Famous People In Aztec Culture example essay topic

Ancient Civilizations of Americas Aztec's Aztec Empire, Native American state that ruled much of what is now Mexico from about 1428 until 1521. At the height of their power, the Aztec controlled a region stretching from the Valley of Mexico in central Mexico east to the Gulf of Mexico and south to Guatemala. The Aztec Indians had a very violent religion. The Aztec orbited everything around religion.

The Aztec believed in human sacrifice. They believed that to prevent the Earth from being destroyed by the evil sprits that they had to sacrifice human men. These people would be either slaves or captured enemies. The Aztecs would try to manipulate the sacrifice as great honor so that the people would not get scared. A great accomplishment made by the Aztec's was their Calendar. The Aztec calendar was central to a complex system of religious beliefs and ceremonies, which included ritualized warfare and human sacrifice.

The basic unit of Aztec society was the calpulli, a clan, or group of families who claimed descent from a common ancestor. Each calpulli regulated its own affairs, electing a council and officers to keep order, lead in war, and distribute justice. Calpulli ran schools in which boys were taught citizenship, warfare, history, crafts, and religion. Each calpulli also had a temple, an armory to hold weapons, and a storehouse for goods and tribute that were distributed among its members. Within each calpulli, land was divided among the heads of families according to their needs. The Aztec spoke a language called Nahuatl.

They also used pictographs to communicate through writing. Some of the pictures symbolized ideas and other represented the sounds of the syllables. Some famous people in Aztec culture were their gods, some are: CENTE OTL: the corn god. CHALCHIUHTLICUE: The goddess of running Water. CH ANTICO: the goddess of Hearth Fires and Volcanoes. CHICOMECOATL: the goddess of Corn and Fertility.

CIHUACAOTYL: a goddess whose roaring signaled War. EHECATL: the god of wind. HUITZILOPOCHTLI: the war / sun god and special guardian of Tenochtitlan, being the most important. Inca's Inca Empire, vast kingdom in the Andes Mountains of South America.

The Incas built a wealthy and complex civilization that ruled between 5 million and 11 million people. The Inca worshipped the dead, ancestors, and culture heroes. They also worshiped nature and its cycles. The most important god was Inti, the sun god, who nourished the earth.

Quechua was the language of the Incas and many surrounding empires. About 10 million people in these empires and adjacent parts of Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile speak Quechua. Inca society was greatly organized. The emperor and royal family down to the peasants. The emperor was believed to be descended from the sun god, Inti. Only the influence of custom and the fear of revolt checked the emperor's power.

The emperor had one official wife, but he had many royal concubines and his children by these wives often numbered in the hundreds. The emperor chose his most important administrators from among his sons. The Incas had many inventions and accomplishments, they made jewelry out of metals and they made rope bridges. The Inca people observed the stars to predict seasons of the year. As well as a 20 foot wide highway from Cuzco to Quito Some famous people in the Aztec culture are; SUPA Y: God of death and the lord of the Underworld.

URCAGUARY: God of buried or underground treasures. ZARA MAMA: Goddess of grain and corn. APO: Mountain God. APOCATEQUIL: Lightning god.