The indebtedness to the gods was one of the major aspects of their entire civilization: offerings were made on many levels, and the sacrificing of human lives was the highest possible offering. What many of the early European explorers discovered is the fact that the Aztecs were very willing to part with everything they had. (DanielElisalde1 / CC BY-SA 4.0 ) Returning the Debt to the Gods of the Universe Thus, the performance of human sacrifice was considered as a “returning of the debt” to the gods and was appropriately called nextlahualli (debt-payment).Įven today in Mexico, as this image from early 2020 AD shows, Mesoamerican peoples continue to "celebrate" the pre-Hispanic "skull Aztec" street rituals just like the Aztecs did so long ago. The Aztec belief was centered on the view that the gods are continuing their sacrifice and keeping the whole universe sustained. However, even if this statement is not correct, sacrifice was still accepted as a necessity. It seems that over the centuries of practicing human sacrifice that the blood, gore, and suffering were no longer considered as taboo, and were a normal occurrence. With that as the basis, Aztecs believed that all forms of sacrifice involving blood were for the wellbeing of the people. The theme of sacrifice was closely woven into every aspect of their culture – beginning with their gods and their myths.Īztec legend states that all the gods sacrificed themselves so that humans could live. In many ways they centered their everyday activities, their religious beliefs, and the well-being of their entire populace around sacrifices. In general, what was quickly obvious is the fact that sacrifice – in the purest sense of the word – was critical to the Aztecs. Even the earliest Spanish accounts, written by friars, explorers, and officials, all mention the barbaric human sacrifice and rampant Aztec violence – something the Europeans were not accustomed to seeing in such a manner. The cultural and spiritual predecessors of the Aztecs, the Toltecs, also practiced human sacrifice, as did the Mayans and the Tarascans.īy the time of the Spanish arrival, the Aztecs were at a highly developed cultural stage, and human sacrifice rituals were fully established, regular, and took place on a massive scale. Archaeological and other evidence strongly supports this claim, and it goes back as far as the Olmec Civilization in 1200 BC, and even beyond that. The truth is that human sacrifice was present in many pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures – if not all of them. And even though we will focus on the rituals of Aztec violence and sacrifice, we need to note that this practice is not exclusive to them. The Valley of Mexico was arguably the central point of the Mesoamerican region, and subsequently the home of the Aztecs. In fact, some of the earliest cultures developed as early as 7000 BC, marked by a very early transition from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle into one of sedentary agriculture. Before the arrival of the conquistadors from the Spanish Empire, this region was the home of many thriving cultures for well over a millennia. Mesoamerica is a historic, geographic, and cultural region of North America that spans roughly from modern day central Mexico through Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica. ![]() It’s about to get bloody! The Origins Of Aztec Violence Today we are descending into the brutal traditions of Aztec violence. While the Spanish conquistadors were appalled by the viciousness and the extent of the Aztec violence and mass human sacrifice, for the majority of Mesoamerican cultures this was an everyday occurrence, and for some a necessity. Nevertheless, the European conquerors brought to the light of the world many unique aspects of this civilization and human sacrifice was one of them. In just a few years, this ruling Mesoamerican force fell completely under the rule of the Spanish Empire. ![]() Alas, the expansion of modern European nations brought an abrupt and inglorious end to the Aztecs. Still largely shrouded in mystery, this colorful, complex culture was one of the crucial stages of all Mesoamerican civilizations and continues to be a well of new knowledge. ![]() The ancient history of the Aztec civilization is one of the most fascinating historical subjects, and for numerous reasons.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |