7. aztec civilization

Text adapted by Esmeralda Ferti

1. Aztec civilization


Government
The Aztec empire was an informal or hegemonic empire because it did not exert supreme
authority over the conquered lands; it merely expected tributes to be paid. It was also a
discontinuous empire because not all dominated territories were connected, for example
the southern peripheral zones of Xoconochco were not in direct contact with the center.
The hegemonic nature of the Aztec empire can be seen in the fact that generally local rulers
were restored to their positions once their city-state was conquered and the Aztecs did not
interfere in local affairs as long as the tribute payments were made.

The Aztec civilization
was a highly advanced
and filled with unique
customs, a
comprehensive
language, and amazing
technology. The history
of the Aztec civilization
is one that has long
been admired and
studied by people
around the world.

2. Class Structure
The highest class was the pīpiltin or nobility. Originally this
status was not hereditary, although the sons of pillis had access
to better resources and education, so it was easier for them to
become pillis. Later the class system took on hereditary
aspects.
The second class was the mācehualtin, originally peasants.
Eduardo Nogueraestimates that in later stages only 20% of the
population was dedicated to agriculture and food production.
The other 80% of society were warriors, artisans and traders.
Eventually, most of the mācehuallis were dedicated to arts and
crafts. Their works were an important source of income for the
city.
Slaves or tlacotin also constituted an important class. Aztecs could become slaves because
of debts, as a criminal punishment or as war captives. A slave could have possessions and
even own other slaves. However, upon becoming a slave, all of the slave's animals and
excess money would go to his purchaser. Slaves could buy their liberty, and slaves could be
set free if they had children with or were married to their masters. Typically, upon the death
of the master, slaves who had performed outstanding services were freed. The rest of the
slaves were passed on as part of an inheritance.
Traveling merchants called pochtecah were a small, but important class as they not only
facilitated commerce, but also communicated vital information across the empire and
beyond its borders. They were often employed as spies.


Economy and the Aztec Civilization
The Aztec economy was very specialized and intricate. A
variety of goods were produced within the Aztec empire,
including tools, pottery, figurines, jewelry, cloth, and baskets.
These goods were either made specifically for the ruler or sold
in the local markets.
Other goods, however, were carried to the lowlands of the Gulf
Coast, which is now Guatemala, and traded. These prized
goods included items such as gold ornaments, salt, and
garments made of fine clothe. Items valued within the Aztec
culture, such as jaguar skins, tropical-bird feathers, rubber,
cotton, chocolate, and cacao beans were received in return.

3. These items were valuable to the Aztec Indians as they were
used within many of the ceremonies, rituals, and other
traditions of the Aztec people.
Getting their goods to the lowlands was a particularly
extraordinary ordeal for the Aztec Indians. Since the Aztecs
did not have draft animals or wheeled vehicles, goods had to
be carried by canoe. When this wasn’t possible, goods were
carried on the backs of porters in long caravans. Aztec
warriors also went along on trades, as they were needed to
protect the caravans in dangerous areas. The merchants also played another important role
in the Aztec civilization, as they would act as spies for the Aztec empire when they visited
lands still unconquered by their people.

Language and the Aztec Civilization
The development of the Aztec language, or Nahuatl, also played an important role in their
civilization. Pictographs were used to represent their written language. The language, both
written and spoken, was important in completing business arrangements and in keeping
track of family and cultural histories. The Aztec language
was also used to create beautiful poetry and other prose
used in rituals and ceremonies. Many Aztec customs
relied on the use of their language, as did the passing
down of their legends and beliefs from one generation to
the next.

The Importance of Tenochtitlan in the Aztec
Civilization
Tenochtitlan was an island city at the center of the Aztec
empire. At one point, this city had a population of about
200,000 people. The Great Pyramid was located here,
which was the primary spot for religious ceremonies and
rituals. Smaller pyramids were also located throughout Tenochtitlan. On these pyramids,
incense and sacrificial fires were continually burned. The advanced Aztec technology made
it possible to build these grand step pyramids, which sometimes stood over 100 feet tall. In
keeping with the overall tone of the Aztec civilization, nobility lived in brick or stone homes
while the common people lived in homes made of interwoven mud and twigs. Tenochtitlan
played an immensely important role in the Aztec civilization because of the large population
living there, as well as the abundance of religious buildings and activities that took place
there.

4. The Importance of Art in the Aztec Culture
Aztec art played an important role in ancient Aztec culture. In
fact, their art was created primarily as an expression of religion
and warfare. Many examples of this aspect of Aztec culture can
be found in the form of paintings on the walls of temples and
those created on special paper made of bark. Colorful Aztec
masks were also made by craftsman as a tribute to various gods
to be used in rituals and ceremonies.
Among the Aztec artifacts that have been discovered is a wide
array of pottery. The Aztec indians made pottery by layering
strips of clay. These strips of clay were worked into griddles,
storage jars, goblets and other vessels. When the shape was complete, the pottery was
hardened in open kilns heated over the fire. For the most part, the pottery was white or red
with black-and-white geometric designs painted on the sides.

The Importance of Music and Dance in the Aztec Culture
As with art, Aztec music and dance were both performed to please the gods. It was not done
for entertainment or to show off knowledge or skill. In fact, the Aztec culture and religion
tied music and dance into its daily life and ceremonies. Certain musical instruments used in
the Aztec culture were considered to be holy and mistakes made while playing the
instruments were thought to be offensive to the gods. The music was generally used to
accompany Aztec dance, which was considered to be a prayer-
like ritual. It also expressed political, social, and cultural issues.

The Importance of Tattoos in Aztec Culture
Tattoos also played an important role in the Aztec culture. As
with art and music, Aztec tattoos were used in rituals,
particularly those dedicated to Uitzilopochtle. As a part of these
rituals, a priest would use a pointed stone to draw symbols on
the stomach, chest, and wrist of children. In the Aztec culture,
these symbols were intended to show the children’s devotion to
the god. Each Aztec tattoo design was specifically chosen for its
symbolism or relation to a god.
The Aztec culture was deeply involved and intricate. Craftsmen played an important role in
Aztec culture, as they were highly skilled and used to show their devotion and reverence
for their powerful, and sometimes cruel, gods.
Source: http://www.aztec-indians.com/

5. Around 1300 CE, about 200 years after the Maya Indians disappeared, a wandering tribe of
Indians wandered into the Valley of Mexico. These people were called the Aztecs.
When the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already in residence.
They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had to make due to the swampy shores of
Lake Texcoco. They had to adapt to their environment. They built canoes, fished, and
hunted birds that lived near the water. They created floating gardens for growing food. They
created more land for agriculture by filling in the marshes. They built dikes to hold back the
water. The Aztecs were a very clever people.
After a while, they began to conquer the neighboring tribes. They conquered first one tribe,
and then another, and then another. They expanded and expanded until they had built an
empire.
One day, around 1500 CE, Spanish soldiers arrived in the Valley of Mexico. They were
amazed at what they saw. One
soldier said, “There were soldiers
among us who had been in many
parts of the world, in
Constantinople and Rome and all
over Italy, who said that they had
never before seen a market place
so large and so filled with people.”
The Spanish brought guns, horses,
huge fighting dogs, and disease. The Aztecs had never been exposed to childhood diseases
like measles. Many became ill once the Spanish arrived; many died. As well, the Spanish had
help from the other tribes in the area. These tribes saw a chance to get even, and perhaps
even to rid themselves of the feared and hated Aztecs.
By the mid-1500’s, the Aztec Empire had collapsed, and the Spanish took over.
Today, there are around 1,000,000 (one million) descendants of the ancient Aztecs living
and working in Mexico. Human sacrifice is no longer part of their festivals, of course. But
the beautiful art and clever games the Aztecs created are still enjoyed today.
Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus
The ancient Aztecs believed in many gods and goddesses. Each god had a job to do. The sun
god, for example, brought the sun up every day. The Aztecs believed it was important to
keep the sun god happy. They truly believed if the sun god was not happy, he would refuse
to bring up the sun, and the world would end. Since the Aztecs believed in a great many
gods and goddesses, and each had an important job to do, the ancient Aztecs spent most
of their time trying to keep their many gods happy and well fed.

6. The Aztecs believed that human sacrifice was necessary. They
used people to feed their hungry gods. Some of the people
sacrificed were Aztecs. But most of the people they sacrificed
to keep their gods happy were people captured from
neighboring tribes. This did not make them popular with their
neighbors!
Each time the Aztecs tried to settle down and build a city of
their own, other tribes in the area would band together to
chase them away. No one wanted the Aztecs for a neighbor.
The Aztecs were very sad about this. They did so want a city
of their own.
One day, the Aztecs were visited by their main god. He
promised his people that they would have a city of their own
some day. To find it, they were to look for an eagle, perched on a cactus, holding a snake.
When the Aztecs found the magical place of the eagle, snake, and cactus, they were not to
make war with their neighbors. Instead, they settled down peacefully until they had gained
strength. They were to use that time to build a glorious Aztec city, a city of their own.
For the next 200 years, the Aztecs wandered in the Valley of Mexico. They never doubted
their god. They never gave up. They were always on the lookout for an eagle, perched on a
cactus, holding a snake in his mouth. One morning, an Aztec priest was standing on the
swampy shore of Lake Texcoco. He yawned and looked out across the lake. He could not
believe his eyes. On one of the many small islands that dotted the lake, he saw an eagle,
perched on a cactus, with a snake wiggling in its mouth.
The Aztecs had found their home at last. Aztec legend says the cactus grew immediately
into an island. It was on that island that the Aztecs founded their civilization. They named
the island Tenochtitlan, "the Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus".

Journey of a Princess
When the Aztecs settled at "The Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus", they tried very hard to
get along with their neighbors as their main god had instructed them to do. They did not go
to war. They did not capture people to feed to their many gods. Instead, they used their
own people. It was an honor to be sacrificed. Everyone knew that.
In a spirit of goodwill, the Aztec emperor sent a messenger to a nearby tribe. The chief of
the tribe had been a bit standoffish so far. The emperor was hoping that his message might
help to make a new friend. The emperor's message was an invitation. He invited the chief's
daughter to journey to the Aztec capital to meet his son.

7. When the princess arrived at Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital city, she brought with her many
servants and attendants, along with a gorgeous wedding dress and presents for her new
family. She spent a most enjoyable evening with the emperor and his handsome son.
A few days later, when her father arrived in the city of
Tenochtitlan, he fully expected to attend a wedding. Imagine
his surprise when he learned that his daughter had been
sacrificed with great ceremony, along with her many
attendants and slaves. It was the highest honor the Aztecs
could pay.
Broken hearted, the chief hurried home to his people. That
very day, he sent his army to wage war on the horrible
Aztecs. The Aztecs won. They went on to conquer tribe after
tribe in the valley. Each
conquered tribe had to pay
tribute to the Aztecs in the
form of food, clothing, jewels,
and of course, captives to feed the hungry gods. That made
the Aztecs very happy and very rich.
Truly, the Aztecs were not worried that their main god might
be angry with them for going to war. After all, they had tried
to get along. And just as soon as they had conquered all the
people in the valley, they would live in peace with their
neighbors, exactly as their god had told them to do. Surely
there could be no confusion about that.