the name "Aztecs" was coined
Many people know that the Aztecs were very fond of chocolate, sacrificed a large number of people to their pagan gods and were eventually defeated by the Spaniards. In the eyes of modern people, they are presented as a warlike barbarian people, in large part because of the number of people they killed.
However, despite popular belief, they also had their own culture. Social system of the Aztecs was incredibly difficult, and education, family and creativity played a large role in their society. Even their slavery system was well developed and not at all like what people imagine when they hear about slavery.
In short, although at first glance they look like psychopaths, Aztecs are not so simple. Below you can find out ten interesting facts about the Aztecs, which will allow you to better understand their history and way of life.
10. Creativity
Despite the seeming savagery Aztecs- they were very creative people. The Aztecs were fond of sculpture and pottery, as well as artistic painting. They developed artistic symbols that were tattooed on the Aztec warriors, describing their achievements. They also loved poetry.
Aztecs engaged in team sports, in particular one of the most popular sports among them was the Mesoamerican ball game. The game used a rubber ball, which was an advanced enough item for their time, and the matches were played on a field called Tlachtli. The main objective of the game is to throw the ball through a small stone ring, but it was a very difficult game. The ball was not supposed to fall to the ground, and the players could only touch it with their head, elbows, knees and hips.
9. Compulsory school attendance
Although the Aztecs and placed great emphasis on the fact that parents themselves should properly educate their children; they also had compulsory schooling for all children. Schools were different for boys and girls, and also divided according to the students' belonging to different castes.
The children of the upper classes attended the Calmecac School, where they were taught history, astronomy, art, and how to rule by the priests. Boys of the lower castes attended the Cuicacalli school, where they were trained for military service. The girls were sent to separate schools, and most of the education consisted of teaching household chores such as cooking and weaving.
8. Struck by the disease
Many believe that the Spaniards defeated the Aztecs with the help of their superior military forces, but this is far from the truth. In fact, the first attacks of the Spaniards were successfully repelled, and they had to quickly retreat. The Aztecs had a good chance of defeating the Spaniards, and in general the war was on an equal footing.
It can be safely argued that if not for the smallpox, which the Aztecs caught from the Europeans, and from which most of their population, including leaders, died, then the Aztecs would hardly have lost the war against the Spaniards. The impact of European diseases was devastating - it is estimated that about twenty million Mexicans died in just 5 years from diseases brought by the Spaniards.
7. Wrong name
The Aztecs are known to us all under this name, but in fact they never called themselves that. The Western peoples who came up with the name "Aztecs" most likely took it from the name Aztlan (Aztlan) - a mythical place in northern Mexico, in which the ancestors of the Aztecs allegedly lived in the 12th century. However, the Aztecs themselves called themselves Mexica, hence the name of the country Mexico.
6. Advanced documentation system
The Aztecs had their own language called N'ahuatl, the alphabet of which was a kind of pictographic writing. The knowledge of how to record information was known only among priests and specially trained scribes. The notes were made on paper made from tree bark or deer hide. They usually wrote with charcoal, after which the recordings were given a different color using vegetable juice and other materials.
The Aztecs kept tax records, historical records, kept written records of religious sacrifices and other ceremonies, and even wrote poetry. Sometimes they collected the recordings in impromptu books, which they called codices.
5. Burial customs
We all know stories about what happens when something is built on a former Indian burial site, but Aztecs didn't worry when they had to build something on the graves of their ancestors. Moreover, the Aztecs quite often buried their ancestors either right under their house or, at least, next to it.
If the deceased Aztec belonged to the upper strata of society, he was usually cremated. The Aztecs believed that cremation would help change the soul of a deceased warrior or ruler, and thus they would quickly get to their version of paradise. Sometimes the Aztecs killed the dog and buried or cremated him with a person so that he would help in the journey through the afterlife.
4. Selling children
Selling their children by the poor Aztecs was not considered unusual in their society. Moreover, everything was not limited to children, the poor sometimes sold themselves into slavery. In many cases, when someone went bankrupt and saw no other way out, selling children into slavery brought them some income, and if the child worked well and worked hard, they could end up buying themselves out of slavery. Some remained slaves for most of their lives, which is not surprising since being a slave in the Aztec society was not so bad. Slaves could marry, have children, and even own their own piece of land.
3. Polygamy
Aztec men were allowed to marry multiple wives, but there were several strict rules associated with such a relationship. The first wife a man married was considered his "main" wife and was the only one with whom he performed the wedding ceremony. The rest of the wives were "secondary", but they were officially recognized in the documents.
Although the first wife was considered the most important, the man had to treat all his wives with equal respect. The man was considered the head of the family, but women still had sufficient influence in relationships and were well treated in Aztec society. Additional wives contributed to the family's wealth and were considered a trait high position in society, which allowed them to be highly respected in society. Divorce was permitted in some cases, but adultery on either side of the marriage was punishable by death.
2. Slavery
Slavery in the Aztec society was different from the European system and operated according to different rules. Children of slaves did not automatically fall into slavery, and slaves were allowed to possess anything - even their own slaves. If a slave got into the temple, they were freed, and they were also freed if they managed to escape from their master and step on human excrement. If a slave tried to escape, only his master or his relatives could chase him. Slaves could even redeem their freedom. The Aztec slavery system was unique and more akin to contractual bondage than the modern understanding of slavery.
1. Human sacrifice
Although the most common theory about Aztec sacrifices states that they simply performed rituals dedicated to pagan gods, anthropologist Michael Harner thinks differently. According to Harner's estimates, Aztecs sacrificed annually about 20,000 people. People who were sacrificed were often eaten during the ritual. Harner suggested that the cannibalism disguised as sacrifice was due to the Aztec diet lacking meat. The fact that the Aztecs ate each other due to protein starvation, of course, has not been proven, but the signs of the existence of cannibalism are hard to miss.
The Aztecs belonged to the last wave of Indian tribes who migrated from the more northern regions of the American continent to the Mexico City Valley. The culture of these tribes at first did not have any pronounced features, but gradually they crystallized into a single solid whole - the Aztec civilization. Initially, the tribes lived separately in their village and satisfied their living needs by cultivating the land. Whenever possible, these resources were supplemented by tribute to the conquered peoples. At the head of the tribe was a hereditary leader, who at the same time performed priestly functions. Religious beliefs were characterized by a complex polytheistic system based on the worship of nature, with the emphasis on the worship of one or more gods in special cults.
1168 A.D. - the history of the Aztecs begins. The Aztecs (Meshiki or Tenochki) begin their exodus from the ancestral home of Aztlana, guided by their supreme god of war, Huitzilopochtli. Around 1325, they founded the city of Tenochtitlan, which was located on the site of the city of Mexico City, which later became the capital of the most powerful state in Mexico. Initially, tenochki fell into dependence on the city of Kuluacan. It was a huge city that played an important role in the Mexico City Valley. Another major center of this time was the city of Texcoco, located on east coast Mexican lakes. About seventy cities paid tribute to its ruler Kinatsin (1298-1357). His successor Techotlal managed to combine all the dialects of the Mexico City Valley into one Aztec language.
The Aztec culture was the last link in a long chain of advanced civilizations that flourished and declined in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The oldest of them, the Olmec culture, developed on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the 14th and 3rd centuries. BC NS. The Olmecs prepared the ground for the formation of subsequent civilizations, therefore the era of their existence is called pre-classical. They had a developed mythology with an extensive pantheon of gods, erected massive stone structures, were skilled in stone carving and pottery. Their society was characterized by hierarchy and narrow professionalization; the latter was manifested, in particular, in the fact that specially trained people were involved in religious, administrative and economic issues. These features of Olmec society were further developed in subsequent civilizations.
Public education of the Aztecs in Mexico in the 14th - early 16th centuries. centered in the city of Tenochtitlan until 1348 was dependent on the rulers of the city of Culuacan in 1348-1427. At the end of the 20s of the 15th century, the Aztec ruler Itzcoatl led the "union of three cities" of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, Tlacopan and defeated the rulers of Azzopotsalco. As a result of the wars of conquest waged by Itzcoatl and his successors (Montezuma I the Wrathful, ruled in Auizotl 1440-1469; Ashayakatl 1469-1486; Auizotl 1486-1503), not only the valley entered the Aztec kingdom the rivers of Mexico City, but also the whole of Central Mexico. The Aztec kingdom reached its highest flowering under Montezuma II (1503-1519). In the 15th and early 16th centuries. slavery was greatly developed. The main ruler of the Aztec kingdom, the Tlacatecuhtli or Tlatoani, was formally the elected leader, in fact, his power was hereditary. The formation of the main classes of society was not completed. The position of a member of society was determined by his belonging not only to a class, but also to a caste, of which there were over ten in the Aztec kingdom.
By the time the Spaniards arrived in early XVI century, the Aztec empire covered a huge territory - about 200 thousand square meters. km - with a population of 5-6 million people. Its borders stretched from northern Mexico to Guatemala and from the Pacific coast to the Gulf of Mexico. The capital of the empire - Tenochtitlan - eventually turned into a huge city, the area of which was about 1200 hectares, and the number of inhabitants, according to various estimates, reached 120-300 thousand people. This island city was connected with the mainland by three large stone roads - dams, and there was a whole flotilla of canoe boats. Like Venice, Tenochtitlan was cut through by a regular network of canals and streets. He formed the core of the city ritually - administrative center: "Sacred site" - a 400 m long walled square, inside of which were the main city temples, dwellings of priests, schools, a ritual ball game area. Nearby were the ensembles of the magnificent palaces of the Aztec rulers - "tlatoani". According to eyewitnesses, the palace of Montezuma (more precisely, Moctezuma) II had up to 300 rooms, had a large garden, a zoo, and baths. Residential quarters were crowded around the center, inhabited by merchants, artisans, farmers, officials, and soldiers. The huge Main Market and smaller quarter bazaars traded in local and transported products and goods. The general impression of the magnificent Aztec capital is well conveyed by the words of an eyewitness and participant in the dramatic events of the conquest - soldier Bercal Diaz del Castillo from the Cortez detachment. Standing on top of a high stepped pyramid, the conquistador looked in amazement at the strange and dynamic picture of the life of a huge pagan city: “And we saw a huge number of boats, some came with various loads, others ... with various goods ... All the houses of this great city ... were in the water , and from house to house could only be reached by suspension bridges or boats. And we saw ... pagan temples and chapels, reminiscent of towers and fortresses, and they all sparkled with whiteness and aroused admiration. "
Tenochtitlan was captured by Cortez after a three-month siege and a fierce struggle in 1525. And right on the ruins of the Aztec capital, from the stones of its palaces and temples, the Spaniards built a new city - Mexico City, the rapidly growing center of their colonial possessions in the New World. Over time, the remains of the Aztec buildings were covered with multi-meter strata of modern life. Under these conditions, it is almost impossible to conduct systematic and extensive archaeological research of Aztec antiquities. Only occasionally in the course of excavation in the center of Mexico City are stone sculptures born - the creations of ancient masters. Therefore, the discoveries of the late 70s - 80s became a real sensation. XX century. during the excavation of the Main Temple of the Aztecs - "Templo Mayor" - in the very center of Mexico City, on Zocalo Square, between cathedral and the presidential palace. Now the sanctuaries of the gods Huitzilopochtli (the god of the sun and war, the head of the Aztec pantheon) and Tlaloc (the god of water and rain, the patron saint of agriculture) have already been opened, the remains of fresco paintings, stone sculpture have been discovered. Particularly distinguished are a round stone with a diameter of over three meters with a low-relief image of the goddess Koyolshauhka - the sister of Huitzilopochtli, 53 deep pits - hiding places filled with ritual offerings (stone figurines of gods, shells, corals, incense, ceramic vessels, necklaces, skulls of sacrificed people). The newly discovered materials (their total number exceeds several thousand) expanded the existing ideas about material culture, religion, trade, economic and political ties of the Aztecs during the heyday of their state at the end of the 15th - 16th centuries.
The Aztecs were in that initial phase social development when the alien prisoner-slave was not yet fully included in the economic mechanism of the emerging class society, when the benefits and advantages that the labor of slaves could give were not yet fully realized. However, the institution of debt slavery had already emerged, spreading to the local poor; the Aztec slave found his place in the new, developing relations of production, but he retained the right of redemption, which, as we know, the "classical" slave was deprived of. Of course, foreign slaves were also involved in economic activity, but slave labor has not yet become the basis of the foundations of this society.
The senseless destruction of thousands of captive slaves on the sacrificial altars of Aztec temples was made the basis of the cult. Human sacrifice has become the centerpiece of any holiday. Sacrifices were made almost daily. One person was sacrificed with solemn honors. So, every year from among the prisoners, the most beautiful young man was chosen, who was destined to enjoy all the benefits and privileges of the god of war Tezcatlipoca for a year, so that after this period he would be on the sacrificial stone-altar. But there were also such "holidays" when the priests sent hundreds, and according to some sources, thousands of prisoners to another world. True, it is difficult to believe in the reliability of such statements belonging to eyewitnesses of the conquest, but the dark and cruel, non-compromising Aztec religion with mass human sacrifices knew no limits in its zealous service to the ruling caste aristocracy.
The Aztec state was fragile territorial entity like the many territorial empires of antiquity. The nature of its economy was polymorphic, but it was based on intensive irrigated agriculture. The set of crops cultivated by the Aztecs was typical of the Mexico Valley. These are corn, zucchini, pumpkin, green and red peppers, many types of legumes and cotton. Tobacco was also grown, which the Aztecs smoked mostly in hollow reed stalks, like cigarettes. They loved the Aztecs and chocolate made from cocoa beans. The latter also served as a medium of exchange. Agriculture was an important part of life in Tenochtitlan. Aztec codes, as well as Spanish chronicles, say that Aztec landowners created strips of fertile land built on water using silt and algae from the surrounding swamps. These artificially created fields, chinampas, were divided by canals, and the edges had to be reinforced with wooden supports or specially planted trees to prevent the earth from falling back into the water. Aztec chinampas were remarkably fertile. Farmers cultivated a wide variety of crops, including maize, pepper, tomatoes, pumpkin, beans, spices and flowers, squash, oilseeds, and cotton. The swamps were drained using a network of canals. The intoxicating drink pulque was made from agave juice.
The Aztecs had few pets. They had several breeds of dogs, one of which was used for food. The most common poultry is turkeys, possibly geese, duck and quail. Crafts played a significant role in the Aztec economy, especially pottery, weaving, and stone and wood processing. There were few metal items. Some of them, for example, the finely forged copper knives in the shape of a sickle, served as a medium of exchange along with the cocoa beans. Gold was used by the Aztecs only for making jewelry, and silver was probably of great value. The most important among the Aztecs was jade and stones that resemble it in color and structure. Crafts separated from agriculture and reached a high level of development.
The market was located in one of the districts of Tenochtitlan called Tlatelolco. From the descriptions of the Spanish soldiers, they had never before seen such a large and well-organized market with such a huge variety of goods as in Tenochtitlan. There was a special place for each type of goods, and all goods were carefully checked. Those who stole or cheated were severely punished. The only type of exchange among the Aztecs was exchange trade. The medium of exchange was cocoa beans, nibs filled with golden sand, pieces of cotton cloth (kuachtli) and the copper knives mentioned above. Due to the high costs of human labor for transportation in the Aztec state, it was reasonable to bring the places of production of goods and products as close as possible to the places of their consumption. Therefore, the population of the cities turned out to be extremely variegated both professionally and socially, and many artisans worked for a significant part of the time in the fields and gardens. Over long distances, it was profitable to move only the most expensive or the lightest in weight and small in volume products - for example, fabrics or obsidian; on the other hand, the local exchange was unusually lively. The Aztecs had a very well-organized education, disciplines such as religion, astronomy, history of laws, medicine, music and the art of war were taught. The arts of dance and many sports were developed, as well as theater and poetry. They had a ball game very similar to basketball today.
The ruler or king was called "tlatoani". In speeches dedicated to the new ruler, it was emphasized that he was only the representative of Tezcatlipoca on earth, his likeness, an instrument through which the omnipotent deity rules people. The role of the ruler as a mediator between gods and people, or, more precisely, an instrument of the gods.
In the social structure of Aztec society, the following five groups were distinguished: warriors, priests, merchants, commoners, slaves. The first three estates constituted the privileged classes of society, the fourth and fifth groups - its exploited part. The estates were not homogeneous. There was a certain hierarchy within them, determined by the size of property and social status. All classes were clearly divided, and this could be determined even by their clothes. According to one of the laws introduced by Montezuma I, each class had to wear its own type of clothing. This also applied to slaves. The military nobility played a decisive role in Aztec society. The title tekutli ("noble") was usually given to people who held important government and military posts. Most of the civilian ranks were actually the same military. The most noble ones who distinguished themselves in the battle of the war formed a kind of "order", a special alliance of "Eagles" or "Jaguars". The nobility received natural allowance and land plots from the Tlatoani. No one except nobles and leaders could build a house with two floors on pain of death. There was a difference in punishment for offenses for a noble person and a commoner. Moreover, the class norms were often more cruel. So, if a person who was in enemy captivity was of "low origin", then he was not threatened with expulsion from the community and family, while the "noble" was killed by the compatriots themselves, relatives. This reflected the desire to maintain the strength of their position at the top of society.
The priesthood was also among the privileged estates of Aztec society. The conquerors-Aztecs were extremely interested in strengthening the religion, because it, preaching war as the highest valor, and the Aztecs as its most worthy bearers, provided an ideological basis for the policy of conquest, which they carried out throughout their independent history. The priests were in the forefront during military campaigns. They were the first to meet the soldiers returning home at the gates of the capital. The temples increased their wealth through gifts and voluntary donations. It could be a donation of land or part of a tribute to the nobility and Tlatoani. The donation of the population could be for a variety of reasons: fortune-telling, prediction, donations for the sake of the success of their activities. The temples also had their own handicraft production. All income went to the maintenance of the priesthood and the conduct of numerous religious rites. The life of the priesthood was regulated by certain norms. The priest, guilty in connection with the woman, was secretly beaten with sticks, property was taken away, and the house was destroyed. They also killed all those who were involved in this crime. If the priest had unnatural inclinations, then he was burned alive.
The lowest social step in the hierarchy of Aztec society was occupied by slaves. The sources of slavery among the Aztecs were varied. Selling into slavery for theft was practiced. Debt slavery was common. Betrayal in relation to the state or one's immediate master was also punished involuntarily. However, the most characteristic of the ancient Aztec society was patriarchal slavery. Parents could sell their "careless" children into slavery. This happened more often in lean years, when there was a wide slave trade.
The Aztec state consisted of about 500 cities and other settlements, divided into 38 administrative units headed by local rulers or specially sent administrators. To collect tribute, monitor the royal lands and official allotments, there were special officials - kalpish, appointed from the military class. There was also local legal proceedings. Local courts considered only minor crimes, or, the evidence of which is easily proven. The bulk of the cases of ordinary citizens were decided by these courts. There was a special staff of "scribes" to record cases in various institutes. In most cases, the notes were made using pictography, however, sometimes May hieroglyphic writing was also used.
Diverse interpersonal relationships in Aztec society governed marital and family norms. Most characteristic feature theirs was the boundless power of father and husband. The basis of the family was marriage, the procedure for the conclusion of which was equally a religious and legal act. It was built, as a rule, on the principle of monogamy, but polygamy was also allowed for wealthy people. There were two types of inheritance - by law and by will. Only sons inherited. The payment for adultery was death in various ways. Blood relatives were punished with death for intimate relationships: the guilty were hanged. However, levirate marriages were allowed. Drunkenness was severely punished. Only people who have reached fifty could consume intoxicating drinks, and a strictly defined amount. Young people caught in drunkenness were punished at school, sometimes beaten to death.
The last Aztec ruler in Tenochitlan was Montezuma II Shokoyotzin (1502-1520). The Spaniards who came to America conquered the continent.
The Aztecs not only worshiped the Feathered Serpent as one of the main inhabitants of the pantheon of their gods, but also well remembered the story of his exile. The priests, striving to keep the people in fear and submissive obedience, constantly reminded of the return of Quetzalcoatl. They convinced the people that the offended deity, who had gone to the east, from the east, would return to punish everyone and everything. Moreover, the legend said that Quetzalcoatl was white-faced and bearded, while the Indians were beardless, beardless and dark! White-faced Spaniards with beards came from the East. Oddly enough, he was the first, and at the same time unconditionally, to believe that the Spaniards are the descendants of the legendary deity Quetzalcoatl, none other than the all-powerful ruler of Tenochtitlan Moctezum, who enjoyed unlimited power. Fear of the divine origin of foreigners paralyzed his ability to resist, and the entire hitherto mighty country, along with a magnificent military machine, was at the feet of the conquerors. The Aztecs should immediately remove their ruler distraught with fear, but the same religion, which inspired the inviolability of the existing order, prevented this. When reason finally defeated religious prejudices, it was too late. As a result, the giant empire was wiped off the face of the earth, the Aztec civilization ceased to exist. The rich and distinctive Aztec culture was destroyed by the Spanish conquest from 1519 to 1521. The capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan, was razed to the ground by the conquistadors.
Summarizing the history and life of the Aztecs, we can say that their culture was formed from religion and politics. The priests had almost complete power over the people. Perhaps, in history there is hardly any other similar example, when it was religion that turned out to be the decisive factor in the defeat and complete destruction of those to whom it was supposed to serve faithfully. The lives of people were completely controlled by laws based on religion. Even clothing and food were strictly regulated. Trade flourished, and anything could be bought in the marketplace of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.
In complete contrast to the orders in European colonies, a person could be declared a slave, if he tried to prevent the escape of the slave (unless he was a relative of the owner), no one tried to help, the owner to catch the slave. Also, a slave could not be sold without his consent, unless the authorities qualified the slave as disobedient. (Disobedience was defined as laziness, escape attempts, and misbehavior.) Disobedient slaves were forced to wear wooden neck shackles with hoops at the back. The shackles were not just a sign of guilt; their arrangement made it difficult to escape in crowds or in narrow aisles.
When buying a shackled slave, the buyer was told how many times the slave was resold. A slave sold four times as disobedient could be sold for sacrifice; such slaves were sold for a higher price.
However, if a chained slave was presented in a royal palace or temple, he received freedom.
An Aztec could become a slave as a punishment. A murderer sentenced to death could be given as a slave to the widow of the murdered at her request. The father could sell his son into slavery if the authorities declared his son disobedient. Debtors who did not pay debts could also be sold into slavery.
In addition, the Aztecs could sell themselves as slaves. They could remain free long enough to enjoy the price of their freedom - about a year - after which they went to a new master. Usually, this was the lot of unlucky gamblers and old "auini" courtesans or prostitutes.
Fun & Games
aztec empire communication
Although it was possible to drink "pulque" (a fermented beverage with a low alcohol content), the Aztecs were forbidden to get drunk until they were sixty; violation of this prohibition was punishable by death.
As in modern Mexico, the Aztecs were passionate ball players, but in their case it was "tluttley", the Aztec version of the ancient Mesoamerican game of "ulama". This game was played with a solid rubber ball the size of a human head. The ball was called "ollie", which is where the Spanish "ole", meaning rubber, comes from.
According to other sources, the ball was made of stone, and the game in it was distinguished by extraordinary cruelty - the weight of the ball was so great that it was a big problem to throw it into a special ring located high enough without causing physical injury.
A participant in the game, who hit the ball in the ring, was sacrificed.
The ritual ball game ended with the sacrifice of the best player or the captain of the winning team. (According to other sources, the captain and the players of the losing team were sacrificed).
The sacrifice of the participant who scored the “goal” was a great honor both for himself and for his entire family. Participants who did not show sufficient dexterity during the game remained alive, but together with their families fell to the lowest social stratum of society.
Education
Until the age of fourteen, the education of children was in the hands of their parents. There was an oral tradition (a set of oral instructions), called hueuetlatolli ("proverbs of the elderly"), which conveyed the moral and ethical ideals of the Aztecs.
There were replicas, and sayings for every occasion, there were words for greeting birth and words of farewell at death.
Boys went to school from the age of 15. There were two types educational institutions... Tepochkalli taught history, religion, martial arts, as well as trade and crafts (peasant or artisan). In calmeques, where the sons of the pilli went mainly, they focused on the training of leaders (tlaktoks), priests, learned teachers and scribes. They learned rituals, literacy, chronology, poetry and, as in tepochkalli, martial arts.
Aztec teachers proposed a Spartan learning regime - cold baths in the morning, hard work, physical punishment, bloodletting with thorns, and endurance tests - with the goal of building a courageous people.
The girls were taught home craft and raising children, they were not taught to read and write.
For gifted children, there were two main possibilities: some were sent to the house of song and dance, and the other to the house of playing ball. Both occupations had a high status.
Aztecs created artificial islands, or chinampas, on Lake Tnskoco; cereals and horticultural crops were grown on these islands. The main foodstuffs of the Aztecs were maize (corn) beans and pumpkin seeds. Chinampa were very efficient and produced up to seven harvests a year, based on current chinampa harvests, they collected food for 180,000 people. Much has been said about the lack of protein in the diet of the Aztecs as an argument in support of the theory of the existence of cannibalism in them, but these statements are unproven: the combination of maize and beans provides the necessary rate of essential amino acids, which removes the problem of lack of proteins. Moreover, the Aztecs had big variety other food: they caught acocyles, small shrimps that abound in Lake Texcoco; they collected spirulina algae, rich in flavoproteins, which was used in various types of baked goods; they also ate insects: crickets, worms, ants and larvae.
Insects contain more protein than meat, and to this day, they are a delicacy in parts of Mexico. The Aztecs kept pets like turkey and itzcuintli (a breed of meat dog), although usually the meat of these animals was intended for special occasions - situations of expressing gratitude and respect. Another source of meat was hunting - fallow deer, wild boars, ducks ...
In my opinion, if the Aztecs had cannibalism, then most likely not from a lack of protein or meat, but rather from any religious considerations and traditions, for example, a way to show and feel the power of greatness and superiority over other people.
The Aztecs used agave extensively; food, sugar, drinks (pulque) and fibers for ropes and clothes were obtained from it. Cotton and jewelry were only available to the elite. Subordinate cities paid an annual tribute in the form of luxury goods (such as feathers and ornate costumes).
After the Spanish conquest, some food crops, such as amaranth, were banned, which led to a reduction in the diet and chronic malnutrition of the inhabitants.
Poetry was the only worthy occupation of the Aztec warrior in Peaceful time... Despite the shock of the era, a number of poetic works collected during the Conquest have come down to us. For several dozen poetic texts, the names of the authors are even known, for example, Nezahualco-yotl and Kuakucin.
Cheat Sheet: Aztec Culture
Miguel Leon-Portilla, the most famous translator from the Nahuatl, reports that it is in poetry that we can find the true intentions of the Aztec thought, regardless of the "official" worldview.
In the basement of the Great Temple is the "House of the Eagles" where, in peacetime, Aztec military leaders could drink frothing chocolate, smoke good cigars and compete in poetry.
The poems were accompanied by playing percussion instruments. One of the most common themes of the poems is "Is life reality or a dream?" and the opportunity to meet with the Creator. The Aztecs loved drama, but the Aztec version of this art form could hardly be called theater. The most famous genres are performances with music and acrobatic performances and representations of the gods.
The militancy of the Aztecs
None of the other nations aspired to military glory as the Aztecs. Death in battle or on a sacrificial stone was considered the most honorable. Warriors who died in battle, victims, as well as women who died during childbirth, could hope for the highest honor in underworld; almost all others, despite their social status, were forced to roam the underground for four years before reaching the lower level of the otherworldly kingdom, which the Aztecs called the Land of the Dead, or "our common home."
Religion was one of the reasons for the belligerence. Every night the struggle of the Sun with the Moon and the stars is repeated, and if Huitzilopochtli loses the battle, then life is doomed to perish in the dark. The powers of the deity must be restored every day and according to the ideas of the Aztecs, human blood, which they called "the most precious water", is perfectly suited for this.
Scientists are not unanimous in their estimate of how many people the Aztecs killed each year, but most likely around 20,000 were sacrificed throughout the empire.
In the world of warring states, a lot could be achieved exclusively by military skill, and the Aztecs understood this perfectly. According to codices, Spanish reports, and archaeological excavations, Mesoamerica has never developed any advanced weapons of war. The outcome of the battle depended solely on the skill of individual warriors. In such conditions, the winner will be the one who achieves two goals - strengthening the military organization and raising the morale of the soldiers. The entire Aztec culture was built to maximize the achievement of these goals.
There is a special logic in the Aztecs' striving for military success. It is noteworthy that the Aztecs almost did not try to conquer the conquered peoples. They did not build fortresses and did not leave garrisons behind enemy lines.
Instead, they sought to intimidate other city-states in the region: only fear of retribution kept the tribute flowing. Any hint that the Aztecs were no longer invincible would trigger an immediate uprising, which the Spaniards, who were assisting, took advantage of. locals who wanted to overthrow the oppressors.
However, the Aztec war machine was reliable and as sophisticated as the level of development of society allowed. All the energy of the state was aimed at increasing military power. From the age of 20, any healthy man could be drafted into a military campaign, which regularly began in the fall, after the harvest and the end of the summer rains. In addition, there were professional warriors from among the nobility and commoners who distinguished themselves on the battlefield. They did not perform any other duties, but were mainly supported by tribute from the conquered cities.
The battles were mostly chaotic and violent hand-to-hand combat, where everyone was given many opportunities to excel. In heroism, they were more reminiscent of the battles of Homeric Greece than the European armed maneuvers of that time. Usually the fight began with archery and slingshot. Then the troops converged, lined up in a long line, firing darts from atlals. In the vanguard were seasoned veterans, who entered into hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.
The purpose of military action was to force the conquered peoples to recognize the domination of the Aztecs and pay tribute to them. By 1519, a similar fate befell about 370 cities, and the amount of tribute supplied to Tenochtitlan annually was enormous. The tribute included 7000 tons of grain, 4000 tons of beans, 2 million cotton cloaks along with a smaller number of military armor, shields and feather headdresses.
During the excavations of the Great Temple, many luxury items were discovered, most of which ended up in the Aztecs as tribute, since they are not found in the Valley of Mexico.
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The Aztec Empire, centered in the capital Tenochtitlan, dominated most of Mesoamerica in the 15th and 16th centuries AD. Through military conquest and expansion of trade, Aztec art also spread, helping the Aztecs achieve cultural and political hegemony over their subjects and provide for posterity a tangible account of the artistic imagination and talent of the artists of this last great civilization of Mesoamerica.
INFLUENCES
The usual streams run through the history of Mesoamerican art. The Olmec, Mayan, Toltec and Zapotec cultures, among others, perpetuated an artistic tradition that showed a love for monumental stone sculpture, imposing architecture, highly colored ceramics, geometric stamps for fabric and body art, and exciting metalwork that was used to represent people. animals, plants, gods and features of the religious ceremony, especially those rites and deities associated with fertility and agriculture.
Aztec artists were also influenced by their contemporaries from neighboring states, especially those from Oaxaca (many of whom resided permanently in Tenochtitlan) and the Huastec Gulf Coast region, where there was a strong tradition of three-dimensional sculpture. These diverse influences and the Aztec's own eclectic tastes and admiration for ancient art made their art one of the most diverse of all ancient cultures anywhere. Sculptures of terrible gods with abstract images may come from the same workshop as naturalistic works depicting the beauty and grace of animal and human appearance.
FEATURES OF THE ART OF AZTEK
Metallurgy was a special skill of the Aztecs. The great Renaissance painter Albrecht Draurer saw some of the artifacts returned to Europe, which made him say: “… I have never seen in all my days what made my heart so happy as these things. For I saw amazing artistic objects among them, and I admired the subtle ingenuity of people in these distant lands. " Unfortunately, as with most other artifacts, these objects were melted down for currency and therefore very few examples survive thanks to the excellent metalworking skills of the Aztecs in gold and silver. Smaller items have been found, including gold labrettas (lip piercings), pendants, rings, earrings and necklaces in gold, representing everything from eagles to tortoiseshell shells to gods, indicating the skills of lost wax casting and the filigree work of the finest artisans or toltec.
Aztec sculpture was the best survivor, and its subject was very often people from the vast family of gods they worshiped. Carved out of stone and wood, these figures, sometimes monumental in size, were not idols containing the spirit of a god, since in the Aztec religion the spirit of a certain deity was considered to be inhabited in sacred sacred sacred temples and temples. However, it was considered necessary to "feed" these sculptures with blood and precious objects, so the stories from the Spanish conquistadors of huge statues, splattered with blood and inlaid with precious stones and gold. Other large sculptures, more in a circle, include the magnificent seated god Xochipilli and various chacmools, reclining figures with a hollow cut in a chest that was used as a vessel for heart sacrifices. They, like most other Aztec sculptures, were once painted using a wide range of vibrant colors.
A smaller sculpture has been found at sites throughout Central Mexico. They often take the form of local deities and especially those associated with agriculture. The most common are straight female figures of the corn deity, usually with an imposing headdress and the corn god Xipe Totec. Lacking the sophistication of imperial art, these sculptures and similar ceramic figures often represent the more benevolent side of the Aztec gods.
Miniature works were also popular when objects such as plants, insects, and shells were presented in precious materials such as carnelite, pearls, amethyst, rock crystal, obsidian, shell, and the most precious of all materials, jade. Other material that was highly regarded were exotic feathers, especially the green plumage of the quetzal bird. The feathers, cut into small pieces, were used to create mosaic paintings, as adornments for shields, costumes and fans, as well as in magnificent headdresses such as the one attributed to Motekuhome II, which is now in the Für-Völkerkund Museum in Vienna.
Turquoise was a particularly popular material with Aztec artists, and its use in mosaic form to cover sculptures and masks has created some of the most striking imagery from Mesoamerica. A typical example is the decorated human skull that represents the god Tezcatlipoca and which is now in the British Museum in London. Another great example is the Xiuhtecuhtli mask, the god of fire, sleepy pearlescent eyes and a lovely set of white shells. Finally, there is the magnificent double-headed serpentine cloak, also now in the British Museum. With carved cedar wood entirely covered in small squares of turquoise, and red mouths and white teeth made in the spondylus and shell, respectively, the piece was likely part of a ceremonial costume. The snake was a powerful depiction in Aztec art as a creature capable of shedding its skin, represented regeneration, and was also particularly associated with the god Quetzalcoatl.
Despite the lack of a potter's wheel, the Aztecs were also adept at pottery, as indicated by the large hollow figures and several beautifully carved covered urns that were excavated near the Mayor of Templo in Tenochtitlan, probably used as vessels for burial ash. Other examples of ceramic work include the Texcoco molded tripod-footed censer, erupted jugs, and elegant hourglass-shaped cups with hours. These vessels are generally thin-walled, well-distributed, have cream or red and black glide, and bear finely colored geometric patterns in earlier designs, and flora and fauna in later examples. The highest-value pottery of the Aztecs themselves, and the type that Motecuhsoma himself used, was the Cholula ultra-thin piece from Cholollan in the Puebla Valley. Vessels could also be made from molds or carved, and the clay was still tough. A fine example of these anthropomorphic vessels is the famous vase representing the head of the rain god Tlaloc, painted in bright blue, with eye-like eyes and fearsome red fangs, now in National Museum anthropology in Mexico City.
Musical instruments were another important part of the Aztec artist's repertoire. These include ceramic flutes and wooden teponazlits and huelts, respectively, long and vertical ceremonial drums. They are richly carved, and one of the best is the Malinalco drum, which is covered with dancing jaguars and eagles that represent sacrificial victims, as indicated by the banners and speech scrolls of battle and fire symbols.
ART AS PROPAGANDA
The Aztecs, like their cultural predecessors, used art as a tool to strengthen their military and cultural dominance.
The imposition of buildings, murals, sculptures, and even manuscripts, especially at key locations like Tenochtitlan, not only represented and even reproduced key elements of the Aztec religion, but also reminded the subjects of wealth and power that permitted their construction and production.
The supreme example of this use of art as a conveyor of political and religious messages is the Mayor of Templo in Tenochtitlan, which was much more than an extremely impressive pyramid. It has been meticulously designed in every detail to represent the sacred snake mountain of the land of Coatepec, so important in Aztec religion and mythology. This mountain was the place where Coatlicue (earth) gave birth to her son Huitzilopochtli (sun), who defeated the other gods (stars) led by his sister Koyolksauki (moon). The Huitzilopochtli Temple was built on top of the pyramid along with another in honor of the rain god Tlaloc. Further associations with myth are the serpentine sculptures lining the base and the large Koyolksauki stone carved in c. 1473 AD, also found at the base of the pyramid and depicting in relief the dismembered body of a fallen goddess. Stone, along with other sculptures such as Tisok Stone, linked this cosmic image to the modern defeat of local enemies. In the case of the Koyolhauhiki stone, the defeat of Tlatelolca is mentioned. Finally, the Mayor of Templo was himself a repository of art, for when his interior was explored, a vast appearance of sculptures and art objects buried with the remains of the dead was discovered, and in many cases these works work that the Aztecs themselves were collected from more ancient cultures than theirs. own.
Temples praising the Aztec worldview were also built in the conquered territories. The Aztecs usually left the existing political and administrative structures in place, but they imposed their own gods in the hierarchy over the local deities, and this was largely done through architecture and art, backed up by sacrificial rites in these new sacred places usually built on previous sacred sites and often in spectacular settings such as mountain peaks.
Aztec imagery spreading throughout the empire includes much lesser known deities than Huitzilopochtli, and there are a surprising number of examples of nature and agricultural gods. Perhaps the most famous are the reliefs of the water goddess Chalchiuhtlicue on Malinche Hill near ancient Tula. These and other works of Aztec art were most often produced by local artists and may have been commissioned by government officials or private colonists from the Aztec center. Architectural art, cave paintings of gods, animals and shields, and other art objects were found throughout the empire from Puebla to Veracruz and especially around cities, hills, springs and caves. In addition, these works are usually unique, which indicates the absence of any organized workshops.
Masterpieces
The large circular Tizoka stone (carved in 1485 AD from basalt) is a masterful mixture of cosmic mythology and real politics. It was originally used as a surface for human sacrifices, and since these sacrifices were usually defeated warriors, it is fitting that the reliefs around the edge of the stone depict the Aztec ruler Tizoka attacking warriors from Matlazzinki, an area conquered by Tizoko in the late 15th century CE. The defeated are also portrayed as chichimecs, that is, landless barbarians, while the victors wear the noble dress of the revered ancient Toltec. The upper surface of the stone with a diameter of 2.67 m depicts an eight-pointed solar disk. The Tizoca Stone is now in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
The massive basalt statue of the Coatlicue (carved during the last half century of the Aztec reign) is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Aztec sculpture. The goddess is represented in a terrifying form with two serpentine heads, clawed legs and arms, a necklace of dismembered hands and human hearts with a skull pendant, and a writhing serpent skirt. Possibly one in four and representing a revelation of female power and terror, the 3.5m tall statue leans forward slightly, so the overall dramatic effect of the play is so emotional that it is understandable why the statue was actually reburied several times after its initial excavation in 1790. year. The Coatlicue statue is now in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
The Sunstone, also known as the Calendar Stone (despite not functioning), must be the most recognizable art object created by any of the great civilizations of Mesoamerica. Discovered in the 18th century A.D. near the cathedral in Mexico City, the stone was carved c. 1427 A.D. E. And shows the solar disk, which represents the five successive worlds of the sun from Aztec mythology. The basalt stone, 3.78 m in diameter, almost a meter thick, was once part of the Templo Mayor complex in Tenochtitlan. In the center of the stone is an image of either the sun god Tonatiuch (Day of the Sun), or Johualtonatiuch (Night Sun), or the primordial earthly monster Tlaltehukhtli, in the latter case representing the final destruction of the world when the fifth sun fell to Earth. Around the central face at four points are four more suns, which successively replaced each other after the gods Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca fought for control of the cosmos until they reached the epoch of the 5th Sun. On either side of the central face are two jaguar heads or paws, each holding a heart, representing the earthly realm. The two heads in the lower center represent fire serpents, and their bodies run around the perimeter of the stone, each ending in a tail. The four cardinal and intercardinal directions are also indicated by larger and smaller dots, respectively.
As one of the latest examples of the wealth of Aztec art that has survived the best destructive efforts of their conquerors, there is the eagle warrior from Tenochtitlan. This figure appears to be about to run, is in terracotta and was made in four separate pieces. This Knight Eagle wears a helmet representing a bird of prey, has wings and even clawed legs. Remnants of plaster suggest that the figure was once covered in real feathers for an even more lifelike effect. Initially, he would have stood with a partner, on either side of the doorway.
OUTPUT
After the fall Aztec empire local art production declined.
The culture of the ancient Aztecs in brief
However, some Aztec projects lived in the works of local artists hired by Augustinian monks to decorate their new churches in the 16th century AD. The production of manuscripts and pen continued, but only at the end of the 18th century AD. an interest in the art and history of Precolumbus would lead to a more systematic exploration of what lies beneath the foundations of modern Mexican cities. Gradually, an increasing number of Aztec artifacts revealed that there was ever any doubt, proof that the Aztecs were some of the most ambitious, creative and eclectic artists Mesoamerica has ever produced.
112. Myths of the Aztecs in religious and cultural traditions
Temples in honor of the gods. The legends and myths of the Aztecs were closely associated with the religious life of this people. The numerous gods of the Aztec pantheon were dedicated to magnificent temples that were lifted to the tops of the pyramids. In the center of the Aztec capital was a giant truncated five-step pyramid. Its base area probably reached 1000 m 2. At the top of the pyramid, at a height of about 30 m, there were two temples. Ladders of 114 steps led to the sanctuaries, arranged in such a way that the rising procession on each ledge skirted the structure. According to Spanish reports, one of them contained a giant image of Huitzilopochtli, adorned with a chain of gold and silver hearts. Nearby was probably the Tezcatlipoca sanctuary. Huge statues deities were placed in front of altars, on which sacrificial gifts were laid.
During lavish celebrations held twice a year, a huge image of Huitzilopochtli was made from bread dough with honey. After performing religious rites, the participants of the holiday in a solemn atmosphere divided it into pieces and ate it.
Finds in Teotihuacan. In the place where the Sun and Moon were once born, the Indians, the predecessors of the Aztecs, erected pyramids and built magnificent temples. Archaeologists have unearthed the giant Pyramid of the Sun and its smaller copy, the Pyramid of the Moon. The height of the Pyramid of the Sun may have reached 71 meters. It was loaded with 765 thousand cubic meters of building material. Once upon a time there was a temple on its top, but today there is practically nothing left of it. The majestic structure amazed the imagination of the Aztecs. They considered him the creation of giants. Not far from the Pyramid of the Sun, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl was discovered. It was decorated with snake heads.
Human sacrifice
Sacrifices. If in the legend about the birth of the Sun and the Moon it was indicated that the gods sacrificed themselves for the sake of people, then from this the conclusion followed - people should sacrifice the most precious and valuable to the gods. To supply the gods with energy and thereby postpone the inevitable death of the human race, they must be fed with the blood of people. Sacrifices, the Aztecs believed, were necessary to maintain life on earth: human blood nourished the sun, caused rains and ensured the earthly existence of man.
In some rituals, a chosen one was sacrificed, who had the honor to embody a deity. The Aztecs had a widespread custom - every year they elected a handsome young man who had no physical disabilities, who was considered the embodiment of Tezcatlipoca. He was treated like a deity, satisfying any of his desires, and after a year was solemnly sacrificed.
Bloody ritual. Often the victim was killed by the priests, ripping open the chest with a knife and ripping out the heart. Four priests, painted black, in black robes, grabbed the victim by the arms and legs and threw it on the sacrificial stone. The fifth priest, dressed in purple robes, ripped open her chest with a sharp obsidian dagger and pulled out her heart with his hand, which he then threw at the foot of the statue of the god. Almost every day a holiday of some god was celebrated, so human blood flowed continuously.
In some cases, the Aztecs limited themselves to bloodletting through the thorns of the magi plant.
The victims are on fire. No less wild and terrible was the cult of the fire god Huehueteotl.
The most important and significant achievements of the Aztecs
In honor of him, the priests kindled a huge bonfire in the temple and, having tied the prisoners of war, threw them into the fire and slowly burned them. Sometimes the Aztecs organized "gladiatorial battles": they tied the prisoner to a sacrificial stone and gave him a wooden weapon, with which he had to defend himself against the attacks of many well-armed soldiers.
On special occasions, women and children were sacrificed. Women who fell into a state of ecstasy after many hours of performing ritual dances turned into an offering to the goddess of the earth. The priests killed babies bought from beggar parents with knives during a drought, hoping that the rain god Tlaloc would have mercy and give the fields the necessary moisture.
The Aztec state constantly had to worry about providing sacrifices to the insatiable gods. During the solemn consecration of the temple of the god of war in Tenochtitlan, held in 1486, 20 thousand prisoners were killed, and at the coronation of one of the last rulers - Montezuma - 12 thousand soldiers died.
Myths in Art and Literature. Aztec mythology had a significant impact on the visual arts, literature, philosophy of this people. In honor of the gods, the Aztecs performed a variety of ritual dances, religious dramas and poetic hymns. Here is a fragment of one of them, addressed to the goddess of corn and fertility, Chicomecoatl:
O venerable goddess of the seven ears! Arise, wake up! O our mother, you are leaving us today, You are leaving us orphans, You are leaving for your country Tlalocan!
Calendar stone
"Calendar stone". At the end of the 15th century. the main temple of the capital of the Aztecs was decorated with an amazing stone disc - "Calendar stone" ("Stone of the Sun"). It was a black-gray basalt disc with a diameter of 3.66 meters and weighing almost 24 tons. On it were depicted the signs of the five times (five Suns), which are told in the legends. In the middle of the stone was an image of the Fifth Sun. Concentric circles circled him. One of them contains the signs of the twenty days of the Aztec calendar. In the next circle were the signs "turquoise" and "jade", meaning the words "jewel" and "sky". Behind them were the symbols of the stars, which were crossed by the rays of the sun. Two large fiery snakes, symbolizing time, surrounded the stone.
When the conquistadors invaded Mexico, the "Calendar Stone" was thrown from the top of the pyramid. The Europeans feared that, seeing him, the Indians would try to return to their former life. Therefore, the stone was buried in the ground. Accidentally amazing creation of the Aztecs was discovered in the XVIII century. Today, the "Calendar Stone" takes pride of place among the exhibits of the National Historical Museum in the capital of Mexico.
Aztecs and modern Mexico. The memory of the Aztecs and their legendary wanderings was preserved even after their beautiful capital was destroyed by the conquistadors, and in its place arose modern city Mexico City. One of the most beautiful squares in the city is called "Square of Three Cultures". One part of it has been turned into a museum where you can see the Aztec buildings found by archaeologists.
The image of an eagle sitting on a cactus with a snake in its beak can be seen today on the state emblem of the Mexican Republic. The highest order of this country is called the "Aztec Eagle" ("Aguila Azteca").
At the end of the 10th century AD, the Mayan civilization fell into decay. Around the same period, the culture of the ancient Aztecs began its inception, as the original people of Central America. In fact, their history is rooted in the distant past, and is closely related to legends and myths - there is no other evidence of those times left. It is known that they once migrated from the northern regions of the modern United States of America. In the early period of existence, the culture of the Aztecs, in short, was identical to the culture of other Indians. Then they adopted a tribal structure of society. The clans were united into tribes, which were ruled by two leaders - one conducted internal affairs in the settlement, the second waged wars.
It is not known exactly what prompted the ancient Aztecs to change their place of residence. It is possible that they were looking for lands with a milder climate, although the Aztecs themselves believed that their gods had told them to resettle. The Aztecs themselves called themselves Meshiks, in memory of their legendary leader Meshitli, who lived at the time of the resettlement. They were named Aztecs because their homeland was called "Aztlan". Actually, the word "Aztec" means "man from Aztlan."
At the time of their migration, they were one of the many wild peoples of ancient America, who, in addition, professed the cruel cult of the Sun, requiring sacrifices. However, they were very sociable people, and quickly adopted the achievements of others. In the Mexican Valley, they faced resistance from local tribes, who, according to legend, "granted" them a deserted island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. It was here that the great city of Tenochtitlan was later created.
However, many scholars believe that the culture of the ancient Aztecs did not just carry features borrowed from the descendants of the Maya and Toltecs. Most likely, they simply occupied the deserted cities, and adopted the architectural style, art and writing from other peoples. However, Tenochtitlan was most likely built by the Aztecs.
It is believed that at the beginning of the 13th century, the first temple was erected on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, later a village was formed around it, which later became the cultural center of all of Central America. In the 13-14 century, the Aztec society was completely transformed - retaining wild religious beliefs, they managed to develop agriculture, master the processing of some metals and create majestic cities with huge pyramids.
In Aztec society, the priesthood was of great importance. Every day, the priests performed bloody rituals of sacrifice, as the Aztecs believed that in order to prevent a great catastrophe, they needed to feed the blood of their gods. In this regard, a special place in society was occupied by warriors, whom the Aztecs called "the breadwinners of the gods." Their main task was to capture enemies, in order to then sacrifice them.
However, most of the population of the Aztec empire consisted of artisans and farmers. Land plots were collectively owned, the heads of families received them in permanent possession, and passed on by inheritance. This shows that in the Aztec society, which switched to the slave system, the remnants of the tribal system were preserved. Close to the upper strata of society, the position was occupied by post office merchants. A significant part of the population of cities consisted of them. Trade in the Aztec state was carried out under the strict control of the state - there was a lively trade in the markets located near the city administrations, and cocoa beans served as the currency, and barter was also widespread.
This is how the Aztec culture is briefly characterized.
The Incas, Aztecs and Mayans are mysterious tribes that have disappeared from the face of the earth. Until now, scientific excavations and all kinds of research are being conducted in order to study their life and the reasons for their disappearance. In this article we will tell you about one interesting tribe. The Aztecs lived in the 14th century in what is now Mexico City.
Where did they come from
The population of this Indian people was about 1.3 million people. According to legend, the homeland of the Aztecs was the island of Astlan (translated as "the country of herons"). Initially, the members of this tribe were hunters, but then, settling on the land, they began to engage in agricultural and craft work, although it was a rather warlike tribe. The Aztecs, in order to start leading, searched for suitable lands for quite a long time. They did not act at random, but in accordance with the instructions of their god Huitzilopochtli. In his opinion, the Aztecs should have seen an eagle sitting on a cactus and devouring the earth.
This happened
Despite all the strangeness of this sign, after 165 years of wandering around the Mexican land, the Aztecs still managed to meet this mysterious bird with unusual behavior. In the place where this happened, the tribe began to settle. The Aztecs named their first settlement Tenochtitlan (translated as "a fruit tree growing from stone"). Another name for these lands is Mexico City. Interestingly, the Aztec civilization was created by several tribes. Scientists believe that at least seven tribes who spoke related languages, the most common of which was Nahuatl, took part in this. Now more than 1 million people speak it and similar dialects.
Bottom and top
Can the Aztec civilization serve as an example for the modern organization of society? Fighters for equality would certainly not have liked the Aztec division into aristocrats and plebeians. Moreover, members of high society possessed all the best. They lived in luxurious palaces, wore magnificent clothes, ate delicious food, had many privileges, and held high positions. The plebeians worked on the land, traded, hunted, fished and lived modestly in special quarters. But after death, everyone received an equal chance to get into the underworld, the abode of the goddess of death Miktlan, or go to a better world. Since the warriors in the world of the Aztecs enjoyed special respect, those who died on the battlefield could accompany the sun from sunrise to zenith, just like those who were sacrificed. The honor of accompanying the sun from zenith to sunset was given to women who died in childbirth. Those who were killed by lightning or drowned can also be considered "lucky". They went to the heavenly place where Tlalocan lived.
Fathers and Sons
The tribe referred to in this article has placed a lot of emphasis on the education of children. Until the age of 1, they were brought up at home, and after that they had to attend special schools. Moreover, both boys and girls, although the latter, most often, after getting married, sat at home and watched over the household and children. Commoners were trained in craft skills and military science. Aristocrats studied history, astronomy, social studies, rituals, government. The children of members of high society were not white-handed. They worked in public works, cleaned up churches, and participated in rituals. Honor, respect and various privileges awaited the old men.
Aztec culture
It is not in vain that this lost civilization attracts attention to itself in our days. The Aztecs were excellent masters of their craft, so buildings, sculptures, stone and clay products, fabrics, jewelry were of high quality. The Aztecs were especially distinguished by the ability to make a variety of products from the bright feathers of tropical birds. Also famous are the Aztec mosaics and ornaments. The aristocrats were fond of literature. Many of them could have composed a poem or written an oral work. Legends, tales, poems, descriptions of the rituals of this people have survived to this day. Book paper was made from bark. The calendars created by this tribe are also interesting. The Aztecs used a solar and ritual calendar. Agricultural work and religious work were carried out in accordance with the solar calendar. It consisted of 365 days. The second calendar, which includes 260 days, was used for predictions. The fate of a person was judged by the day on which he was born. Until now, many treasure hunters dream of finding Aztec gold. And at one time they lived very richly. This is evidenced by the stories of the Spanish conquerors. They say that the wealthy Aztecs, especially in the capital Tenochtitlan, ate and slept on gold. Golden thrones were installed for their gods, at the foot of which there were also gold bars.
Aztec religion
People from this tribe believed that there are several gods who control the forces of nature and the fate of people. They had gods of water, maize, rain, sun, war and many others. The Aztecs built huge, ornate temples. The largest was dedicated to the main deity Tenochtitlan and was 46 meters high. In the temples, ceremonies were held, as well as sacrifices. The Aztecs also had an idea of the soul. They believed that the heart and blood vessels were its dwelling place in humans. The beating of the pulse was taken for its manifestation. According to the Aztecs, the gods put the soul into the human body even at the time when he is in the womb. They also believed that objects and animals have a soul. The Aztecs imagined that there was a special bond between them, allowing them to interact on an intangible level. Also, the Aztecs thought that every person has a magical double. His death led to the death of a person. As a sacrifice, the Aztecs offered their own blood to their idols. For this, a rite of bloodletting was performed. In general, the Aztecs made human sacrifices in huge numbers. It is a known fact that during the illumination of the Great Temple, 2000 people were sacrificed. The Aztecs thought about the end of the world and believed that a large amount of blood could appease the gods and maintain the world's balance.
The Aztec civilization perished because of the greed of the Spaniards. It happened at the beginning of the 16th century, but the story of the life of a tribe that disappeared from the face of the earth still excites the imagination. Whether the Aztec gold brings happiness is up to everyone to decide for himself.
