Aztec Cultural Analysis - Term Paper Example

The essay seeks to emphasize the areas where similar features were quite evidenced. Aztecs, as a subunit of the Mesoamerican culture, borrow many traditions and cultural aspects from the group.

Just like in Mesoamerican, the Aztec emperors did possess immense powers both from political and spiritual angles. Religion was the main unifying factor. Their social system was made up of emperors, nobles, priests, warriors, merchants and artisans, farmers, slaves, and prisoners. It all had a dependence on welfare in slave acquisition. Their wealth amount was based on the ability and strength of the military and their ability to gain control over others. The states were the ones in control of markets and the distribution of wealth to needy areas. Their trade systems did rely on the extensive slave trade and tributes while the basis of wealth was heavily dependent upon the exploitation of other people.
The decline of the empire did end after the influence of the Mesoamerican group. Primarily, the subordinate groups waved resistance to the ruling from the king. They were not loyal at all. Diseases such as measles, and smallpox, leading to many deaths as they did lack immunity, attacked them. Spanish arrival in around the year 1500 led to the final collapse of the kingship.

Essentially, the similarities between Aztec and Mesoamerican populate cultures were massive. It did range from political groupings, agriculture, religion, economic angles, social perspectives, cultures, and trading systems.

Task 2
The temple was located in the city center. At that, place, the most ceremonial and religious activities of the Aztecs took place. The temple did stand at 90 feet in the sky, having two pyramids by the sides. These pyramids were a symbol of sacred mountains. A broad double staircase granted access to the shrines. There were two chapels at the frontal side of the temple. At the base of the temple, there were some expertly carved serpent heads. People used to offer human sacrifice blood. All the bodies were thrown down the stairs soon after the human heart was excavated. Blood spilling was quite significant in the death of the goddess Coyolxauhqui. It did symbolize the duality that did exist between day and night, together with females and males. The Spaniards had a contrary opinion, and just destroyed the temple citing it as an abomination.

After the demolition, many scattered human skulls were prominent in the ruins. That was a clear indicator that those human sacrifices that were always on offer them the core aim of pleasing gods. Certain animals and objects were buried deeply too, symbolic of sacrifices made to god. The temple was quite significant to the Aztec population. After the Spanish domination in the region, there was immediate dismantling. They later did reuse some of the stones in their construction of the cathedral. Additionally, they were shocked and amazed at seeing the masterpiece building. Read More