the aztecs Essay - 3431 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Aztecs were an American Indian people who ruled a mighty empire in Mexico from the 1400s to the 1500s. The Aztecs had one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas and built cities as large as any in Europe at that time. They also practiced a remarkable religion that affected every part of their lives and featured human sacrifice. The Aztecs built towering temples, created huge sculptures, and held impressive ceremonies all for the purpose of worshipping their gods. The Spaniards destroyed their magnificent empire in the year 1521, but the Aztecs left a lasting mark on Mexican life and culture . nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The majority of the Aztecs lived in what is now called the Valley of†¦show more content†¦As the Aztecs grew in number, they established superior military and civil organizations. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;According to the famous legend, the Aztecs finally settled at a spot where an eagle sat upon a cactus eating a snake. This was a sign foretold by their patron god. The sign, found by the priests, finally appeared on a small island in Lake Texcoco. By 1325, on the island, the Aztecs built a temple to Huitziposhtli and began to construct the city of Tenochtitlan, the quot;Place of Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit.quot; Over the next 200 years, the city slowly became one of the largest and most powerful cities of the world, and was the giant heart of the Aztecs Empire . nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Aztecs society was structured in a hierarchy with nobles at the top. Social status was determined primarily at birth. All members of the nobility could trace their lineage to the first Aztecs ruler Acamapichtli . The only way one could rise up to another class in the system was to perform an outstanding military achievement. Aztec society had four main classes: nobles, commoners, serfs, and slaves. The nobles usually held high military offices and government positions. However, nobles were also teachers, priests, and bureaucratic officials. The nobles controlled most of the wealth in Aztec society. Obviously, their lifestyles were different and more luxurious than those of the commoners and slaves .Show MoreRelatedThe Aztec Of The Aztecs1330 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1519, the Aztecs were the most powerful kingdom in Mesoamerica. At the peak of their reign, their territory stretched as far as 80,000 square miles over southern Mexico, and had as many as fifteen million people. The Aztecs emerged in the thirteenth century, as a nomadic tribe. They were guided by their chief god, Huitzilopochtli, the war god and representative of the sun. The Aztecs couldn t find a place to settle in the crowded central Mexico. Eventually, they were taken as serfs andRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Empire1459 Words   |  6 Pages Aztecs were one of the most advanced civilizations from the 1400’s to the 1500’s. They were able to create one of the most magnificent empires known to men by an Indian tribe in America. They had built cities and temples as big as cities in Europe. Aztecs were always ahead of their time. They had made technology advancements such as, advanced architecture, technology advancements, engineering and agriculture. They also introduced weapons, medicine, tools, and calendars. The Aztec people were oneRead MoreThe Aztec Of Aztec Life917 Words   |  4 Pages The Aztecs are really interesting people that were alive back from 1400 - 1600 AD. They lived very different than us, because we don’t no human sacrifices because we don’t believe in any of the gods (due to science)This paper will show how the Aztecs lived, including their empire, Government and Agriculture. The first interesting thing about the Aztecs is their daily routine. Aztec family life was very similar to many modern day cultures. For example, the husband was primarily responsible forRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Civilization1097 Words   |  5 PagesThe Aztecs had one of the most successful and advanced empires of all time. They had a dwelling culture The Aztec civilization was located directly in the middle of two mountain ranges in the central valley of Mexico ( Platt 10). Although the Aztec empire eventually came to an end they were able to do well as an empire. Contributing factors that led to the rise of the empire was their political structure, social components, and religious traditions which they preformed earnestly. The Aztecs wereRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Culture939 Words   |  4 PagesThe Aztecs are often perceived as a merciless society who increased their empire through bloody conflict. Furthermore, they are most remembered for religious sacrifice of humans. This included elaborate ceremonies culminating with the removal of organs while the sufferers were still breathing. Although violent sacrifice is intolerable in modern times, it wasn’t uncommon less than a millennia ago. It was practiced throughout the world on every continent. This includes Mesopotamia which is a cradleRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Empire1723 Words   |  7 Pagesruthless empires and civilizations, although none was like the Aztecs and their empire. Although they started off with a humble beginning, they quickly grew into a great civilization that dominated present day Central Mexico. They conquered and expanded into an empire stronger than the other neighboring empires. The heart of the Aztec empi re, Tenochtitlan, was a grand capital filled with many people and astounding temples. The Aztecs were also ahead of their time with fully-functional governmentRead MoreAztec Masks : The Aztecs Essay2109 Words   |  9 PagesAztec Masks To really understand why masks were created by the Aztecs, I believe one really needs to look at the history and religious beliefs of the group. The Aztecs, like other mesoamerican civilizations before it, was a complex nation that faced times for war, had advanced calendar systems, and created a vast amount of art (a variety of different art forms- from poetry to pottery) that sadly most of it was destroyed by the spaniards that came later. The Aztecs had a belief system that includedRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Empire1700 Words   |  7 Pagesruthless empires and civilizations, although not one was like the Aztecs and their empire. Although they started off with a humble beginning, they quickly grew into a great civilization that dominated present day Central Mexico. They conquered and expanded into an empire stronger than the other neighboring empires. The heart of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, was a grand capital filled with many people and astounding temples. The Aztecs were also ahead of their time with fully-functional governmentRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Tribes1026 Words   |  5 Pages The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican people that lived within the regions of central Mexico during the mid-13th century through the 16th century. The Aztecs history is one of most famous, rich, and tragic histories in the world. The Aztecs began as nomadic-hunter gatherer tribes mixed with separate cultures. This mix was what founded the Aztec culture we all know of today. It was believed the Aztecs originated from a mythical place known as Aztlan which can be translated to â€Å"the place of origin,† andRead MoreThe Aztecs And The Aztec Mythology Essay1620 Words   |  7 PagesHere no one fears to die in war. This is our glory†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Joseph and Henderson, 61). The Aztec mythology claims their god Huitzilopochtli ordered them to leave the seven caves to find new land they would call home. They traveled many years until they found the eagle with a serpent on his mouth standing on top of a cactus. There the Aztecs were to build a temple for the god of war and of the sun, Huitzilopochtli. The Aztecs were tried by many but they learned to become skillful warriors, which allowed them