Aztec+Work+(ESPIRITs+and+Summary)

Aztec

by: Anabette D’Entremont 

-land conquered was appropriated à food was a demand from conquered people -Chinampas: beds of aquatic weeds, mud, and earth placed in frames of cane and rooted to the lake floor -local clan apportioned the land and set aside support for the temples and the state -economy was divided into political sections -luxury goods were being produced for the nobles upper lifestyle  || -subjects forced to pay tributes, surrender land, and (sometimes) do military services -change in process of expansion/conquest à to stratified society under the authority of a supreme ruler -Human sacrifice à religious à became a part of military -few territories left unconquered à periodic “flower wars” could be staged à both sides could obtain sacrifice captives -peasant women helped in the field -marriage: arranged between lineage (virginity was highly regarded) -women could inherit property and pass it to their heirs -older women had to train younger women (responsibility)  || -the tribe was divided into 7 calpulli (clans) -calpulli à no longer just family, also residential groupings (might include: neighbors, allies, and dependents) -different levels of military was shown by the cloths that they wore (from the banners to the cloaks) -leader of the household organized the people in time of war and maintained the schools and temple -prominent families formed a sense of nobility -most nobles were born into class (few were promoted) -military virtues linked to the cult sacrifice and infused the whole society -“flowering death”- knife taken to the prisoner from conquered land (sacrifice) was the fitting end to a nobles life and ensured eternity in the highest heaven  || -expanded to conquer surrounding territories --> increase control and power. -Trade partners included the enemy Tarascan (source = bronze tools and jewelry) -The empire had to rely on local kings and nobles and offered them privileges for their help in maintaining order and keeping the tribute flowing  ||  ||   -vastly uniting and (sometimes) oppressive force -world of gods and nature -many gods (god for everything) à example: fire, sky, sun, corn, etc. *(at least 128) -similar to Hindu -each had a male and female form (both) -some = patron god of specific cities, ethnic groups, or jobs -each god had 5 aspects à associated with cardinal direction and center -gods supported by round of yearly festivals/ceremonies -including: feast, dancing, sacrifice  || -depended on mythology that explains the birth/death of gods and their relationship to the people -rewards were offered to women who survived childbirth military was highly ritualized (banners, cloaks, etc – marked military ranks)  || -they were artificial islands about 17ft long and 100-330 ft wide -narrow construction allowed water to reach all the plants, and willow trees and give them intervals of shape and helped fix roots. -Planting was done with a stick, and the used plow was unknown.  || Summary: The Aztec civilization relied on feeding the population by their dependence greatly on agriculture. The land conquered was appropriated, and food was a demand from conquered people. Chinampas, which were beds of aquatic weeds, mud, and earth placed in frames of cane and rooted to the lake floor, were used in previous agricultural methods. Local clan apportioned the land and set aside support for the temples and the state. Aztec dominations extended from Tarascan frontier ~100 miles north of present-day Mexico City southward to Maya area. Their subjects forced to pay tributes, surrender land, and (sometimes) do military services. There was change in process of expansion/conquest to stratified society under the authority of a supreme ruler. Human sacrifice was religious, but became a part of military category too. Few territories left unconquered, which led to periodic “flower wars” could be staged, and both sides could obtain sacrifice captives. By the time of Montezuma II, they were dominated by a king, which represented civil power and served as a represent of gods to Earth. Religion was vastly uniting and (sometimes) oppressive force. There were many gods (god for everything), for example, fire, sky, sun, corn, etc. *(at least 128). Their religion was similar to Hindu religion. Each god had a male and female form. Some gods were patron, or gods of specific cities, ethnic groups, or jobs. Each god had 5 aspects, which associated with cardinal direction and center. Gods were supported by round of yearly festivals/ceremonies, which including feasts, dancing, and sacrifice. The Aztec’s poetry and art filled with images of flowers, birds, and songs. They also greatly admired the human heart and blood, which they knew as the “precious water” needed to sustain gods. Their ideals were depended on mythology that explains the birth/death of gods and their relationship to the people and their history.
 * Economy  ||  -feeding the population depended greatly on agriculture
 * Social  ||  -dominations extended from Tarascan frontier ~100 miles north of present-day Mexico City southward to Maya area
 * Political  ||   -by the time of Montezuma II: dominated by a king à represents civil power/served as a represent of gods to Earth
 * Interactions and Trade  ||  -admnired Mixtec craftsmanship
 * Religion
 * Intellectuals and Culture  ||   -poetry and art filled with images of flowers, birds, and songs à they also greatly admired the human heart and blood ( the “precious water” needed to sustain gods)
 * Technology  ||  -Chinampas: beds of aquatic weeds, mud, and earth placed in frames of cane and rooted to the lake floor