Votive Offerings
Social: Offerings to the Gods were a normal part of Aztec life. It was very common for people to offer some of their most valuable objects to please the Gods.
Cultural: The offerings were a big part of Aztec culture. Ever since their founding the Aztecs constantly offered items or human life to the human.
Religious: The Aztec Gods required constant offerings and sacrifices in order to stay happy. Every single Aztec believed that if they did not give the Gods offerings the Gods would not be pleased and they would be punished
Comparison: This was very similar to the Zapotecs since they made daily offerings of simple things like maize or beans to the Gods in order to keep them pleased.
Cultural: The offerings were a big part of Aztec culture. Ever since their founding the Aztecs constantly offered items or human life to the human.
Religious: The Aztec Gods required constant offerings and sacrifices in order to stay happy. Every single Aztec believed that if they did not give the Gods offerings the Gods would not be pleased and they would be punished
Comparison: This was very similar to the Zapotecs since they made daily offerings of simple things like maize or beans to the Gods in order to keep them pleased.
Goblet with Mictlantecuhtli
Cultural: Life after death was a big part of Aztec culture. They based their whole life around pleasing the Gods and dying in a good way in order to get to a place where they will rest after death.
Social: Death in the Aztecs was a big part in life. Since they were in a lot of wars people died constantly so the burial of people was a normal part of life.
Religious: The Aztecs believed that life after death was real. This is why they buried people in vessels carved with Gods, so that the Gods may guide them to eternal rest.
Comparison: Zapotecs also buried their dead. They also buried people in caskets or vessels with offerings or sculptures for their Gods. This was also so that they may have a better chance at getting peace after death.
Social: Death in the Aztecs was a big part in life. Since they were in a lot of wars people died constantly so the burial of people was a normal part of life.
Religious: The Aztecs believed that life after death was real. This is why they buried people in vessels carved with Gods, so that the Gods may guide them to eternal rest.
Comparison: Zapotecs also buried their dead. They also buried people in caskets or vessels with offerings or sculptures for their Gods. This was also so that they may have a better chance at getting peace after death.
Eagle Warrior
Culture: War was a big part of Aztec culture. Pretty much all boys were expected to be warriors.
Social: Aztec warriors were able to advance through the social structure by being a warrior. Their ability as a warriors could lead them to be equal in status to that of a noble.
Religious: Many wars waged by the Aztecs were for the purpose of bringing more people to sacrifice to their Gods. After the wars were over the conquered cities had to take in Huitzilopotchli as their new supreme God, besides that their religious practices were allowed to remain the same.
Political: Wars also affected the politics of the Aztecs, seeing as how pretty much all their wars ended with them conquering a new city. This created a relationship between the Aztecs and the conquered cities in which the city became a part of the Aztec empire, therefore expanding their territory.
Economical: Conquered cities needed to pay tribute to the Aztecs, therefore improving their economy.
Comparison: Zapotecs were also warriors. War was a part of their social life and their culture.They also conquered a large part of their surroundings. This also improved their economy and created new political ties. A difference is that Zapotec warriors didn't climb the social hierarchy, they remained in the same spot throughout their lives.
Social: Aztec warriors were able to advance through the social structure by being a warrior. Their ability as a warriors could lead them to be equal in status to that of a noble.
Religious: Many wars waged by the Aztecs were for the purpose of bringing more people to sacrifice to their Gods. After the wars were over the conquered cities had to take in Huitzilopotchli as their new supreme God, besides that their religious practices were allowed to remain the same.
Political: Wars also affected the politics of the Aztecs, seeing as how pretty much all their wars ended with them conquering a new city. This created a relationship between the Aztecs and the conquered cities in which the city became a part of the Aztec empire, therefore expanding their territory.
Economical: Conquered cities needed to pay tribute to the Aztecs, therefore improving their economy.
Comparison: Zapotecs were also warriors. War was a part of their social life and their culture.They also conquered a large part of their surroundings. This also improved their economy and created new political ties. A difference is that Zapotec warriors didn't climb the social hierarchy, they remained in the same spot throughout their lives.
Map of Tenochtitlan and the Gulf of Mexico
Social: This map shows that there was the city in the middle where the nobles and the rich lived and then it shows how the commoners lived on the outskirts of the city.
Religious: This map shows how the Aztecs believed that their religion was the most important part of their life. This is why the center of the city was only for temples where they held sacrifices to their Gods.
Comparison: The layout of Tenochtitlan is very similar to Monte Alban. They both had their temples in the very center in order to please their Gods. Another thing that they have in common is that in both the noble live near the center while the commoners live on the outskirts. What is different is that Monte Alban sat on top of a mountain while Tenochtitlan is located on top of a lake.
Religious: This map shows how the Aztecs believed that their religion was the most important part of their life. This is why the center of the city was only for temples where they held sacrifices to their Gods.
Comparison: The layout of Tenochtitlan is very similar to Monte Alban. They both had their temples in the very center in order to please their Gods. Another thing that they have in common is that in both the noble live near the center while the commoners live on the outskirts. What is different is that Monte Alban sat on top of a mountain while Tenochtitlan is located on top of a lake.
Aztec Sacrifice and Scenes of Daily Life
Religious: This shows how the religious aspect of the Aztec way of life was huge. In the center of the image there is a sacrifice to the Gods taking place, representing how it was pretty much the center of Aztec life.
Cultural: This image shows the different parts of Aztec culture. It shows how religion was a big part of their life. It also displays a couple of important plants like maize, maguey, and cacao, showing that agriculture was also a big part of their culture.
Social: Social life in Tenochtitlan revolved around agriculture, fishing in the lake, and religious practices.
Comparison: The daily life of the Aztecs is similar to that of the Zapotecs because both were focused around getting food and pleasing their Gods. A small difference is that the Zapotecs didn't sacrifice humans as much.
Cultural: This image shows the different parts of Aztec culture. It shows how religion was a big part of their life. It also displays a couple of important plants like maize, maguey, and cacao, showing that agriculture was also a big part of their culture.
Social: Social life in Tenochtitlan revolved around agriculture, fishing in the lake, and religious practices.
Comparison: The daily life of the Aztecs is similar to that of the Zapotecs because both were focused around getting food and pleasing their Gods. A small difference is that the Zapotecs didn't sacrifice humans as much.