lives of plants, animals and humans, and that a ritual sacrifice of plants, animals, and humans offered a way to transmit the energy of these beings back to the gods. These types of sacrifices arguably played a minute role in the actual rituals performed to appease the gods, but rather it was in combination with the regalia and practices of the priests which contributed to the overall “barbaric” atmosphere Daz experienced in these sacrificial rituals. Although viewed by the Spaniards as cannibalistic and obscure in nature, these rituals formed a pivotal function in the religious culture of both Tenochtitlan and the Aztec empire. The true purpose of nextlaoalli was misconstrued because of the numerous biases present among the collective Spanish mindset, and therefore these rituals became a target for the Spaniards to denounce the established religion under pretenses that it was paganistic, and therefore false.
Long before Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic to the ‘New World’, the Western Hemisphere had already divided and developed civilizations. Some of these civilizations were extremely advanced for the time. As people settled in the Americas and developed cultures, so did differences in the life styles, religions, and art of these peoples. The cultures of Mesoamerica, South America, and North America all developed many different types of art, most notably ceramics and larger scale items that still baffle historians today.
The increase and changing demography in the United State today, with the disparities in the health status of people from different cultural backgrounds has been a challenge for health care professionals to consider cultural diversity as a priority. It is impossible for nurses and other healthcare professionals to learn and understand theses diversity in culture, but using other approaches like an interpreter is very helpful for both nurses and patients. In this paper of a culturally appropriate care planning, I will be discussing on the Hispanic American culture because, I had come across a lot of them in my career as a nurse. The Hispanic are very diverse in terms of communication and communities and include countries like Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, South and Central America, and some of them speak and write English very well, some speaks but can’t write while some can’t communicate in English at all but Spanish.
The Aztec civilization was a very complex society that was feared and known well for their various gory sacrifices done to please their many gods in their polytheistic religion. The much feared civilization began by the exile of one of the two Toltec leaders, which lead to the decline of the Toltec state that was later replaced by Mexica, or the Aztecs. According to the Aztecs, the land chosen to build their main city was chosen by the portrayal of an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth. Through military might, the Aztecs managed to become the most powerful civilization in the mid-fourteenth century. They maintained their power through military might and the fear they caused other civilizations because of the human sacrifices they performed on their captured victims.
The Mayan interpretation of the cosmos included a plethora of gods: some benevolent, others malignant; some unattainable, others close at hand. Defining past, present and future, it concerned itself with death, the afterlife and reincarnation. Itzamna was a Mayan god that represented the earth and sky. This god was there to produce vegitables. The Aztec beliefs were very similar to that of the Mayan civilization. Both societies were very similar in their belief of gods, sacrificing, and wars. The ritual of human sacrifice was infulenced by the Toltec tradition. Praying, sacrifice, speaking in metaphors were all forms of speaking with dieties. The calendar was very accurate, more accurate then the calendars that we follow now. Europeans thought that Mesoamerican people were wild people because they were cannibals, believed in many gods, and "enjoyed sex".
Poseidon is known as the god of the sea.Poseidon used his powers to cause fear and punishment on people as revenge.Poseidon was involved in the competition between Athena and himself for the city of Athens (“Poseidon”).Even though Athena won Poseidon in the competition Poseidon and Athena combined their powers which built the first chariot and the first ship to sail over the sea which poseidon rules.Poseidon was also involved in the Trojan War Poseidon could assert his powers over the gods and mortals which meant he was powerful enough to fight in the Trojan War(“Poseidon”).
The consistent interaction between Mesoamerican civilizations within the region created a cultural diffusion that allowed Mesoamericans to share a great degree of their cultural practices and knowledge with each other. Church and State are one of the same. They considered the gods to be the everyday rulers of their daily lives and depended on their priests and rulers to ensure that the gods were appeased and didn't destroy the earth or extinguish the essential life sustaining Sun. The Maya religion required a highly complicated method of worship that demanded bloodletting and sacrificial rituals that were often fulfilled by the kings and queens. These efforts were necessary because it was believed to "feed" the gods.
Both the Mayas and the Aztecs worshipped their gods through human sacrifice. The Olmecs were so dedicated to their gods that they transported 50 tons of boulders from the mountains to the shore. For the Mayas, even their games were related to their religion. The Aztec society was constantly at war for the sole purpose of making sacrifices to their many gods. Religion dominated the cultures of these Mesoamerican empires.
Culture is customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group. It includes behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms that is shared by a group of people to sustain their lives. Mexican culture is influenced by their familial ties, gender, religion, location and social class, among other factors. Today life in the cities of Mexico has become similar to that in neighboring United States and Europe, with provincial people conserving traditions more so than the Mexican living in the city. In the United States Mexican includes any person of Puerto
The culture I was born and raised on was that of Mexican-American culture. My parents were born and raised in Mexico, and when they came to America and had kids, they instilled a hybrid of their culture, and American culture, in us. They were each raised in the Mexican culture, but wanted us to be raised as Americans also, and added this to our upbringing.
Taube, Karl. “The major Gods of Ancient Yucatan.” Studies in Pre-Columbian Art & Archaeology 32 (1992): 11-27. Print.
1) In Greek mythology we have many gods and goddess with different meanings, the one I chose to do part of my MET assignment on is Poseidon, who is known as the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. Poseidon is known for his changing temperament and being easily offended by many things. He was a dignified and competitive god and it was wise to not offended and anger him. Poseidon is the brother of Zeus, known for his thunderbolt and Hades, known for the helmet of darkness. He gained the title as the god of Seas, earthquakes, and horses is because when the three brothers deposed of their father, the kingdom of the sea fell by lot on him. He is known by his main element of weapon and symbol, the Trident, perhaps was once a fishing spears.
Native American religion tends to center around nature. The scene, creatures, plants, and other natural components assume a noteworthy part in the religion of Native Americans. Many of the legends passed down were an attempt to explain events that occurred in nature. Native American religion incorporates various practices, services, and conventions. These services might be to pay tribute to various occasions. The act of taking certain psychedelic drugs was usually used to increase more prominent knowledge or speak with the divine beings. Functions may incorporate feasts, music, dances, and different exhibitions. Imagery, particularly with creatures, is frequently a typical piece of Native American religion. Creatures were utilized to speak