Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Aztec Human Sacrifices Essay - 1175 Words

The Aztec civilization was a very complex society that was feared and known well for their various gory sacrifices done to please their many gods in their polytheistic religion. The much feared civilization began by the exile of one of the two Toltec leaders, which lead to the decline of the Toltec state that was later replaced by Mexica, or the Aztecs. According to the Aztecs, the land chosen to build their main city was chosen by the portrayal of an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth. Through military might, the Aztecs managed to become the most powerful civilization in the mid-fourteenth century. They maintained their power through military might and the fear they caused other civilizations because of the human†¦show more content†¦The selfless act the gods committed led to one of the major reasons for human sacrifices which was that since the gods gave up their own life for the creation of the new world, that the Aztecs had to somehow respect and honor t heir action. They did this by creating an eighteen month calendar, which dedicated each month to a certain god. The Aztecs used scared and solar calendars to tell time and when all the possible combinations had been used, usually every fifty-two years, the Aztecs would go through a twelve-day period before the cycle started again (Benson 506). There were many different methods the Aztecs used to sacrifice their victims but most sacrifices centered on the method of heart extraction. The victims were, â€Å"thrust onto the stone, where a temple priest cut through their chest wall with a ritual flint knife,† and the heart was, â€Å"[offered] to the sun for vitality and nourishment,† (â€Å"Aztec Human Sacrifices†). There was also the act of burning the victim alive in the sacrificial fire but before they reached death they were taken out and their heart would be taken out (Callery 33). Victims were not the only ones that were sacrificed; priests also conducted a method of sacrifice called bloodletting. The priest would begin by punctuating his tongue or any other body part and then proceeding to letting blood flow out (â€Å"Aztec Human Sacrifices†). A torture method of the Aztecs that might beShow MoreRelatedHuman Sacrifice And The Gods Essay1360 Words   |  6 Pagesdripped down off the sacrif icial table as the priest cuts out the man’s heart to offer it to the gods.â€Å" The occurrence of human sacrifice can usually be related to the recognition of human blood as the sacred life force†(â€Å"Human Sacrificing†). The thought of human sacrificing may seem inhuman or uncivilized; however, in the ancient times, it was considered a prayer for better times. Human sacrificing was not only a ritual act to earn a god s favor, but also for a greater cause. Usually people would benefitRead MoreRamon Astorga. Professor . History 101. 06 March 2014.906 Words   |  4 PagesHistory 101 06 March 2014 The Aztec Empire The Aztec civilization was the most dominate complex society in Mesoamerica of all time. The Aztecs were an innovative and sophisticated civilization that became superior due to their elaborate engineered cities, pyramids, and temples. Their proficiency in trade, expertise in agriculture, religious traditions, organized government, and progressive technology set a firm foundation for the distinguished Aztec empire. The Aztecs, arrived in Mesoamerica in theRead MoreThe Ideas Of Regeneration Of Time And Calendrical Rites1548 Words   |  7 Pagespredominately connected when looking at the Aztec. These two ideass are connected with the Five Suns creation myth and the Aztec Calendar which in themselves are connected. The idea of Regeneration of Time comes in with the creation of the 5th Sun by the Aztec gods, which later connects to the Calendric Rites. As said by Karl Taube â€Å"From the slaying of the gods at Teotihaucan, the Sun of Motion, Nahui Ollin, is created. Just as the gods had to sacrifice themselves, so humans must supply their own hearts andRead MoreAztec Essay838 Words   |  4 PagesAztec Essay History has been very cruel to the Aztecs. What do you know about the Aztecs? The first thing that probably comes to your mind is human sacrifice, or them being very bloody and gory. Well there is much more to the Aztecs than human sacrifice and wars. The Aztecs were a very advanced and successful civilization. They did perform human sacrifice, but it was a part of their religion, and it was common for cultures to sacrifice humans at the time. Also, all of the things we know todayRead MoreWhat Does Aztec Culture Mean For Mexican People?917 Words   |  4 Pages What does Aztec culture mean for Mexican people? The Aztec culture was the beginning of the Mexican culture along with other Indian territories in Mexico. The Aztecs were known because they ruled and most of the southern part of Mexico for a long period of time, but like everyone knows everything has to come to an end. Even though Aztec society is gone, their society levels, religion, and architecture can still be seen and analyzed today. The Aztecs were Mesoamerican people from the early centuriesRead MoreThe Gods Of Aztec Religion975 Words   |  4 PagesThe Gods of Aztec The Aztec culture was one of the most complex and detailed cultures that has ever been around to date. Just how complex the culture was the religion followed suit. The Aztec religion was an intricate part of their way of life. The Aztec’s believed in a completely different way than most religions are today. We will discuss some of the early beginnings of the religion and how it got started all the way to the details of what and how they believed and â€Å"prayed†. As most people knowRead MoreRamon Astorga. Professor Sarhadi. History 101. 02 March1577 Words   |  7 PagesHistory 101 02 March 2014 The Aztec Empire The Aztec civilization was the most dominate complex society in Mesoamerica of all time. The Aztecs were an innovative and sophisticated civilization that became superior due to their elaborate engineered cities, pyramids, and temples. Their proficiency in trade, expertise in agriculture, religious traditions, organized government, and progressive technology set a firm foundation for the distinguished Aztec empire. The Aztecs, arrived in Mesoamerica in theRead MoreThe Culture Of The Mayas, And The Aztecs1693 Words   |  7 Pagesamount of information on different cultures. However, there was a particular section that truly caught my attention, and has piqued an interest in me that has caused me to do my own research aside from this paper. The culture of the Mayas, and the Aztecs has been extremely fundamental in understanding my ancestry, being that I am Mexican American. I took an interest in their beautiful architecture, their ritualistic and sacrificial religious practices, as well as their history and how they began.Read MoreAztec Religion: the Foundation of a Civilization1456 Words   |  6 PagesThe religion of the Aztec, including their beliefs, customs and religions, acted as a tremendous influence on their government, economy, and culture. Religion was the foundation for the infamous culture of the Aztec Civilization. Through ceremonies of sacrifice, and the infusion of cosmology int o their religion, the Aztecs sculpted a culture unlike that of any other civilization, and left behind a legacy to be studied and admired for generations to come. Religion ultimately shaped the unique civilizationRead MoreThe Problems Of Aztec Tribe1429 Words   |  6 PagesThe Problems of Aztec Tribe Pre-Columbian Aztec Tribe was a very complex and hierarchical society that settled among the Aztecs of central Mexico in the times prior to the Spanish seize of Mexico. It was erected on the cultural bases of the bigger area of Mesoamerica. The culture was structured into self-governing city-states, called altepetls, which had smaller divisions. These city-states were further composed of one or more large kinship cluster (History.com). Nobles and commoners were the most

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.