The brutal practice of human sacrifice and barbarity
he Aztecs are most notorious for their bloodshed and brutality. Human sacrifice was an important religious practice in the Aztec civilization. It was performed to appease the gods and maintain the balance of nature. In particular, human blood and life were sacrificed to empower the sun god Huitzilopochtli. Prisoners of war or slaves were usually selected for sacrifice and their hearts were removed and offered to the gods. They believed that if the gods were not properly sacrificed, the sun would stop rising and destruction would descend upon the earth.
It was a way to demonstrate political power in addition to religious beliefs. The Aztecs sacrificed about 20,000 people each year, and this number increased fourfold when new temples were built. Removing the heart while alive, flaying, and dismembering the limbs were all part of their religious rituals. Not only that, but at one time human sacrifice was also included in taxes. Sometimes women and children were sacrificed. However, most of the victims were prisoners of war collected from neighboring kingdoms.
These captives were often sacrificed on the top of the Templo Mayor (Great Temple) in the heart of Tenochtitlan. However, modern scholars now see this as more than just barbaric behavior. It was part of a religious belief and social structure that influenced the economic and political systems of their civilization.
In search of an eagle sitting on a cactus
From the Aztecs to the Conquistadors The Toltec civilization collapsed in the early 1200s. The Toltec civilization was a highly developed civilization located in central Mexico just before the rise of the Aztecs. It was a magnificent urban center. It had pyramids, temples, tall buildings, and many statues. When it fell, hunter-gatherers and various other tribes took advantage of it. Among them was a group called the Chichimeca, led by Soltl. They moved from the arid plateau of northern Mexico to the fertile, densely populated areas of the central region. Soltl's Chichimeca intermarried with the surviving Toltecs. This led to a period of peace and cultural progress in the Valley of Mexico. It was during this time that the Aztecs, who according to legend were wandering to settle in a new place, built a temporary settlement near the ruins. There they improved their approach to agriculture and acquired other technological knowledge. However, their stay was temporary. According to Aztec tradition, the god Huitzilopochtli ordered them to leave again in search of a permanent home.
The location of which would be marked by an eagle. The eagle would sit on a cactus and hold a snake in its mouth (it is depicted on the Mexican national flag). A long pilgrimage began, which ended in 1325 on a small island in Lake Texcoco. Where the older members of the group saw the eagle, the cactus, and the snake. There they built a temple and around it, on the islands of Lake Texcoco, they built the first settlements of the city of Tenochtitlan, which later became a powerful city.
Agriculture is the main traditional way of life
Tenochtitlan was on an island in a lake. So the Aztecs created a floating agricultural system from the swamps, which is still used in Mexico City today. These were called chinampas. They first built square fences with bamboo fronds in the swamps. When water flowed through the fronds, the mud and debris would be trapped, forming a wall. They would also plant willow trees between the branches to make the wall stronger. They would then fill the wall with soil until it floated above the water. Farmers would row their canoes to cultivate the land. The Aztecs used long stone channels called archaducts to bring water into the city. From there, water was supplied to flower gardens, private homes, and city fountains. Young Aztec children were educated at home, but as teenagers, all boys went to school. Where they were trained in philosophy, nature, music, military science, and one of several other professions. Women were usually engaged in child-rearing and household chores. However, some women could also become doctors or teachers. Men worked in agriculture. However, some people were also engaged in pottery, woodworking, or metalworking.
All adult males were required to serve in the military, and the elite members of Aztec society were the main warriors. But life for conquered peoples under Aztec rule was extremely difficult. They were forced to work in the military; were made slaves; or were sacrificed to Aztec gods. The Aztecs built temples and pyramids throughout their empire. These structures were places of worship for the gods, sacrifices, and sometimes the resting places of the emperors.
A 200-year journey
The Aztec Empire lasted from 1325 to 1521. This powerful empire in the Valley of Mexico grew and flourished for over 200 years. During this period of history, they expanded their influence in various regions and established a strong organizational structure. The Aztec Empire was based on their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. This city was home to three million people. The city's advanced waterways and technology made it an important commercial and cultural center.
The Aztec Empire can be described as a military regime, where new territories were conquered through war and conquest. The Aztecs followed a system known as 'mochtum'.
The Aztecs created a strong administrative structure, where the emperor or Tlatoctini (ruler of the world) held supreme power. He performed both religious and military duties. Under him was a well-organized government. Where the administration was divided into various departments and provincial governors implemented the emperor's orders. In addition, the Aztecs were also skilled in science, mathematics, and agriculture. They used advanced technologies for farming. Such as irrigation systems and the establishment of farms on the ground. Their religious beliefs were very strong and they played a huge role in religious festivals and worship, the most famous of which was their practice of human sacrifice.
Smallpox and the decline of Spanish influence The fall of the Aztec civilization was not an isolated event. The process took place between 1519 and 1521. Several factors were at play in this decline, including external invasions, disease outbreaks, and internal political unrest.
First, Spanish troops led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés launched an attack against the Aztecs.In 1519, Cortés arrived on the coast of Mexico and headed for the city of Tenochtitlan. The Aztec emperor Montezuma II initially welcomed him because he believed that Cortés might be the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl, an ancient Aztec god. However, Cortés's troops were extremely powerful. In particular, they used firearms, rifles, and horses, which were unfamiliar to the Aztecs. At that time, in 1521, Cortés and his army besieged the city of Tenochtitlan and defeated the Aztecs.
Second, disease outbreaks were crucial to the Aztecs' downfall. The Spanish brought diseases from Europe, such as chicken pox, pneumonia, and flu. These spread quickly among the Aztecs. The Aztecs had no natural immunity, and these diseases killed millions of Aztecs. Disease greatly reduced their population and weakened their ability to wage war.
Internal conflict was also a factor in the decline. There were some indigenous groups within Aztec society that rebelled against Aztec exploitation. These groups allied with the Spanish and fought against the Aztecs. In addition, there was some internal unrest during the reign of the Aztec emperor Montezuma II, which led to growing discontent among the people. The Spanish considered the Aztec religious and social practices to be barbaric, which gave them the moral basis for their destruction. And from there, the path of Spanish colonization was paved and a new chapter in the history of the Mexican region began.
Aztec in pieces
This 12-foot-wide calendar stone helped the Aztecs keep track of the year.
♦ The Aztecs used cocoa beans (coffee seeds) as currency. ♦ The Aztec capital was located on the site of present-day Mexico City. Tenochtitlan was once one of the most populous cities in the world, home to around 200,000 people.
♦ On the busiest market days in Tenochtitlan, 50,000 people would come. ♦ The Aztecs used to build artificial islands called chinampas, which were the mainstay of their agricultural production. The main weapon of the Aztecs was the macuahuitl, which was a wooden sword with a sharp stone blade.
♦ The Aztecs played a game called Ullamaliztli, which was played with a 16-pound rubber ball. The heavy rubber ball was played using only the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees; the use of hands or feet was prohibited. It was played on a rectangular field with a circular ring on the wall, and a goal was scored if the ball was passed through the ring. The game was not only for entertainment, but also carried religious and symbolic significance, reflecting the conflict between light and darkness, or good and evil. In many cases, the losing team was sacrificed as a human sacrifice, which added to the mystery of the game.
♦ The Aztecs used two calendars: a 365-day calendar and a 260-day cycle. These two calendars coincided every 52 years.
♦ The Aztecs spoke the Nahuatl language, which is still used among many communities in Mexico today.
Several words from the Aztec language, Nahuatl, are used in our daily lives, such as ‘chocolate’, ‘tomato’, ‘avocado’ and ‘chili’. Many of the foods we eat today – such as corn tortillas, hot chocolate and popcorn – were also eaten by the Aztecs.
♦ The Aztecs had advanced medical science. They treated diseases with various herbs and natural ingredients.
♦ The Aztecs knew the technique of making chocolate from cocoa and it was considered the food of the gods.
♦ The Aztecs worshipped over 200 gods, each with its own festivals.
♦ Many of the gods had human-like qualities, and their life stories were fascinating and complex.
♦ The Aztecs had a highly organized tax system. Conquered kingdoms paid them tribute, which could be food, gold, or other resources.
♦ Their main temple, the Templo Mayor, was the center of Aztec religious life. Human sacrifice was most common here.
♦ Women played important roles in trade, medicine, and family responsibilities.
♦ The Aztecs placed great importance on beauty. They wore jewelry, bright clothing, and carved stones.
♦ The Aztecs recorded their history and religious stories in hieroglyphics, known as codexes.
♦ The last emperor of the Aztec Empire was Cuauhtémoc, who was captured and killed by the Spanish.
The year is 1450. Two pyramids painted red and blue, each about 9 stories high, stand tall on a large platform in the center of the city of Tenochtitlan.
