Introduction The Aztecs lived in what is now Mexico City from around 1350 to 1529. They had water for crops and were surrounded by mountains. The Aztecs were polytheistic, meaning that they believed in many gods. Agriculture affected Aztec culture the most, which can be seen through chinampas and crops. Body Paragraph 1 Agriculture was very important to the Aztecs, so they made systems that made farming easier, such as chinampas.
While many worldviews exist, The fall of the Aztec empire was unavoidable. The Aztec’s were a group of people who were very religious and lived in Mexico for hundreds of years but one day a group of Spanish people arrived and executed all of the Aztec people. Many of them died from diseases the spanish brought with them like small pox. The others were killed by the spanish and some were taken to spain as slaves. This was led by an explorer named Hernan Cortes.
In the years between 1350 and 1519 the aztec empire ruled the lower half of mexico. The capitol of the empire was Tenochtitlan, currently mexico city, on the lake Texcoco. They were disliked by many because they were tough warriors who pushed people out of there way. The capitol of their empire was tenochtitlan, current day mexico, on the lake texcoco. They were disliked because people saw them as fierce warriors and fanatical followers of the aztec gods.
As a young conquistador coming to a strange land that has a large pyramid with thousands of people surrounding it as they were chanting and yelling while looking toward the very top of the stairs that led to the top of the pyramid. You see people at the top and notice how they are cutting out the hearts of these human sacrifices and tossing them down the stairs. You stare in horror and notice what a terrible and cruel place you have come across. There was human sacrifice going on and gruesome wars over land that ultimately led to more and more death. But then you take another look around and see their agriculture and all the amazing irrigation systems they have set up and you 're completely shocked about how well their farming systems are.
The Aztec people dominated the 14th through 16th century Mesoamerica. They are one of the most noted cultures recognized in history books today and they deserve as much recognition for their accomplishments and errors as much as any other civilization because their works were much the same. Their religious practices were similar to that of the ancient civilizations throughout the entire world. The magnificent capital, Tenochtitlan, displays accomplishments other cities had achieved thousands of years before the Aztecs marched through what is now Mexico. Even the fall of their empire was like that of the far away Celtic civilization and countless others.
The Aztecs should get credit for the inventions that they introduced to the rest of the world. Take chocolate for example, the chocolate was made by the Mayans. The Aztecs made the chocolate using a recipe that was similar to the Mayan chocolate. The Mayans kept this to themselves, but the Aztecs shared this with the rest of the world. One may think that it would be unfair to give some credit to the Aztecs because it wasn’t created by them.
The Aztec and Spanish The outcome of the contact between the Aztec and the Spanish was welcoming initially but after a certain period of time, The Spanish decided to take over the Aztec and Inca Empire. The purpose of this Spanish expedition was to seek fame and fortune for Spain and also spread Christianity to the natives and new lands. This had led them into war between the Aztec and Spanish The Aztec first arrives in Mexico in the late 1100s.
Did the Spanish Conquistadors misrepresent the Aztecs, and how has this affected the enduring legacy of the Aztecs? [Note of clarification]: This essay is referring to the Aztecs as the Mexicas, due to misinformed terminology popularised by the Spaniards, the name ‘Aztecs’ proved to not be appropriate or correct when referring to the people who controlled the Tenochtitlan region in 1519, when the Spanish arrived. Though the name Mexica still begs some ambiguity in context, it is more respectful when referring to the people of the ‘Aztec Empire’.
During the exploration of the new world, Europe killed lots of people in the name of finding gold and/or land. They built cities in the name of their country. In the article in states that Cortes conquered the Aztecs killing thousands of people. Then Pizzaro did the same thing, but instead with the Incas when he conquered that people. Both of these people committed these atrocities in the name of Spain and their country.
The principal beliefs and practises of religions influence the society in which they exist and provide answers to a search for a meaning. This is can be seen through the rituals of the Aztecs religion. Through the rituals the Aztecs communicated with gods. They developed a complex and elaborate set of rituals to honour their deities. They gave at least half of each month to religious ritual.
The relationship between the Spanish and the Aztecs was a correspondence that steadily declined as the Spanish conquered and destroyed the Aztec Civilization. The relationship was one that was bound to fail because of the naive nature and seclusion of the Aztecs along with the greed and barbaric attitude of the Spaniards. The Spanish ravaged through the new world and along with them the brought destruction and disease; with no remorse for the deaths they caused. The Aztecs, naive and uneducated, were overly trusting of their supposed “pale-faced gods.” The combination of these factors is what lead to a destructive association between these two incompatible groups.
The Aztec identity for the self or personal identity, is elusive because most of the documents talk about the social identity which played a major role in Aztec culture; this does not mean that personal identity was not present but it was not a dominate factor as it is today. Social identity is defined as a person’s conception and expression of their own and other’s individuality. Aztec culture was rich combinations of cultures from the people that made the Aztec empire; traditions that were passed down through generations influenced the way people lived within the society. According to Miguel Leon-Portilla in the book, “Aztec Image of Self and Society,” states that the Nahuas had a strong desire to instill in the young the principles that would make the formation of citizens that were wise and firm.
one victim needed to battle a group of picked Aztec warriors, who had swords, and knives. (Cartwright 4). The victim was left with one feathered club to attempt to fight these warriors off (Cartwright 4). Usually, these victims were killed instantly (Cartwright 4). The last method that these sacrifices were done in was, lighting a fire and throwing the victim multiple times in the fire and ripping out their heart (Cartwright 4).
The Aztecs were a civilization that left a lasting impact on history through their unique practices and achievements, such as their sacrifices and the establishment of Tenochtitlan. Despite the controversy surrounding Aztec practices, their sacrifices should be remembered as a significant part of their religious and cultural beliefs. Additionally, the founding of Tenochtitlan, which became the largest and most powerful city-state in Mesoamerica, highlights the Aztecs’ ingenuity and skill in urban planning and construction. Together, these contributions showcase the Aztecs’ enduring legacy in shaping Mesoamerican history and culture. The Aztecs' establishment of Tenochtitlan is a remarkable achievement that should be remembered for many reasons.
I’m the first generation of my family to be Mexican -American, but I have been introduced to the Mexican culture since I was born. I appreciate the difficulties my parents have faced to make me the person that I am today even though I wasn’t born in Mexico my parents have taught me the language and the culture which I’m so proud of being part of. For others being Hispanic is actually being born in any Latin American countries which is not true at all. Being Hispanic is much more than my cultural background it actually describes how much I appreciate my culture and how I get to experience things other people don’t. I fit into the Hispanic community through the experiencing the culture first hand ,participating in traditions and planning to include my culture in my future.
