The Aztec and Mayan Civilizations in the Americas Ashley M. Carpenter Western Civilization II National University June 2, 2012 Abstract From 250 A.D. to the late 1500’s A.D. the Mayans and the Aztecs controlled Central and South America. Each was unique, but still shared a few of the same traits. Both had their own calendar system, counting system, and Polytheistic religious beliefs along with similar temples built to worship their deities. While the Aztecs were the most prominent users of human sacrifice, the Mayans also participated in such rituals. A few differences between these civilizations were the social structure, natural resources, and differing cultural strengths.
Sumerians based their gods according to the forces in nature they also had a close relationship with their gods even though their gods were known to be cruel; their worship was also based around divinity. The Sumerians believed that they existed and were on earth to serve the gods. People of all ages would suffer the gods fury and face challenges as a punishment from the gods if they did not serve or worship the gods properly. Both the gods and the people needed each other for example the gods needed the people to admire them and maintain them, meanwhile the gods from time to time would give them gifts or favors. It was believed that the kings were the gods’ representatives on earth; the kings had special privileges and special tasks that they had to accomplish.
There cultures were very different and yet similar, before the Europeans discovered America, the Aztec, Mayans, and Inca Empires were very different compared to the Pueblo peoples culture, but at they were also very alike in many cultural aspects. The Aztec, Mayan, and Incas differed in many was to that of the Pueblo people. All three tribes practiced human sacrifice but for different reasons; the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice because they believed their God demanded them, the Mayans practiced human sacrifice to maintain order and to maintain
These two civilizations had many similarities but there was also things that were very different. For example both civilizations were agriculture based which led to food surplus. Another huge similarity was their belief in many gods. Yet, they had just as many differences. Even though both cultures were from the Americas, the Aztecs were located in Central America and the Incas in South America.
To say these cultures are extremely similar is a fallacy in itself, however to say they are extremely comparable is possible. Though the origins of the Harappans are lost beneath copious amounts of Indus River silt, historians can agree that at the height of the Mayan and Harappan cultures, they were indeed similar. Both had thriving agriculture systems and both developed a type of channel or drain system to irrigate and fuel their agriculture. They both had a society that thrived around huge cities that housed temples, markets and an economy based heavily on agriculture, exports and trade. However, most comparably the Harappans and the Mayans both went through unknown hardships and both quickly demised and disappeared.
Although their reign was not as long, their way of life impacted the new world in a great way from their ideas, creativity, and government. Although these empires have an extensive amount of similarities, they also have many differences that set each of them apart. The Aztec Empire Beginning with the Aztec empire, these people were looked upon as a “seminomadic group”. Established in Modern-day Mexico, they began their empire on a young island called Lake Texcoco, with their capital city of Tenochititlan (Strayer 589-590). The people in the Aztec society were clearly categorized in their differences and hierarchies.
Though Mesopotamia and Egypt were alike there were some differences between the two. With Mesopotamia gaining all the wealth from agriculture and with a few natural defenses, this made the people susceptible to have more invasions and to have internal conflicts. Egypt on the other had didn’t have as many interruptions as Mesopotamia, because of the high mountains and deserts helped to protect the Nile Valley. In Egypt their main focus was the funerary practices. The rulers devoted their time to the design and decoration of extensive funerary complexes, as well as the pyramids and subterranean tombs.
Mitchell Bortz 9-22-11 History 101 Hollenback Document Analysis #1 Question #1 In the time of the Aztec civilization, great strides were taken to keep everything in what I would call, “working order.” The Aztecs were very religious people who did whatever was needed to be done to please their main gods Quetzaquatal and Tezcatlipoca. Human sacrifice was the main form of pleasing the Gods and keeping the cosmos from being destruction. In my opinion, some of the things that were done to the people being sacrificed were very extreme. Some examples would be the rituals they performed. They included decapitation, burning of the body, strangulation, arrow sacrifices, etc.
At the root of these rituals was the belief that the Gods would be pleased and nourished by the heart and blood of human beings. All hearts were considered good, however the bravest hearts were seen to be the most pleasing of the gods. This belief lead to many wars between Aztec tribes. People would bring captives of other tribes to sacred temples for sacrifice. Some sacrifices consisted of only one sacrifice, however many included the sacrifice of many.
The art were mostly preserved very well due to the materials used were meant to last. The design and measurement of the artworks were also very precise and carefully considered, as lots of the artworks were used as containers of souls. Most of the art were related to the wealthy powerful people, and art at that time was used as propaganda for the pharaoh to maintain their authority. During that time period, religion are closely related to politics as a tool and belief to help pharaohs ruling the lands. Egyptians at that time embrace the idea of afterlife, probably to ease their pain as slaves, to convince people to accept the fate to gain a better living after death.