How Did Culture Influence The Aztec Culture

While it is undeniable the influence that cultures preceding the Aztecs had a major influence on how they presented their ideas and architecture, it would be remiss to say that they did not have a unique essence to their culture. Reflecting on both mythology and symbolism, ties can be made to other Mesoamerican societies. Many tend to swing their thoughts from one end of the spectrum to the other extreme end. Some may say the Aztecs were a solely unique society who greatly differed from others and had little to no influence. Others may posit that the Aztecs are given too much credence, and their artwork is just a natural progression of what the previous incarnations of these ideas would have become. There is a comfortable middle area where

It served as a ritualistic structure, honoring two deities, Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. Discussing the ritualistic importance of the structure requires an acknowledgment that the Aztecs did participate in ritual sacrifice, Templo Mayor being a sacred site for many of these. Of course, many other societies participated in this sort of ritual, but the Aztecs are famously known for this. The use of human life is itself a symbol. The way it emerged from the mythology of the Aztecs and their creation story also brings a distinctive quality, creating a cycle of giving and receiving by the gods It is important to also acknowledge the link between the imagery of sacrifice and the prowess the Aztecs had as warriors. Preceding civilizations may have had military might, but the Aztecs had a military power that was steeped in tradition. It can be said that those killed in battle with the Aztecs were also considered human sacrifices. The way sacrifice is normalized in their culture is a ritual that makes the Aztecs so distinct. Looking back at Templo Mayor and its significance with sacrifice, evidence points to the idea of Huitzilopochtli being a deity of wartime and

On the Codex Mendoza, a similar symbol is used. Consequently, it is possible to say that the impact the Aztecs have on modern day Mexico is of its own distinctive quality. The innovation of the civilization lives on through modern day Mexico. To this day, the site of Tenochtitlan is assimilated with Mexico City. Emphasizing the importance of civilizations that came before the modern day, in the same way Tenochtitlan is visibly important to Mexico City, the same can be said about Aztec culture to the many civilizations that came before it. To come after a great civilization isn’t to erase it, but to grow from their ideas. Culturally, the Aztecs shared many ideas with the Maya. For instance, they share the same type of calendar, one which is round and carved into stone. The base idea for these calendars is the same, but are used in slightly different ways. However, to look at the Aztec version and claim it to be unique to their culture would be erasing the ideas of the Maya. Furthermore, the Aztec conveyed an idea that saw itself even in the earliest Mesoamerican civilizations. The caves, mouths where life emerged from, have been exemplified all the way back to the