The Aztec

Before Europeans came to Latin America there was civilization taken by the Olmec, Inca, Maya, and Aztec. The Olmec carved ceremonial heads that meant a lot to their culture representing their gods. The Inca had a very advanced civilization; they were home to builders and engineers and built Macchu Picchu. They Maya became the powerhouse of all the civilizations after Tikals’ success from conquering surrounding areas. The Aztec were very religious and obeyed their gods at all times.

Instead they had regional kings and leaders to lead each area as long as they continued to send tribute. Aztec kings were held as religious leaders as well as political and were seen as representatives of the gods. Religion was a key element in controlling people especially with the sacrifice system. The Incas were a group in South America around Peru that created their vast empire that grew in the early 15th century. The incas consisted of about 9-13 million people in an empire that spanned 3,000 miles on the west coast of South America.

Tlaloc was the god of new life and birth. The Aztecs held strong beliefs regarding human sacrifice. They felt that it was the best way that they could please their gods particularly their sun god- Huitzilopochtli. One thing that the Aztecs are well known for is the magnificent pyramids that they built ...

The Aztecs were an American Indian people who ruled a mighty empire in Mexico from the 1400's to the 1500's. The Aztecs had one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas and built cities as large as any in Europe at that time. They also practiced a remarkable religion that affected every part of their lives and featured human sacrifice. The Aztecs built towering temples, created huge sculptures, and held impressive ceremonies all for the purpose of worshipping their gods. The Spaniards destroyed their magnificent empire in the year 1521, but the Aztecs left a lasting mark on Mexican life and culture .

Being an agriculturally dependant empire, the Aztec’s religion was based highly on the forces of nature and worshipped them as gods. The god of war, Huitzilopochtli, was the most important deity. They had many other important gods, such as Tlaloc, the god of rain, Quetzalcoatl, the god of wind and of learning, and Tenochtitlan, the sun god. The Aztecs believed in order to appease these and many other gods that they needed to perform human sacrifices. The main purpose of the great Aztec pyramids was, in fact, human sacrifices.

• The Aztecs originated as a nomadic tribe in the 13th century however after settling and expanding, this tribe emerged into a dominant force with Tenochtitlan being the main city. • The Aztecs were native Americans who developed into a well architurtured, political, civilized and religious who ruled ove 200,000 square kilometres (most of north Mexico) at its peak of the empire • They were fierce and determined warriors who continued to fight the Spanish conquistadors despite the massacre deaths and casualties. • They lived in a oval region surrounded by mountain and volcanoes, thus the soil was rich in vitamans providing crops to be grown. The climate in the area was warm, allowing suitable living conditions to be made. • More than 6 million Aztecs lived under the rule of the empire and some if not most not happily as the commoners were forced to pay tribute to the emperor and the city.

Fearless warriors and pragmatic builders, the Aztecs created an empire during the 15th century that was surpassed in size in the Americas only by that of the Incas in Peru. As early texts and modern archaeology continue to reveal, beyond their conquests and many of their religious practices, there were many positive achievements such as the formation of a highly specialized and stratified society and an imperial administration, the expansion of a trading network as well as a tribute system, and the development and maintenance of a sophisticated agricultural economy, carefully adjusted to the land (Mexico). The Aztecs were very religious and their entire culture revolved around their beliefs. The leader of the Aztec empire was called the tlatoani. He was considered to be a divine descendant of the gods.

(4) The Aztecs finally settled in central Mexico, where Mexico City is now located, and began building Tenochtitlan in 1325. Over time the civilization's control spanned from Tenochtitlan east to the Gulf of Mexico and south to Guatemala. (1) Throughout this time the Aztecs conquered civilizations and occasionally combined the rituals and traditions, which helped ... ... middle of paper ... ...e="2"> The Anthropological study of Religion handout Journal of American Folklore Review http://www.docfilm.com/mexfilms/tec/jaftec.htm. 18 November 2003. Aztec Culture.

The Aztecs worshipped a host of gods that represented nature. To win the gods aid they performed rituals and offered penance. Human sacrifice played an important role. Since life was a mans most valued possession it was the best thing to offer up to the gods. As the Aztec empire grew so did the human sacrifice.

The Inca Empire was centered on Machu Pichu in Peru. The Inca were skilled in engineering and in craft production. The hierarchy of Incan society went from the Emperor at the top to the Laborers at the bottom. Each social class had a different role in their society. The Incas were polytheistic, which means they had many gods, and each of these gods had a story that went along with them.