Analysis of Aztec - Highly Educated and Well-Known Culture

To begin with, the religion beliefs of Aztec society was really interesting.The Aztecs had a ritual in where they used razor-sharp obsidian blades to cut through the chests of the victims and offered their still-beating hearts to Huitzilopotchitli. They then hurled the victims' lifeless bodies down the steps from the tower called Templo Mayor. it’s believed that the Aztecs also practised the ritual cannibalism in which the victim’s bodies, after being relieved of their heads, were likely gifted to a nobleman and other distinguished community members. Sources depict that body parts being cooked in large pots

The Aztec Calendar

The Aztec calendar is formed from two-cycles which together form a 52-year “century” which is called the “calendar round”. The first calendar cycle is called the xiuhpōhualli (year count) which is a 365-day calendar cycle. The second calendar cycle is called tōnalpōhualli (day count) which is a 260-day ritual cycle. Xiuhpōhualli is recognised as the agricultural calendar because it is based on the sun and tōnalpōhualli is recognised as the sacred calendar.

Culture and Architecture 

The Aztec Nature Gods are about the 5 natural elements - Wind, Fire, Rain, Earth, Sky. The creation Gods were - Old God, Turquoise Lord, Progenitor Goddesses and the Creator. They also have the Maize & fertility Gods are about - Maize, Happiness, Flowers, Pleasure and Fertility. The Death Gods are Underworld and Evening Star. And the last one were Gods of trade - Merchants, Doctors and Medicine.

The Aztec architecture was reflected and inspired by their traditions, culture, religion, and everyday life but their architecture relied on their cosmology, astronomy, and religion as their main sources of inspiration. Awesome temple designs were printed on their temple walls to appease their gods. The Aztecs didn’t only have an awesome design but they also had bright and colourful paint strokes on their great magnificent buildings.

Dance, however, could be used in many different ways such as entertainment, religion or politics, sacrificial purposes. They also used instruments to make music. Recreation came in different forms in Aztec society. Ullamaliztli, the ball game, was a large part of the indigenous society and had ritual aspects. They also had arrowing, hunting and many more sports.

Education and Communication

Education in the Aztec culture was very sophisticated and disciplined compared to the other area at that time. Every child in the Aztec's was educated no matter his or her social status, whether noble, commoner or slave. Two different schools taught the young—ones for the noble class and one for commoners.

They had Nahuatl language that has been spoken in central Mexico since at least the seventh century. Nahuatl writing is pre-Columbian writing system that combines ideographic writing with Nahuatl specific phonetic logograms and syllabic signs which was used in central Mexico by the Nahua people.The most basic social division in Aztec society was between nobles and commoners. Nobles held a large number of privileges not shared by the commoners. Marriage was one of the units of social organisations, olders gave the newlyweds blessings and starts a new lineage between two families.

Also Aztec had a strong economy driven by a successful trade market. They produced and sold their produce to other places. They used smart inventions like dams and chinampas to grow fruits and vegetables. They also used nature as a fresh producer and to help them produces like - water, wind, sun, trees, plants.

Aztec used plants, roots, herbs and barks to make medicines. Most of the plants used were sacred to the rain god Tlaloc. The two plants used more often were yauhtli and iztauhyatl. They used both plants to cure fevers, epilepsy, stiffness, swelling, colds, and coughs. Medicines came in the forms of ointments, drinks, and salves.

Conclusion

Overall, the Aztec society was full of highly advanced scientific thinkers and mathematicians, there were mane great doctors and teachers. In addition, Aztec science relied heavily on math, such as the design of their calendar - the thing that is still making Aztec culture well known.