Aztec Society and Culture Quiz

Aztec Society and Culture

• Aztec society was characterized by a complex relationship between violence and artistic development.

  • This involved a commitment to war and blood sacrifice, alongside complex codes of conduct, and achievements in art and administration.

• Aztec Religion incorporated long-standing Mesoamerican religious aspects alongside political considerations.

  • The Aztec rationale for human sacrifice was connected to their cosmology.
  • They believed that the sun and earth had been destroyed and recreated four times, and believed that the current, fifth sun, was threatened with destruction, needing sustenance.
  • The Aztecs saw human sacrifice as a vital means of sustaining the sun and the natural cycle.
    • Gifts of life, including captured warriors, women, children, and slaves, were regarded as the most valuable contributions to the sun god.
    • The removal of a palpitating human heart was the most profound expression of piety.
    • Human sacrifice was not unique to the Aztecs but was part of other ancient cultures.

• Human sacrifice served a purpose of cosmic renewal and nourishment for the gods.

• The Aztecs feared that the sun might not rise, requiring the need for sacrificial blood to ensure militant expansionism.

• Sacrifice was a religious ceremony for maintaining balance in the cosmic order.

• Sacrifice maintained renewal and order within the cosmos.

• Aztec society was not a simple social structure; in the initial stages, it involved a majority of peasants and warriors, with a limited number of priests and war leaders.

• Following the settlement of Tenochtitlan, a complex class system emerged, including warriors, religious figures, and traders (pochteca).

• The royal family held the highest status but were not absolute rulers.

  • Rulers were generally chosen from royal families.

• Noble women played important roles in forging alliances and strengthening royal legitimacy, though their leadership roles diminished as the empire developed.

• Aztec society encompassed a complex class system, including nobles and commoners, and the lower class of slaves.

• Slaves had certain rights and bondage wasn't always hereditary.

  • Slaves served in various capacities, and slaves could intermarry with freeholders.
  • Slaves were occasionally captured through warfare and were sometimes destined for sacrifice.

• The Aztecs had a complex political organization that rested on tributary towns.

• Aztec political authority was expressed through tribute and local autonomy.

• The Aztec empire had different levels of authority but depended on tributary towns for support.

  • The empire wasn't unified in terms of language, customs, or beliefs.

Aztec Art, Music, and Literature

• Aztec art borrowed elements from other Mesoamerican civilizations.
• They engaged in impressive stone sculpture, ceramics, and mosaics.
• Aztec music was primarily ceremonial and accompanied by dancing; musical instruments were vital for rituals.
• Poetry and song were connected to the gods and accompanied religious ceremonies.
• Aztec artistry was important for both practical and aesthetic purposes within society and was a manifestation of their understanding of the divine.

The City of Tenochtitlan

• Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, was a large and complex city.
• It contained numerous canals and causeways
• It was built on an island in Lake Texcoco
• It had a great center (Temple Mayor) with the royal palaces and other major structures.
• Tenochtitlan was meticulously designed and managed with respect to drainage and sanitation.