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History
Mr Woodgate
Aztec Essay
“The native culture of the Aztecs was portrayed as barbarous and
uncivilised by the Spanish, the reality was that it was a highly
sophisticated and complex culture. Discuss the validity of this
statement.”
According to The Encarta World English Dictionary, to be barbarous is
to show extreme cruelty or to lack sophistication or refinement. The
same dictionary states that to be uncivilised is to exist in a
condition or behave in ways that are thought to be socially or
culturally primitive. This is what the Spanish have supposedly stated
about the Aztec culture.
Examining these definitions, it can be observed that this is a
remarkably ludicrous statement on the Spanish peoples’ behalf. The
proof of the falseness of the Spanish statement lies in the reality of
Aztec culture. It is correct to say that the Aztecs were highly
sophisticated and complex in their cultural values and beliefs, in
areas such as religion, society and architecture.
The Spanish have made positive and negative claims regarding the Aztec
culture; evidence of the reality of Aztec culture either negates or
supports these claims.
“The moment we arrived in this immense market, we were perfectly
astonished at the vast numbers of people, the profusion of merchandise,
which was there exposed for sale, and at the good police and order that
reigned throughout.... Every species of merchandise had a separate spot
for its sale.”- Bernal Diaz, The Conquest of New Spain.
The claim that the culture of the Aztecs was highly sophisticated
and complex is extremely valid. One aspect of this complex culture was
the society of the Aztec people. This aspect itself is exceptionally
broad and branches into a substantial number of avenues to be explored.
These avenues include the marketplaces, music, writing form or
literature, economy, hierarchy or social classes, education, judicial
system or laws, agriculture and metallurgy of the Aztec people.
The above statement is one said by the Conquistador Bernal Diaz.
It contrasts with many statements made by the Spanish and contradicts
the general contention of the Spanish. The statement made by Diaz is in
fact beyond dispute, the markets were a central aspect of Aztec life,
not only a source of resources for the people of the cities, but also a
source income for the shop owners. Diaz was amazed by the organisation,
variety and accumulation of customers the markets had attracted. These
are signs that demonstrate a civilised society.
Music in the Aztec culture was generally ritualistic component of
society. The music was generally chanting accompanied by certain
instruments. The importance of this music to the Aztecs is apparent in
the fact that they had a building dedicated to the instruction and
teaching of music. This building was the Cuicacalli, or ‘House of
Chant’. Other musical buildings were the Mixcoacalli and the Mecatlan.
In side the Mixcoacalli, the people kept the dancing and chanting
instruments, and also people gathered to play the Teponaxtle (see
appendix 1), which was an important instrument used in dance. Inside
the Mecatlan, people learnt all instruments, but specifically the wind
instruments. Particularly important instruments were the drums and the
Teponaxtle, but there were many flutes that have been unearthed in
archaeological findings. Musicians had quite a high status in society
Jock Webb, 8A
History
Mr Woodgate
and were generally specialised priests. The Epoacuacuilli Tepictoton
composed the chants, which were then checked, altered and kept by the
Tlapizcatzin. Music was related to religion as it was quite
ritualistic, the god of music was called Huehuecoyotl. He was
represented as a coyote. The development of music in the Aztec culture
demonstrates an aspect of the Aztecs’ sophistication.
The Aztec people did have an established system of writing,
however unlike the European one it was not a phonetic alphabet, but
rather a rebus system of pictorial writing that represented what was
displayed through the picture. (see appendix 2). Also contrary to the
European alphabets, the Spanish observed that the Aztec people used
their system of writing to assist their oral tradition of
communicating, rather than to replace it. However, Aztecs did use their
system of writing for many reasons, including calculation, calendrical
counts, chronicles, diaries, and recording their history, much of which
was destroyed by the Conquistadors in the destruction of Tenochtitlan.
In this way, writing was an important aspect of the Aztec society, and
proves the negative Spanish statements to be incorrect.
The economy of the Aztecs rested mainly on trade from other
areas. In earlier history of the Aztecs, the people supported
themselves through agricultural gain. Most people would support
themselves this way. The method of farming utilized by the Aztecs was
called ‘chinampa’, this method used the areas of surrounding shallow
water, where flat reeds were placed in the water and covered in soil
and crops were cultivated from the soil. Through the history however,
as the expansion of Tenochtitlan occurred, the people could no longer
farm, the markets and people specific trades became more relevant in
terms of seeking a source of income. There was no official currency of
the Aztecs, but gold and other metals and products were highly valued.
A person, or people must have a degree of sophistication of
civilization to place value on an item, but then furthermore to use the
item as currency, or to trade. Which is exactly the case of the Aztecs.
In fact, one of the main reasons the Conquistadors traveled to the
Americas was in search of gold, and the gold they found had a profound
effect on the Spanish for the years to come. In this way, the
economical value that the Spanish placed on items was very similar to
the value that the Aztecs placed on the same items, and it is therefore
ludicrous for the Spanish to have called the Aztec economy uncivilized.
The Aztecs also demonstrated characteristics of a civilized
society through their form of hierarchy, the defined social classes in
their society. The main classes were commoners or macehualles and the
nobility or pilli.
One was able to increase their place in the hierarchy through skill in
one’s endeavours or bravery in warfare, as you position was not
determined by birth. Women were viewed as having less societal
importance than men, although there were a small number of religious
positions as priestesses, but it is unknown exactly how high their
position in society was. Slavery was an aspect of Aztec hierarchy, it
was quite common. It was not generally racial and was not permanent.
There were a few ways in which one could enter slavery those were being
captured in war, being sold by one’s parents, selling oneself
voluntarily or by committing certain crimes. If captured in war, a
person would hope for slavery as the most common use for war prisoners
was as sacrificial victims. (see appendix 3)
When a comparison is made between Western slavery and its Aztec
equivalent, it could be said that in some ways, Aztec slavery was
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History
Mr Woodgate
slightly more humane. The rights given to an Aztec person who sold
themselves into slavery were greater than those of a Western slave,
Aztec slaves were allowed to marry and own there own property. They
were able to free themselves by paying the owed amount and their
children were not obliged to enter slavery. This complicated system of
hierarchy is an indicator of a sophisticated and complex society or
civilisation.
The Aztecs also had a complex and well established system of
education. The Aztecs generally saw education to be extremely important
for the sustenance Due to the fact that women were the subsidiary of
men the young males and females were educated at separate schools. At
school, or telpuchcalli, the boys would learn of Aztec history and
religion, a specific calpulli or trade, and how to fight in battle. The
girls would learn mainly domestic activities by which a war prisoner
would be recruited into slavery was if they had experience in a
specific trade, in that situation, they would be recruited into that
trade.. If you a child born of nobility, you would also attend a
calmecac, which was a school of nobility. The purpose of the calmecac
was to educate young men to be the next generation of leaders for
religion and war. The fact that education was considered so highly
demonstrates that the Aztecs knew that to be a prevalent civilisation,
they must sustain their leadership in war and economy. This
demonstrates their intelligence and civilisation.
The Aztec judicial system was simple and harsh, many crimes
punishable by death or severe corporal punishment. Although it eems
unlikely that strict and harsh laws such as these would not have
support from the community, the Aztec government was not totalitarian,
it was fully supported by the society over which it ruled. Although
some punishment may arguably be slightly barbarous, the Aztecs viewed
them as necessary to maintain order in their society, and to remain
civilised, and this taken into account it can be said that it was not
gratuitous cruelty, but essential for the Aztec people and thus their
civilisation. After all, one thing that the Spanish commented on was
the high state of order upheld in the Aztec cities, although this may
have been relative to the European cities.
The Aztecs developed different forms of agriculture along with
their chinampa method that used the abundance of reeds in the area and
the large amount of swamp land surrounding the Aztec cities. They also
farmed using terraces, as the stepped effect allowed them more control
over the flow of water through their farm areas. This was a method to
prevent the flooding of their crops. (see appendix 4).
As well as developing these methods of agriculture, the Aztecs
developed methods for the retrieval of precious metals such as gold,
silver and copper. Not only did they learn of how to acquire these
metals, they learned how to manipulate them into jewelleries and such,
they then used the metal products as items for trade. (see appendix 5).
Yet again, the forms of agriculture and the methods of extraction of
metals is a sign of the Aztecs’ intelligence and thus a sign of
civilisation.
It is exceptionally clear that the Aztecs were not uncivilised in
terms of their society, and where they could be seen as barbarous, the
apparent barbarity can be justified when put into an Aztec context. The
contention of the Spanish people is therefore erroneous.
“This will be a just war against their ungodly ways and their
tyrannical ruler.” – Hernando Cortes, Letters From Mexico.
Jock Webb, 8A
History
Mr Woodgate
This is one Conquistador’s opinion regarding their conquest of
the Aztecs. It raises some questions, however. Was the war really just,
does the conversion of the Aztec people justify the slaughter and
enslavement of many people? This is partly where hypocrisy lies within
Spanish contentions, they believed that the Aztec religion was one of
barbarity, but the Spanish themselves upon finding this religion
reacted in a barbaric way, slaughtering many to overrule this religion.
Another question raised is, just how ‘ungodly’ were the Aztecs?
When evidence of Aztec religion is examined it becomes undeniable that
the Aztecs abided by an extremely complex and immense religion.
Arguably, the Aztec religion was more complex than Christianity. One
reason for this is the fact the Aztec religion was polytheistic, with
an overwhelming number of Idols, compared to Christianity, which is
monotheistic. The polytheism is similar to many ancient religions such
as most of the Mesoamerican societies’ religions. In fact, one reason
that the Aztec religion is so immense is that components of it derive
from civilisations that they conquered themselves.
Arguably, the three most dominant gods in Aztec society were
Huitzilopochtli (god of war and the sun)(see appendix 6), Quetzalcoatl
(generally considered t be god of priesthood, civilisation and
learning) and Tezcatlipoca (chief god of the Aztecs). Although these
gods are considered to be the most predominant ones, there were other
minor gods, such a Tlaloc, the god of rain. Most gods required human
lives to keep them sated. This meant that the sacrifice of humans was
required.
“They have a most horrid and abominable custom which truly ought
to be punished and which until now we have seen in no other part, and
this is that, whenever they wish to ask something of the idols, in
order that their plea may find more acceptance, they take many girls
and boys and even adults, and in the presence of these idols they open
their chests while they are still alive and take out their hearts and
entrails and burn them before the idols, offering the smoke as
sacrifice. Some of us have seen this, and they say it is the most
terrible and frightful thing they have ever witnessed.” – Hernando
Cortes.
“They strike open the wretched Indian's chest with flint knives
and hastily tear out the palpitating heart which, with the blood, they
present to the idols. They cut off the arms, thighs and head, eating
the arms and thighs at ceremonial banquets. The head they hang up on a
beam and the body is given to the beasts of prey.” - Bernal Diaz.
Those two statements made by the conquistadors Cortes and Diaz,
communicate the same idea, the idea of the removal of a palpitating
heart for sacrificial purposes. The aforementioned method of sacrifice
was one to the god Huitzilopochtli The myth is that every evening
Huitzilopochtli died, and so a human life must be offered to revive
Huitzilopochtli, and therefore allow the sunrise. A priest would slice
the sacrificial victim open at the chest and abdomen using a knife of
flint or obsidian, and remove their still beating heart from their
chest. He would then raise the heart towards the skies, as an offering.
(see appendix 7). Some remains would then be used in ritual
cannibalism, and the skull would be placed on a ‘skull rack’ outside
the temple. This is one of many specific reasons why Aztecs would
perform ritual sacrifice. Ritual cannibalism is also mentioned in
Diaz’s statement, where ritual banquets would be held and the thighs
and arms of the sacrificial victims would be consumed. (see appendix
8). These forms of human sacrifice may be viewed as barbarous, however,
Jock Webb, 8A
History
Mr Woodgate
the barbarity is justified in context of Aztec religion, the sacrifices
were absolutely essential to continue existing. If the gods were not
appeased, the Aztecs believed that they would perish.
Another form of sacrifice is the voluntary blood-letting that occurred
at every function related to religion, it occurred mostly within
priests, the higher ranked the priest was, the higher his payment. Diaz
testifies to this form of sacrifice in his following statement,
regarding the appearance of the Aztec priests, he refers to it as
penance. “They wore black cloaks…and long gowns reaching down to their
feet. Some had hoods…and they wore their hair very long, right down to
the waist, and some had it even reaching down to the ankles. Their hair
was covered with blood, and was so matted together that it could not be
separated, and their ears were cut to pieces by way of penance. They
stank like sulphur…The nails on their fingers were very long, and we
heard it said that these priests were very pious and led good lives.”
Yet again, Diaz’s statement may portray the Aztec priests as barbaric,
but it is slightly ambiguous, as although it portrays them this way, it
proves that the priests are pious leaders of a complex and wellestablished religion.
Another aspect of the Aztec religion was their calendrical
system, consisting of two main calendars, the ritual calendar,
consisting of 260 day, and the sun calendar, which similarly to modern
calendars, consisted of 365 days. (see appendix 9). The two calendars
would re-synchronise every 52 years, and so the Aztec life consisted
around this 52-year cycle. According to Aztec mythology, The world has
been created 5 times and destroyed four, each creation ruled by a
different god and each destruction caused by a different medium. It is
for this reason that the 52nd year of the cycle was extremely
ritualistic, as it was the year that Aztecs feared the world would be
destroyed. The new fire ritual would be performed at the end of the
cycle, for the last 5 days, priests would extinguish alter fires and
citizens would destroy residences and possessions, and mourn for the
earth. If on the last night, the priests were able to see the Pleiades
constellation, they would rejoice as the earth was safe for another 52
years, people would rebuild their homes and possessions and the alter
fires would be re-lit from a fire of a carcass lit by a priest. On the
first day of the cycle, people would celebrate with banquets, and of
course, sacrifice.
The immense Aztec religion contradicts Spanish contentions that
state that the Aztecs were uncivilised or primitive, they do however
substantiate opinions that state the Aztecs were barbarous. It must be
understood, however, that from an Aztec context, their religion was
important and necessary.
“During the morning, we arrived at a broad causeway and continued
our march towards Iztapalapa, and when we saw cities and villages built
in the water and other great towns on dry land and that straight and
level causeway going towards Mexico (Tenochtitlan – Aztec term), we
were amazed…on account of the great towers… and buildings rising from
the water, and all built of masonry. And some of our soldiers even
asked whether the things we saw were not a dream.” (see appendix 10).
This is yet another Diaz quote that testifies to the sophistication of
the Aztecs, this one refers to the architectural aspect of society. To
achieve the technological feats that Diaz talks of here, a society must
Jock Webb, 8A
History
Mr Woodgate
be civilised, definitely not primitive. Even the Architecture of the
Aztecs had a close affiliation with their religion; an example of this
connection is their sacrificial temples. The fact that sacrifice was
such an important part of Aztec religion meant that the sacrificial
temples were very extravagant and were often extended upon themselves
so to make them high and larger. These temples consisted of extremely
steep steps leading to the flat top of the pyramid. Atop the pyramid,
there were two compartments, where the sacrifices were performed. The
temples would be extended, layer upon layer until they were built to
astonishing sizes. They also added statues of serpents and dragons, for
mostly decorative purposes. (see appendix 11/12)
Aztec homes were all very similar, from peasantry to nobility,
excepting the emperor. Most houses consisted of two buildings, one in
which to sleep, cook and eat, which was all performed in one room and
one which contained a steam bath. Steam baths were considered
extremely therapeutic and so were common. The main difference between
the homes of nobility was the amount of space and decoration that could
be afforded. Most buildings, regardless of expense were built with
adobe and had thatched rooves.
The palace of the Emperor was a two-storey home, mainly supported
by pillars. It consisted of four main rooms. The reception chamber was
where the Emperor was able to meet people privately. The Emperor would
live in his personal apartments. There was also a meeting chamber,
which was similar to the reception chamber, but larger, with a raised
throne at the centre. It was here that people could come to consult the
Emperor. The Emperor’s tribute store contained al items that were given
to him. (see appendix 13)
There were also shrines placed throughout the Aztec Empire, where
people were able to worship gods, praise Jaguar and Eagle Knights, and
place and burn offerings. Each shrine was specifically built according
to what the shrine was built to worship.
The fact that the Aztecs had developed materials and methods with which
to build these structures is another indication of their civilisation.
It can be generally observed from evidence, that the Spanish
contentions regarding the civilisation of the Aztecs are false,
however, the degree of barbarity of the Aztecs is debatable, but it
must be observed that their barbarity was justified through the context
of their religion, which was what often demanded the barbarity. It is
beyond reasonable dispute that the degree to which the Aztecs had
developed their Society, Religion and Architecture proves their
civilisation and thus proves the Spanish contentions regarding the
Aztecs’ civilisation invalid.
Jock Webb, 8A