The ancient civilization of the Aztecs, ten facts from the life of the tribe. The Most Famous Achievements of the Aztecs: Bottoms and Tops

When the first Europeans arrived on the American continent, they encountered a civilization that was very different from anything they had previously seen. Local residents had no idea about many concepts that had long been firmly rooted in the Old World. The peoples of pre-Columbian America did not use the wheel, make iron tools, or ride horses.

All the more surprising is the fact that the Indians, as the people from Europe called them, managed to build several fairly developed civilizations. They had cities, states, long paved roads between settlements, writing, astronomy, and unique artistic artifacts.

The civilizations of pre-Columbian America arose independently of each other in two geographical regions - Mesoamerica and the Andes. Until the Spanish conquest, these areas were the centers of intellectual and cultural life of the continent.

Mesoamerica

This geographic area covers areas of central and southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The first people appeared here in the 12th millennium BC. Cities and states arose in the third millennium BC. From then until the beginning of Spanish colonization, several advanced cultures emerged in Mesoamerica.

The earliest civilization was the Olmecs, who lived on the Gulf Coast. They had a huge influence on the traditions of all subsequent peoples who inhabited this region.

Olmec culture

The most ancient art of pre-Columbian America is represented by very unusual and mysterious artifacts. The most famous monument of the Olmec civilization are giant heads made from basalt boulders. Their sizes vary from one and a half meters to 3.4 meters, and they weigh from 25 to 55 tons. Since the Olmecs did not have a written language, the purpose of these heads is unknown. Most scientists are inclined to believe that these are most likely portraits of ancient rulers. This is indicated by the details of the headdresses, as well as the fact that the faces of the sculptures are not similar to each other.

Another direction of Olmec art is jade masks. They were made with great skill. After the disappearance of the Olmec civilization, these masks were discovered by the Aztecs, who collected and stored them as valuable artifacts. In general, the culture of pre-Columbian America was formed under the strong influence of this ancient people. Drawings, figurines and sculptures of the Olmecs are discovered hundreds of kilometers from the territories they once inhabited.

Mayan civilization

The next great culture of Mesoamerica emerged around 2000 BC and lasted until the era of European colonialism. This was the Mayan civilization, which left behind a huge number of works of fine art and architectural monuments. The greatest rise of Mayan culture occurred from 200 to 900 AD. During this pre-Columbian era, America experienced the heyday of urban planning.

The Mayan frescoes, bas-reliefs and sculptures are executed with great grace. They quite accurately convey the proportions of the human body. The Mayans had writing and a calendar, they also created a detailed map of the starry sky and were able to predict the trajectory of the planets.

Mayan art

Color images do not hold up well in humid climates. Therefore, not many Mayan wall paintings have survived to this day. Nevertheless, fragments of such images have been found everywhere in the ancient cities of this people. Surviving fragments indicate that the art of pre-Columbian America was not inferior to the best works of the classical civilizations of the Old World.

The Mayans achieved high skill in making ceramics, including painted ones. From clay they sculpted not only dishes, but also figurines depicting gods, rulers, as well as scenes from everyday life. The Mayans made jewelry from precious stones and were engaged in wood carving.

Many sculptures and bas-reliefs have been preserved, which reflect the history of pre-Columbian America of that period. Mayan artists often left important events of social life imprinted in stones. Many images contain inscriptions, which greatly helps historians in interpreting the subjects presented on them.

Mayan architecture

The culture of America during the Mayan times experienced its heyday, which could not but be reflected in the architecture. In addition to residential buildings, cities had many specialized buildings. Being keen astronomers, the Mayans built observatories to observe celestial objects. They also had ball courts. They can be considered the predecessors of modern football fields. The balls themselves were made from the sap of the rubber tree.

The Mayans erected temples in the form of a sanctuary on top. Special platforms were also built, reaching four meters in height and intended for public ceremonies and religious rituals.

Teotihuacan

On the territory of modern Mexico there is an abandoned city of ancient Indians with perfectly preserved buildings. Nowhere did the architecture of pre-Columbian America reach such heights (literally and figuratively) as in Teotihuacan. Here is the Pyramid of the Sun - a gigantic structure 64 meters high and with a base of more than 200 meters. Previously, there was a wooden temple on its top.

Nearby is the Pyramid of the Moon. It is the second largest structure in Teotihuacan. It was built later and was dedicated to the great goddess of earth and fertility. In addition to the two large ones, there are several smaller four-tiered stepped structures in the city.

Images in Teotihuacan

Almost all buildings in the city have murals. The background in them is usually red. Other colors are used to depict characters and other details of the drawing. The subjects of the frescoes are mostly symbolic and religious, illustrating the myths of pre-Columbian America, but there are also scenes of everyday activities. There are also images of rulers and fighting warriors. There are many sculptures in Teotihuacan, including those that are elements of the architecture of buildings.

Toltec culture

Little is known today about what pre-Columbian America was like between the end of the Mayan civilization and the rise of the Aztecs. It is believed that the Toltecs lived in Mesoamerica at this time. Modern scientists draw information about them mainly from Aztec legends, in which real facts are often intertwined with fiction. But archaeological finds still provide some reliable information.

The capital of the Toltecs was the city of Tula, located in what is now Mexico. In its place are the remains of two pyramids, one of which was dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent). At its top stand four massive figures depicting Toltec warriors.

Aztec culture

When the Spaniards sailed to Central America, they found a powerful empire there. This was the state of the Aztecs. We can judge the culture of this people not only by architectural monuments. Thanks to the Spanish chroniclers, who described the civilization they saw, information about the poetic, musical and theatrical art of the Aztecs has been preserved.

Aztec poetry

The poetic art of pre-Columbian America apparently had a long tradition. In any case, by the time the Spaniards appeared, the Aztecs already had poetry competitions held in front of large crowds of people. The poems, as a rule, contained metaphors, words and phrases with double meanings. There were several literary genres: lyric poetry, military ballads, mythological tales, etc.

Fine art and architecture of the Aztecs

The capital of the Aztec Empire was Tenochtitlan. Its development was dominated by architectural forms that were invented by the previous civilizations of pre-Columbian America. In particular, a 50-meter pyramid towered over the city, reminiscent of similar Mayan structures.

Aztec paintings and bas-reliefs depict both scenes from everyday life and a variety of historical and religious events. They also contain pictures of human sacrifices that were carried out during religious festivals.

One of the most unusual and mysterious artifacts of the Aztecs is the Stone of the Sun - a large round sculpture with a diameter of almost 12 meters. In its center is the sun god, surrounded by symbols of four past eras. A calendar is inscribed around the deity. It is believed that it served as a sacrificial altar. In this artifact, the culture of pre-Columbian America reveals several of its facets at once - astronomical knowledge, cruel rituals, and artistic skill merge into a single whole.

Inca culture

The peoples of pre-Columbian America reached a high level of development not only in the central part of the continent. In the south, in the Andes, the unique Inca civilization flourished. These people were geographically separated from Mesoamerican cultures and developed separately.

The Incas achieved great mastery in many forms of art. Their patterns on fabrics, called tokapu, are of great interest. Their purpose was not only to make clothes more elegant. Each of the elements of the pattern was also a symbol denoting a word. Arranged in a certain sequence, they formed phrases and sentences.

Inca music

The musical art of pre-Columbian America has been partially preserved in the Andes, where the descendants of the Incas live, to this day. There are also literary sources from the times of colonization. From these we know that the Incas used a variety of wind and percussion instruments. Music accompanied religious rituals; many songs were associated with the cycle of field work.

Machu Picchu

The Incas also became famous for a unique city built high in the mountains. It was discovered in 1911, already abandoned, so its real name is not known. Machu Picchu means "old peak" in the local Indian language. The buildings in the city are made of stone. The blocks fit together so precisely that the skill of the ancient builders surprises even modern specialists.

North American culture

The Indians who lived north of what is now Mexico did not build stone structures such as the Pyramid of the Sun or Machu Picchu. But the artistic achievements of the peoples of pre-Columbian America who lived in the region and Missouri are also quite interesting. There are many ancient mounds preserved in this region.

In addition to simple mounds in the form of a hill, in the Mississippi River valley there are stepped platforms, as well as mounds, in the outlines of which the figures of various animals can be discerned, in particular a snake and a crocodile.

The influence of art of pre-Columbian America on modern times

Indians are a thing of the past. But the current culture of America bears the imprint of ancient pre-colonial traditions. Thus, the national costumes of the indigenous peoples of Chile and Peru are very similar to the clothing of the Incas. The paintings of Mexican artists often display stylistic techniques characteristic of Mayan fine art. And in the books of Colombian writers, fantastic events are intricately woven into a realistic plot with the ease familiar to Aztec poetry.

By the time Columbus “discovered” America (1492), it was inhabited by many Indian tribes and ethnic groups, most of which were at a primitive stage of development. However, some of them, living in Mesoamerica (Central America) and the Andes (South America), reached the level of highly developed ancient civilizations, although they were far behind Europe: the latter was by that time experiencing the heyday of the Renaissance.

The meeting of two worlds, two cultures and civilizations had different consequences for the meeting parties. Europe borrowed many of the achievements of Indian civilizations; in particular, it was thanks to America that Europeans began to consume potatoes, tomatoes, corn, beans, tobacco, cocoa, and quinine. In general, after the discovery of the New World, the development of Europe accelerated significantly. The fate of ancient American cultures and civilizations was completely different: the development of some of them actually ceased, and many completely disappeared from the face of the earth.

Available scientific data indicate that the American continent did not have its own centers of formation of ancient man. The settlement of this continent by people began in the Late Paleolithic era - approximately 30-20 thousand years ago - and came from Northeast Asia through the Bering Strait and Alaska. The further evolution of the emerging communities went through all known stages and had both similarities and differences from other continents.

An example of a highly developed primitive culture of the New World is the so-called Olmec Culture, existed on the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the 1st millennium BC. Much remains unclear and mysterious regarding this culture. In particular, the specific ethnic group that bears (the name “Olmec” is arbitrary) this culture is not known, the general territory of its distribution, as well as the features of the social structure, etc., have not been determined.

Nevertheless, the available archaeological information suggests that in the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The tribes inhabiting Verascus and Tabasco reached a high level of development. They have the first “ritual centers”, they build pyramids from adobe and clay, and construct monuments of monumental sculpture. An example of such monuments were huge anthropomorphic heads weighing up to 20 tons. Relief carvings on basalt and jade, the production of celtic axes, masks and figurines are widespread. In the 1st century BC. The first examples of writing and calendar appear. Similar cultures existed in other areas of the continent.

Ancient cultures and civilizations developed by the end of the 1st millennium BC. and existed until the 16th century. AD - before the arrival of Europeans. In their evolution, two periods are usually distinguished: early, or classical (1st millennium AD), and late, or postclassical (X-XVI centuries AD).

Among the most significant cultures of Mesoamerica of the classical period are Teotihuacan. originated in Central Mexico. The surviving ruins of Teotihuacan, the capital of the civilization of the same name, indicate that it was the political, economic and cultural center of all Mesoamerica with a population of 60-120 thousand people. Crafts and trade developed most successfully in it. Archaeologists have discovered about 500 craft workshops, entire neighborhoods of foreign merchants and “diplomats” in the city. Craftsmanship products are found throughout almost all of Central America.

It is noteworthy that almost the entire city was a kind of architectural monument. Its center was carefully planned around two wide streets intersecting at right angles: from north to south - the Road of the Dead Avenue, over 5 km long, and from west to east - an unnamed avenue up to 4 km long.

At the northern end of the Road of the Dead rises the huge silhouette of the Pyramid of the Moon (height 42 m), made of raw brick and lined with volcanic stone. On the other side of the avenue there is an even more grandiose structure - the Pyramid of the Sun (height 64.5 m), on the top of which a temple once stood. The place where the avenues intersect is occupied by the palace of the ruler of Teotihuacan - the “Citadel”, which is a complex of buildings that included the temple god Quetzalcoatl - The Feathered Serpent, one of the main deities, patron of culture and knowledge, god of air and wind. All that remains of the temple is its pyramidal base, consisting of six decreasing stone platforms, as if placed on top of each other. The facade of the pyramid and the balustrade of the main staircase are decorated with sculpted heads of Quetzalcoatl himself and the god of water and rain Tlaloc in the form of a butterfly.

Along the Road of the Dead there are the remains of dozens more temples and palaces. Among them is the beautiful Palace of Quetzalpapalotl, or Palace of the Feathered Snail, reconstructed today, the walls of which are decorated with fresco paintings. There are also excellent examples of such painting in the Temple of Agriculture, which depicts gods, people and animals. The original monuments of the culture in question are anthropomorphic masks made of stone and clay. In the III-VII centuries. Ceramic products - cylindrical vessels with picturesque paintings or carved ornaments - and terracotta figurines are widespread.

The culture of Teotihuacan reached its peak at the beginning of the 7th century. AD However, already at the end of the same century, the beautiful city suddenly died, destroyed by a gigantic fire. The causes of this disaster still remain unclear - most likely as a result of the invasion of militant barbarian tribes of Northern Mexico.

Aztec culture

After the death of Teotihuacan, Central Mexico plunged into troubled times of interethnic wars and civil strife for a long time. As a result of repeated mixing of local tribes with newcomers - first with the Chichemecs, and then with the Tenochki-pharmacies - the Aztec capital was founded in 1325 on the desert islands of Lake Texcoco Tenochtitlan. The emerging city-state grew rapidly and by the beginning of the 16th century. turned into one of the most powerful powers in America - the famous Aztec Empire with a huge territory and a population of 5-6 million people. Its borders extended from Northern Mexico to Guatemala and from the Pacific Coast to the Gulf of Mexico.

The capital itself, Tenochtitlan, became a large city with a population of 120-300 thousand inhabitants. This island city was connected to the mainland by three wide stone causeway roads. According to eyewitnesses, the Aztec capital was a beautiful, well-planned city. Its ritual and administrative center was a magnificent architectural ensemble, which included a “sacred area” surrounded by walls, inside which were located the main city temples, dwellings of priests, schools, and a ground for ritual ball games. Nearby were no less magnificent palaces of the Aztec rulers.

basis economy The Aztecs were agriculture, and the main cultivated crop was corn. It should be emphasized that it was the Aztecs who were the first to grow cocoa beans And tomatoes; they are the authors of the word "tomatoes". Many crafts were at a high level, especially gold coinage. When the great Albrecht Durer saw Aztec goldwork in 1520, he declared: “Never in my life have I seen anything that moved me so deeply as these objects.”

Reached the highest level Aztec spiritual culture. This was largely due to the effective education system, which included two types of schools in which the male population is educated. In schools of the first type, boys from the upper class were brought up, who were destined to become a priest, dignitary or military leader. Boys from ordinary families studied in schools of the second type, where they were prepared for agricultural work, crafts and military affairs. Schooling was compulsory.

System of religious-mythological ideas and cults The Aztecs were quite complex. At the origins of the pantheon were the ancestors - creator god Ome teku aphids and his divine consort. Among the active ones, the main deity was the god of the sun and war Huitzilopochtli. War was a form of worship of this god and was elevated to a cult. A special place was occupied by the god Sintheoble, the patron of corn fertility. The protector of the priests was Lord Quetzalcoatl.

Yacatecuhali was the god of trade and patron of merchants. In general, there were many gods. Suffice it to say that every month and every day of the year had its own god.

Developed very successfully . It was based on philosophy, which was practiced by sages who were highly respected. The leading science was astronomy. Aztec astrologers could freely navigate the starry picture of the sky. Satisfying the needs of agriculture, they developed a fairly accurate calendar. taking into account the position and movement of stars in the sky.

The Aztecs created a highly developed artistic culture. Among the arts has achieved significant success literature. Aztec writers created didactic treatises, dramatic and prose works. The leading position was occupied by poetry, which included several genres: military poems, poems about flowers, spring songs. The greatest success was enjoyed by religious poems and hymns that were sung in honor of the main gods of the Aztecs.

No less successfully developed architecture. In addition to the beautiful ensembles and palaces of the capital already mentioned above, magnificent architectural monuments were created in other cities. However, almost all of them were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors. Among the amazing creations is the recently discovered temple in Malinalco. This temple, which had the shape of a traditional Aztec pyramid, is notable for this. that it was all carved right into the rock. If we consider that the Aztecs used only stone tools, then one can imagine what a gigantic effort the construction of this temple required.

In the 1980s, as a result of earthquakes, excavations and excavations, the Main Aztec Temple was opened in the very center of Mexico City - Templo Mayor. The sanctuaries of the main god Huitzilopochtli and the god of water and rain, patron of agriculture, Tlaloc, were also discovered. Remains of wall paintings and samples of stone sculpture were discovered. Among the finds, a round stone with a diameter of more than 3 m with a bas-relief image of the goddess Coyol-shauhki, the sister of Huitzilopochtli, stands out. Stone figurines of gods, corals, shells, pottery, necklaces, etc. were preserved in deep hiding pits.

The Aztec culture and civilization reached its peak at the beginning of the 16th century. However, this flowering soon came to an end. The Spaniards captured Tenochti Glan in 1521. The city was destroyed, and a new city grew on its ruins - Mexico City, which became the center of the colonial possessions of the European conquerors.

Mayan civilization

Mayan culture and civilization became another amazing phenomenon of pre-Columbian America, which existed in the 1st-15th centuries. AD in southeastern Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. A modern researcher of this region, G. Lehman, called the Mayans “the most fascinating of all the civilizations of ancient America.”

Indeed, everything connected with the Mayans is shrouded in mystery and mystery. Their origin remains a mystery. The mystery is their choice of settlement - the rugged jungles of Mexico. At the same time, the ups and downs in their subsequent development seem like a mystery and a miracle.

In the classical period (I-IX centuries AD), the development of Mayan civilization and culture proceeded along a steep upward trajectory. Already in the first centuries of our era, they reached the highest level and amazing perfection in architecture, sculpture and painting. The emerging large and populous cities became centers of craft production, marked by a real flowering of painted ceramics. At this time, the Mayans created the only developed hieroglyphic writing, as evidenced by inscriptions on steles, reliefs, and small plastic objects. The Mayans compiled an accurate solar calendar and successfully predicted solar and lunar eclipses.

The main type of monumental architecture there was a pyramidal temple installed on a high pyramid - up to 70 m. If you consider that the entire structure was erected on high pyramidal hills, then you can imagine how majestic and grandiose the entire structure looks. This is exactly how the Temple of the Inscriptions in Palenque appears, which served as the tomb of the ruler like the pyramids of Ancient Egypt. The entire structure was covered with hieroglyphic relief inscriptions that decorate the walls, crypt, sarcophagus lid and other objects. A steep staircase with several platforms leads to the temple. In the city there are three more pyramids with temples of the Sun, the Cross and the Foliated Cross, as well as a palace with a five-story square tower, which apparently served as an observatory: on the top floor there is a stone bench on which the astrologer sat, peering into the distant sky. The walls of the palace are also decorated with reliefs depicting prisoners of war.

In the VI-IX centuries. achieve the highest successes monumental sculpture and Mayan painting. The sculptural schools of Palenque, Copan and other cities achieve rare skill and subtlety in conveying the naturalness of the poses and movements of the characters depicted, which are usually rulers, dignitaries and warriors. Small plastic works are also distinguished by amazing craftsmanship - especially small figurines.

The surviving examples of Mayan painting amaze with the elegance of their design and richness of color. The famous frescoes of Bonampak are recognized masterpieces of pictorial art. They talk about military battles, depict solemn ceremonies, complex rituals of sacrifice, graceful dances, etc.

In the 1st-10th centuries. Most Mayan cities were destroyed by the invading Toltec tribes, but in the 11th century. Mayan culture was revived again in the Yucatan Peninsula and in the mountains of Guatemala. Its main centers are the cities of Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Mayapan.

Still developing most successfully architecture. One of the remarkable architectural monuments of the postclassical period is the pyramid of Kukulcan - the “Feathered Serpent” in Chichen Itza. To the top of the nine-step pyramid, where the temple is located, there are four staircases bordered by a balustrade, which begins at the bottom with a beautifully executed snake's head and continues in the form of a snake's body to the upper floor. The pyramid symbolizes the calendar, for the 365 steps of its stairs correspond to the number of days in a year. It is also notable for the fact that inside it there is another nine-step pyramid, in which there is a sanctuary, and in it there is an amazing stone throne depicting a jaguar.

The “Temple of the Magician” pyramid in Uxmal is also very original. It differs from all others in that in horizontal projection it has an oval shape.

By the middle of the 15th century. Mayan culture enters into a severe crisis and declines. When the Spanish conquerors entered at the beginning of the 16th century. to Mayan cities, many of them were abandoned by their inhabitants. The reasons for such an unexpected and sad ending to a thriving culture and civilization remain a mystery.

Ancient civilizations of South America. Inca culture

In South America, almost simultaneously with the Olmec civilization of Mesoamerica, at the end of the 2nd millennium BC, an equally mysterious Chavin culture, similar to the Olmec, although not related to it.

At the turn of our era in the northern part of the coastal zone of Peru appears Mochica Civilization, and in the south - Nazca civilization. Somewhat later, in the mountains of northern Bolivia, an original Tiahuanaco culture. These civilizations of South America were in some respects inferior to the Mesoamerican cultures: they did not have hieroglyphic writing, an accurate calendar, etc. But in many other ways - especially in technology - they were superior to Mesoamerica. Already from the 2nd millennium BC. The Indians of Peru and Bolivia smelted metals, processed gold, silver, copper and their alloys and made from them not only beautiful jewelry, but also tools - shovels and hoes. They had developed agriculture, built magnificent temples, created monumental sculptures, and produced beautiful ceramics with polychrome painting. Their fine fabrics made of cotton and wool became widely known. In the 1st millennium AD the production of metal products, ceramics and textiles reached a large scale and a high level, and it was this that constituted the unique originality of the South American civilizations of the classical period.

The Postclassical period (X-XVI centuries AD) was marked by the emergence and disappearance of many states in both the mountainous and coastal zones of South America. In the XIV century. The Incas create the state of Tauatin-suyu in the mountainous zone, which, after a long war with neighboring small states, manages to emerge victorious and subjugate all the others.

In the 15th century it turns to the gigantic and famous Inca Empire with a huge territory and a population of about 6 million people. At the head of the huge power was a divine ruler, the son of the Sun Inca, who relied on a hereditary aristocracy and a caste of priests.

The basis economy was agriculture, the main crops of which were corn, potatoes, beans, and red peppers. The Inca state was distinguished by its efficient organization of public works, called "mita". Mita meant the obligation of all subjects of the empire to work one month a year on the construction of government facilities. It made it possible to gather tens of thousands of people in one place, thanks to which irrigation canals, fortresses, roads, bridges, etc. were built in a short time.

From north to south, the Inca Country is crossed by two paraplegic roads. one of which had a length of more than 5 thousand km. These highways were connected to each other by a large number of transverse roads, which created an excellent network of communications. Along the roads at certain distances there were postal stations and warehouses with food and necessary materials. There was a state post office in Gauatinsuyu.

Spiritual and religious life and matters of cult were the responsibility of the priests. The supreme deity was considered Viracocha - Creator of the world and other gods. Other deities were the golden sun god Inti. god of weather, thunder and lightning Ilpa. A special place was occupied by the ancient cults of the mother of the Earth, Mama Pacha, and the mother of the sea, Mama (Sochi). The worship of the gods took place in stone temples, decorated inside with gold.

Regulated all aspects of life, including the personal life of citizens of the empire. All Incas were required to marry before a certain age. If this did not happen, then the issue was resolved by a government official at his own discretion, and his decision was binding.

Although the Incas did not have real writing, this did not stop them from creating beautiful myths, legends, epic poems, religious hymns, and dramatic works. Unfortunately, little has survived from this spiritual wealth.

Highest flourishing culture the Incas reached at the beginning XVI V. However, this prosperity did not last long. In 1532, the most powerful empire of pre-Columbian America submitted to the Europeans almost without resistance. A small group of Spanish conquerors led by Francisco Pizarro managed to kill Inca Atahualpa, which paralyzed the will to resist his people, and the great Inca Empire ceased to exist.

A brief historical excursion. The Middle Ages, which will be discussed in the article, occupied a period in human history from the 10th to the 16th centuries. They began with the collapse of the most powerful world empire in Europe - the Western Roman. And the end of the 14th century was marked by the domination of a significant part of Mesoamerica by the Aztec Empire, or, as neighboring tribes called them, the Tenochek.

The toponymy of the Aztecs often changed, because due to their militant aggressiveness they did not get along with neighboring tribes and peoples. They had to wander from place to place. What were the achievements of the Aztec civilization in the Middle Ages?

"Made in" in pre-Columbian America

The level of development of this America cannot be compared with the European level of the same time. At best, comparable to the Ancient East - Babylon or Egypt. Similar labor was carried out by slaves, although there were more free farmers, artisans, and the unification of the population into communities. The influence of rulers and religious figures represented by priests increased. True, the civilizations of Mesoamerica were built more on the labor of tireless tribes than on their seizure of foreign material assets. This can also be said about the very warlike Aztecs.

Lake Xochimilco in the former capital of the Aztecs is the only one still preserved, later called the Venice of the New World. A network of artificial islands, multiple canals - all this was created by the hands of artisans and slaves. So these tribes, between raids on foreign lands for slaves, tried to arrange their lives in a civilized manner. And now the Mexicans protect it as protected areas with an area of ​​12 million square meters.

Incas, Aztecs, Mayans: achievements and inventions of the ancients

So the whole world should know what the Incas, Mayans, Aztecs and other Indian civilizations of the central and southern part of the American continent gave it. When Europeans buy pure chocolate or chocolate candies, potatoes, corn, sunflower oil and dozens of other items, they must remember: all this came to them from Indian Latin America.

One day, ancient tribes tasted cocoa fruits and appreciated their taste. Cocoa gave the body strength and improved mood. Entire plantations began to be planted, and for years the quality of the beans was improved. The beans were used to make “chocolatl”. This is how the future chocolate was born.

Soon cocoa beans rose in price, which began to serve as money. For them you could buy both an animal and a slave. They became export goods - ships carried cocoa grains on ships, filling all the holds with them. The Mayans grew huge plantations of these trees, which bear fruit twice a year for eighty years. But the Aztecs decided differently: they imposed tribute on cocoa bean producers in the occupied territories. Pay in beans!

It was to the Indians what bread was to the Europeans. New World explorers have found the oldest ear of corn, establishing its age at 7,000 years. Since then, the length of the cob has grown 10 - 15 times!

But today, in most cases, it serves as feed for livestock and poultry. For food, grains are processed into popcorn or corn sticks.

From there sunflower came to Europe. But its removal from the wild environment and domestication took place closer to our times - only 2500 years. But complex selection aimed at improving the quality of seeds and increasing yields is carried out without stopping in time.

Of course, smokers are grateful to the Indians for tobacco. It grew on its own for six thousand years until the aborigines understood its significance for humans.

No one had previously analyzed how the Indians lived among tobacco plants and did not attach much importance to it. But after some hundred years, Indians from other territories learned about it, and the Spanish conquerors brought it to the Old World.

Tequila

Today, the strong alcoholic drink tequila has conquered, if not the whole world, then many territories. Tequila in its modern sense was not invented by the Mayans or Aztecs. From the pulque agave, the Indians initially obtained fermented juice with a strength of four to six degrees of alcohol. In our opinion, it was mash, which they called “a gift from the gods.”

The content of the article

AZTECS, the name of the peoples who inhabited the Valley of Mexico shortly before the Spanish conquest of Mexico in 1521. This ethnonym unites many tribal groups that spoke the Nahuatl language and exhibited features of a cultural community, although they had their own city-states and royal dynasties. Among these tribes, the Tenochs occupied a dominant position, and only this last people was sometimes called “Aztecs”. The Aztecs also refer to the powerful triple alliance created by the Tenochchi of Tenochtitlan, the Acolhua of Texcoco, and the Tepanecs of Tlacopan, who established their dominance in central and southern Mexico from 1430 to 1521.

The Aztec city-states arose on a vast mountain plateau called the "Valley of Mexico", where the capital of Mexico is now located. This fertile valley has an area of ​​approx. 6500 sq. km extends approximately 50 km in length and width. It lies at an altitude of 2300 m above sea level. and is surrounded on all sides by mountains of volcanic origin, reaching a height of 5000 m. During the time of the Aztecs, the landscape was given originality by a chain of connecting lakes with the most extensive of them, Lake Texcoco. The lakes were fed by mountain runoff and streams, and periodic floods created constant problems for the population living on their shores. At the same time, the lakes provided drinking water, created habitat for fish, waterfowl and mammals, and boats served as a convenient means of transportation.

The Triple Alliance subjugated a vast territory from the northern regions of what is now Mexico to the borders of Guatemala, which included a variety of landscapes and natural areas - the relatively dry areas of the northern Valley of Mexico, the mountain gorges of the present states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, the Pacific mountain ranges, the coastal plains of the Gulf of Mexico, the lush, humid tropical forests of the Yucatan Peninsula. Thus, the Aztecs gained access to a variety of natural resources that were not available in their original places of residence.

The inhabitants of the Valley of Mexico and some other areas (for example, the Tlaxcalans who lived in the territory of the current states of Puebla and Tlaxcala) spoke dialects of the Nahuatl language (lit. “euphony”, “folding speech”). It was adopted as a second language by Aztec tributaries and became the intermediary language of almost all of Mexico during the colonial period (1521–1821). Traces of this language are found in numerous place names such as Acapulco or Oaxaca. According to some estimates, approx. 1.3 million people still speak Nahuatl or its variant Nahuat, more commonly called Mejicano. This language is part of the Macronaua family of the Uto-Aztecan branch, distributed from Canada to Central America and including about 30 related languages.

The Aztecs were great lovers of literature and collected libraries of pictographic books (so-called codices) with descriptions of religious rituals and historical events or representing registers of tribute collection. The paper for the codices was made from bark. The overwhelming majority of these books were destroyed during the Conquest or immediately after it. In general, in all of Mesoamerica (this is the name of the territory from the north of the Valley of Mexico to the southern borders of Honduras and El Salvador), no more than two dozen Indian codes have been preserved. Some scholars argue that not a single Aztec code of the pre-Spanish era has survived to this day, others believe that there are two of them - the Bourbon Code and the Register of Taxes. Be that as it may, even after the conquest, the Aztec written tradition did not die and was used for various purposes. Aztec scribes recorded hereditary titles and possessions, compiled reports to the Spanish king, and more often described the life and beliefs of their fellow tribesmen for the Spanish monks in order to make it easier for them to Christianize the Indians.

Europeans received their first information about the Aztecs during the conquest, when Hernán Cortés sent five letters of report to the Spanish king about the progress of the conquest of Mexico. About 40 years later, a member of Cortez's expedition, soldier Bernal Diaz del Castillo, compiled The True History of the Conquest of New Spain(Historia verdadera de la conquista de Nueva España), where he vividly and thoroughly described the Tenochki and neighboring peoples. Information about various aspects of Aztec culture was reported in the 16th and early 17th centuries. from chronicles and ethnographic descriptions created by the Aztec nobility and Spanish monks. Of the works of this kind, the most valuable is the multi-volume General history of things in New Spain (Historia general de las cosas de Nueva España) by Franciscan monk Bernardino de Sahagún, containing a variety of information - from stories about Aztec gods and rulers to descriptions of flora and fauna.

The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was completely destroyed by the conquistadors. The remains of ancient structures did not attract attention until in 1790, during excavation work, the so-called. The Sun Stone and a 17-ton statue of the goddess Coatlicue. Archaeological interest in Aztec culture arose after the discovery of a corner of the main temple in 1900, but large-scale archaeological excavations of the temple were not undertaken until 1978–1982. Then archaeologists managed to expose seven separate segments of the temple and extract more than 7,000 objects of Aztec art and household items from hundreds of burials. Later archaeological excavations revealed a number of large and small ancient structures under the Mexican capital.

STORY

Historical background.

The Aztec culture was the latest in a long line of advanced civilizations that flourished and declined in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The oldest of these, the Olmec culture, developed on the Gulf Coast in the 14th–3rd centuries. BC. The Olmecs paved the way for the formation of subsequent civilizations, which is why the era of their existence is called pre-classical. They had a developed mythology with an extensive pantheon of gods, erected massive stone structures, and were skilled in stone carving and pottery. Their society was hierarchical and narrowly professionalized; the latter was manifested, in particular, in the fact that religious, administrative and economic issues were dealt with by specially trained people.

These features of Olmec society were further developed in subsequent civilizations. In the tropical rainforests of southern Mesoamerica, the Mayan civilization flourished for a relatively short historical period, leaving behind vast cities and many magnificent works of art. Around the same time, a similar civilization of the classical era arose in the Valley of Mexico, in Teotihuacan, a huge city with an area of ​​26–28 square meters. km and with a population of up to 100 thousand people.

At the beginning of the 7th century. Teotihuacan was destroyed during the war. It was replaced by the Toltec culture, which flourished in the 9th–12th centuries. The Toltec and other late classical civilizations (including the Aztec) continued the trends established in the pre-classical and classical eras. Agricultural surpluses fueled population and urban growth, and wealth and power became increasingly concentrated at the top of society, leading to the formation of hereditary dynasties of city-state rulers. Religious rituals based on polytheism became more complex. Vast professional layers of people engaged in intellectual work and trade arose, and trade and conquests spread this culture over a vast territory and led to the formation of empires. The dominant position of individual cultural centers did not interfere with the existence of other cities and settlements. Such a complex system of social relationships was already firmly established throughout Mesoamerica by the time the Aztecs arrived here.

The wanderings of the Aztecs.

The name “Aztecs” (literally “people of Aztlan”) recalls the legendary ancestral home of the Tenochki tribe, from where they made a difficult journey to the Valley of Mexico City. The Aztecs were one of many nomadic or semi-sedentary Chichimec tribes who migrated from the desert areas of northern Mexico (or even more remote) to the fertile agricultural areas of central Mexico.

Mythological and historical sources indicate that the wanderings of the tenochki took more than 200 years from the beginning or middle of the 12th century. to 1325. Leaving the island of Aztlan ("Place of the Herons"), the Tenochki reached Chicomostoc ("Seven Caves"), the mythical starting point of the wanderings of many wandering tribes, including the Tlaxcalans, Tepanecs, Xochimilcos and Chalcos, each of which once set off from Chicomostoc on a long journey south to the Valley of Mexico and nearby valleys.

The Tenochki were the last to leave the Seven Caves, led by the main deity of their tribe, Huitzilopochtli (“Hummingbird of the Left Side”). Their journey was not smooth and continuous, since from time to time they stopped for a long time to build a temple or resolve intra-tribal disputes with weapons. The related tribes of the Tenochki, already settled in the Valley of Mexico, greeted them with mixed feelings. On the one hand, they were coveted as brave warriors whom warring city-states could use as mercenaries. On the other hand, they were condemned for their cruel rituals and customs. The first sanctuary of the tenochki was erected on Chapultepec Hill (“Grasshopper Hill”), then they moved from one city to another, until in 1325 they chose two islands on Lake Texcoco for settlement.

This choice, due to practical expediency, also had a mythical background. In the densely populated lake basin, the islands remained the only free place. They could be expanded with artificial artificial islands (chinampas), and boats served as an easy and convenient form of transport. There is a legend according to which Huitzilopochtli ordered the tenochkas to settle where they saw an eagle sitting on a cactus with a snake in its claws (this symbol was included in the state emblem of Mexico). It was in that place that the city of the Tenochki, Tenochtitlan, was founded.

From 1325 to 1430, the tenochki were in the service, including as military mercenaries, of the most powerful city-state in the Valley of Mexico, Azcapotzalco. As a reward for their service, they received land and access to natural resources. With extraordinary diligence, they rebuilt the city and expanded their possessions with the help of artificial chinampa islands. They entered into alliances, most often through marriages, with the ruling dynasties of neighboring peoples, dating back to the Toltecs.

Creation of an empire.

In 1428, the Tenochki entered into an alliance with the Acolua of the city-state of Texcoco, located east of Tenochtitlan, rebelled against the Tepanecs of Azcapotzalco and defeated them in 1430. After this, the Tepanecs of nearby Tlacopan joined the military alliance between the Tenochki and the Acolua. Thus, a powerful military-political force was created - a triple alliance aimed at wars of conquest and control over the economic resources of a vast territory.

The ruler of the Tenochki, Itzcoatl, who was the first to lead the triple alliance, subjugated the other city-states of the Valley of Mexico. Each of the five subsequent rulers expanded the territory of the empire. However, the last of the Aztec emperors, Motecusoma Xocoyottzin (Montezuma II), was not so much concerned with seizing new territories as with consolidating the empire and suppressing uprisings. But Montezuma, like his predecessors, failed to subjugate the Tarascans on the western borders of the empire and the Tlaxcalans in the east. The latter provided enormous military assistance to the Spanish conquistadors led by Cortes during the conquest of the Aztec empire.

AZTEC LIFESTYLE

Economy.

The basis of the Aztec diet was corn, beans, pumpkin, numerous varieties of chili peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables, as well as chia and amaranth seeds, various fruits from the tropical zone and the prickly pear-shaped nopal cactus growing in semi-deserts. Plant foods were supplemented with meat from domesticated turkeys and dogs, game, and fish. From all these components, the Aztecs knew how to prepare very nutritious and healthy stews, cereals, and sauces. From cocoa beans they prepared a fragrant, foamy drink intended for the nobility. The alcoholic drink pulque was prepared from agave juice.

Agave also provided wood fiber for making coarse clothing, ropes, nets, bags and sandals. The finer fiber was obtained from cotton that was cultivated outside the Valley of Mexico and imported into the Aztec capital. Only noble people had the right to wear clothes made of cotton fabrics. Men's hats and loincloths, women's skirts and blouses were often covered with intricate patterns.

Located on the island of Tenochtitlan, it expanded with the “floating gardens” of chinampas. Aztec farmers built them in shallow water from tied baskets with silt and algae and strengthened them by lining the edges with willows. A network of interconnected canals formed between the artificial islands, which served for irrigation and transportation of goods and supported the habitat of fish and waterfowl. Agriculture on the Chinampas was possible only in the vicinity of Tenochtitlan and in the southern lakes, near the cities of Xochimilco and Chalco, since the springs here kept the water fresh, while in the central part of Lake Texcoco it was more saline and therefore unsuitable for agriculture. In the middle of the 15th century. The Aztecs built a powerful dam across the lake to retain fresh water for Tenochtitlan and protect the city from flooding. The engineering and architectural achievements of the Aztecs, who did not know pack animals, wheels and metal tools, were based solely on the efficient organization of labor.

However, the Chinampas and the lands of the Valley of Mexico could not support the growing urban population. By 1519, from 150 to 200 thousand people lived in Tenochtitlan, the population of the second largest city of Texcoco reached 30 thousand, and in other cities there lived from 10 to 25 thousand people. The share of the aristocracy increased, and among other urban strata a significant proportion were made up of those who consumed but did not produce food: artisans, traders, scribes, teachers, priests and military leaders.

Products were delivered to cities as tribute collected from conquered peoples, or brought by traders and surrounding farmers to be sold at the market. In large cities, markets functioned daily, and in small cities they opened every five or twenty days. The largest market in the Aztec state was organized in the satellite city of Tenochtitlan - Tlatelolco: according to the Spanish conquistador, from 20 to 25 thousand people gathered here every day. You could buy anything here, from tortillas and feathers to precious stones and slaves. Barbers, porters and judges were always at the service of visitors, monitoring the order and fairness of transactions.

The conquered peoples regularly, once every three months or six months, paid tribute to the Aztecs. They delivered food, clothing, military vestments, polished jadeite beads and bright feathers of tropical birds to the cities of the Triple Alliance, and also provided various services, including escorting prisoners designated for sacrifice.

Traders undertook long and dangerous journeys to bring valuable goods to Aztec cities, and many made considerable wealth. Merchants often served as informants and ambassadors to lands beyond the empire's borders.

Social organization.

Aztec society was strictly hierarchical and was divided into two main classes - the hereditary aristocracy and the plebs. The Aztec nobility lived in luxury in magnificent palaces and had many privileges, including the wearing of special clothes and insignia and polygamy, through which alliances were established with the aristocracy of other city-states. The nobility were destined for high positions and the most prestigious activities; it consisted of military leaders, judges, priests, teachers and scribes.

The lower class consisted of farmers, fishermen, artisans, and traders. In Tenochtitlan and neighboring cities they lived in special neighborhoods called “calpulli” - a kind of community. Each calpulli had his own plot of land and his own patron god, his own school, paid a community tax and fielded warriors. Many calpulli were formed by professional affiliation. For example, bird feather craftsmen, stone carvers or traders lived in special areas. Some farmers were assigned to the estates of aristocrats, who were paid more in labor and taxes than the state.

However, for all their strength, class barriers could be overcome. Most often, the path to the top was opened by military valor and the capture of prisoners on the battlefield. Sometimes the son of a commoner, dedicated to a temple, eventually became a priest. Skilled artisans who made luxury goods or merchants could, despite the lack of inheritance rights, earn the favor of the ruler and become rich.

Slavery was common in Aztec society. As punishment for theft or non-payment of debt, the culprit could be temporarily given into slavery to the victim. It often happened when a person sold himself or members of his family into slavery under agreed conditions. Sometimes slaves were bought in markets for human sacrifice.

Education and lifestyle.

Until approximately the age of 15, children were educated at home. Boys mastered military affairs and learned how to manage a household, and girls, who were often married off at this age, knew how to cook, spin and run a household. In addition, both of them received professional skills in pottery and the art of making bird feathers.

Most teenagers started school at age 15, although some started school at age 8. The children of the nobility were sent to Kalmekak, where, under the guidance of priests, they studied military affairs, history, astronomy, government, social institutions, and rituals. Their duties were also to collect firewood, clean churches, participate in various public works, and donate blood during religious ceremonies. The children of commoners attended the telpochkalli of their city quarter, where they were trained mainly in military affairs. Both boys and girls also went to schools called “cuicacalli” (“house of song”), designed to teach liturgical chants and dances.

Women, as a rule, were involved in raising children and housework. Some studied crafts and midwifery, or were initiated into religious sacraments, after which they became priestesses. Upon reaching the age of 70, men and women were surrounded by honor and received a number of privileges, including the permission to drink the alcoholic drink pulque without restrictions.

Belief in life after death was accompanied by certain ideas about what awaits the deceased. A warrior who died in battle or was sacrificed had the honor of accompanying the Sun on its path from sunrise to zenith. Women who died in childbirth - so to speak, on their battlefield - accompanied the Sun from zenith to sunset. Drowned people and those killed by lightning ended up in a blooming paradise, the abode of the rain god Tlalocan. Most of the dead Aztecs, it was believed, did not go beyond the lower underworld, Mictlan, where the god and goddess of death ruled.

Wars of conquest and empire management.

Each Aztec city-state had one or more rulers called tlatoani (orator). Power was hereditary and passed from brother to brother or from father to son. However, the inheritance of honorary titles did not occur automatically, but required the approval of the highest circles of the city nobility. Thus, the legitimacy of the power of each new ruler was ensured both by the divine right of inheritance and by public recognition of his merits. The rulers lived in luxury, but not in idleness, since they were obliged to administer, pronounce verdicts in complex legal cases, oversee the proper performance of religious rituals and protect their subjects. As some city-states fell under the rule of others, some rulers were considered superior to others, and the ruler of Tenochtitlan was recognized as the main one.

In the service of the rulers were advisers, military leaders, priests, judges, scribes and other officials. Imperial conquests required the expansion of the bureaucracy to include tribute collectors, governors and garrison commanders. The conquered peoples enjoyed relative freedom. City-states were generally allowed to maintain ruling dynasties as long as tribute was paid carefully. New territories became part of the empire in various ways - some Tenoch peoples were conquered and forced to pay regular tribute, others were persuaded to an alliance through negotiations, marriages and gifts. City-states conquered by the triple alliance in the early era of its existence, by the beginning of the 16th century. were already deeply integrated into the imperial structure. Their rulers participated in the tenochki's wars of conquest, receiving rewards in the form of titles and lands.

War was the most important sphere of life of the Aztecs. Successful wars enriched the empire and provided opportunities for individual warriors to move up the social ladder. The main valor was considered to be the capture of a prisoner for sacrifice; a warrior who captured four enemy warriors was promoted in rank.

Religion.

The Aztec polytheistic pantheon included many gods and goddesses. The demiurge gods are represented by the mysterious, unpredictable Tezcatlipoca (“Smoking Mirror”), the fire god Xiutecutli and the famous Quetzalcoatl (“Feathered Serpent”), “who gave maize to people.” Since the life of the Aztecs largely depended on agriculture, they worshiped the gods of rain, fertility, maize, etc. Gods of war, such as Huitzilopochtli of the Tenoches, were associated with the Sun.

The Aztecs erected temples for each deity, where priests and priestesses performed his cult. The main temple of Tenochtitlan (46 m high) was topped by two sanctuaries dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc. This temple rose in the middle of a vast fenced area where there were other temples, chambers of warriors, a priestly school and a court for a ritual ball game. Elaborate religious rituals included festivals, fasting, chants, dances, the burning of incense and rubber, and ritual drama, often involving human sacrifice.

According to Aztec mythology, the Universe was divided into thirteen heavens and nine underworlds. The created world went through four eras of development, each of which ended with the death of the human race: the first - from jaguars, the second - from hurricanes, the third - from a worldwide fire, the fourth - from a flood. The contemporary Aztec era of the “Fifth Sun” was supposed to end with terrible earthquakes.

Human sacrifice, which formed the most important part of Aztec religious rites, was practiced in order to supply the gods with energy and thereby delay the inevitable death of the human race. Sacrifice, the Aztecs believed, was necessary to maintain a sustainable life cycle; human blood nourished the Sun, caused rains and ensured the earthly existence of man. Some forms of sacrifice were limited to bloodletting through the thorns of the maguey plant, but often the victim was killed by the priests, ripping open the chest with a knife and tearing out the heart. In some rituals, the chosen one, who had the honor of embodying the deity, was sacrificed; in others, many captives were killed.

Achievements of science and art.

The Aztecs had a cyclical account of time. They combined the solar 365-day calendar with the ritual 260-day calendar. According to the first, the year was divided into 18 months of 20 days each, to which 5 so-called were added at the end. unlucky days. The solar calendar was applied to the agricultural cycle and major religious practices. The ritual calendar, used for prophecies and predictions of human fate, contained 20 names of the days of the month (“rabbit”, “rain”, etc.) in combination with numbers from 1 to 13. The newborn, along with the name of the day of his birth (like “Two Deer" or "Ten Eagle") also received a prediction of his fate. Thus, it was believed that Two Rabbit would be a drunkard, and One Snake would earn fame and wealth. Both calendars were connected into a 52-year cycle, at the end of which the past years disappeared, just as the wind carries away a bundle of 52 reeds, and a new cycle began. The end of each 52-year cycle threatened the death of the Universe.

The Aztecs created an extensive corpus of oral literature, represented by the genres of epic, hymn and lyric poetry, religious chants, drama, legends and tales. This literature is also very diverse in tone and theme and ranges from glorifying military valor and the exploits of ancestors to contemplation and reflection on the essence of life and human destiny. Poetic exercises and debates were constantly practiced among the nobility.

The Aztecs proved themselves to be skilled builders, sculptors, stone carvers, potters, jewelers, and weavers. The art of making products from the bright feathers of tropical birds was especially revered. Feathers were used to decorate warriors' shields, clothes, standards, and headdresses. Jewelers worked in gold, jadeite, rock crystal and turquoise, showing extraordinary skill in creating mosaics and ornaments.

The Incas, Aztecs and Mayans are mysterious tribes that disappeared from the face of the earth. Scientific excavations and all kinds of research are still being conducted to study their life and the reasons for their disappearance. In this article we will tell you about one interesting tribe. The Aztecs lived in the 14th century in the territory that now belongs to Mexico City.

Where did they come from

The number of this Indian people was about 1.3 million people. According to legend, the homeland of the Aztecs was the island of Aztlan (translated as “land of herons”). Initially, the members of this tribe were hunters, but then, having settled on the land, they began to engage in agricultural and handicraft work, although it was a rather warlike tribe. The Aztecs, in order to begin to lead, were looking for suitable lands for quite a long time. They did not act at random, but in accordance with the instructions of their god Huitzilopochtli. In his opinion, the Aztecs should have seen an eagle sitting on a cactus and devouring the earth.

This happened

Despite the strangeness of this sign, after 165 years of wandering through Mexican soil, the Aztecs still managed to meet this mysterious bird with unusual behavior. At the place where this happened, the tribe began to settle down. The Aztecs named their first settlement Tenochtitlan (translated as “fruit tree growing from stone”). Another name for these lands is Mexico City. Interestingly, the Aztec civilization was created by several tribes. Scientists believe that at least seven tribes took part in this, speaking related languages, the most common of which was Nahuatl. Now it and similar dialects are spoken by more than 1 million people.

Bottoms and tops

Can the Aztec civilization serve as an example for modern social organization? Fighters for equality probably would not have liked the Aztec division into aristocrats and plebeians. Moreover, members of high society had all the best. They lived in luxurious palaces, wore magnificent clothes, ate delicious food, had many privileges, and held high positions. Plebeians worked on the land, traded, hunted, fished and lived modestly in special quarters. But after death, everyone received an equal chance to go to the underworld, the abode of the goddess of death Mictlan, or to go to a better world. Since warriors in the Aztec world were especially respected, those who died on the battlefield could accompany the sun from sunrise to zenith, just like those who were sacrificed. Women who died in childbirth received the honor of accompanying the sun from zenith to sunset. Those who were killed by lightning or drowned can also be considered “lucky”. They found themselves in a heavenly place where Tlalocan lived.

Fathers and Sons

The tribe discussed in this article placed great emphasis on the education of children. Until the age of 1, they were raised at home, and after that they had to attend special schools. Moreover, both boys and girls, although the latter, most often, after getting married, sat at home and looked after the household and children. Commoners learned craft skills and military affairs. Aristocrats studied history, astronomy, social studies, rituals, and government. The children of members of high society were not white-handed. They worked in public works, cleaned churches, and took part in rituals. Old people were treated to honor, respect and various privileges.

Aztec culture

It is not for nothing that this lost civilization attracts attention today. The Aztecs were excellent craftsmen, so buildings, sculptures, stone and clay products, fabrics, and jewelry were of high quality. The Aztecs were especially distinguished by their ability to make a variety of products from the bright feathers of tropical birds. Aztec mosaics and ornaments are also famous. Aristocrats were fond of literature. Many of them could compose a poem or write an oral work. Legends, stories, poems, and descriptions of the rituals of this people have survived to this day. Book paper was made from bark. The calendars that this tribe created are also interesting. The Aztecs used a solar and ritual calendar. Agricultural work and religious work were carried out in accordance with the solar calendar. It consisted of 365 days. The second calendar, which included 260 days, was used for predictions. A person's fate was judged by the day he was born. Until now, many treasure hunters dream of finding Aztec gold. And they lived very richly at one time. This is evidenced by the stories of the Spanish conquerors. They say that the wealthy Aztecs, especially in the capital Tenochtitlan, ate and slept on gold. They installed golden thrones for their gods, at the foot of which gold bars also lay.

Aztec religion

People from this tribe believed that there were several gods who controlled the forces of nature and the destinies of people. They had gods of water, maize, rain, sun, war and many others. The Aztecs built huge, richly decorated temples. The largest was dedicated to the main deity Tenochtitlan and was 46 meters high. Rituals and sacrifices were held in temples. The Aztecs also had an idea of ​​the soul. They believed that its habitat in humans is the heart and blood vessels. The beating of the pulse was taken as its manifestation. According to the Aztecs, the soul was put into the human body by the gods while he was in the womb. They also believed that objects and animals had a soul. The Aztecs imagined that there was a special connection between them that allowed them to interact on an intangible level. The Aztecs also thought that every person had a magical double. His death led to the death of a person. The Aztecs offered their own blood as a sacrifice to their idols. To do this, they performed the ritual of bloodletting. In general, the Aztecs made human sacrifices in huge quantities. It is a known fact that 2,000 people were sacrificed during the illumination of the Great Temple. The Aztecs thought about the end of the world and believed that a large amount of blood could appease the gods and maintain world balance.

The Aztec civilization died due to the greed of the Spaniards. This happened at the beginning of the 16th century, but the imagination is still excited by the story of the life of a tribe that disappeared from the face of the earth. Whether Aztec gold brings happiness is something everyone can decide for themselves.