The Surprising Truth About the Aztecs

The Aztecs are often viewed as a violent and bloodthirsty civilization, but the truth about their society may surprise you. While they did engage in human sacrifice and warfare, those aspects of their culture must be understood within the broader context of their cosmology and social structure.

First, let's consider the mythic worldview of the Aztecs. Their religion was centered around the worship of various gods and goddesses who represented different aspects of nature and human experience. By performing rituals and offering sacrifices, the Aztecs believed that they could please these deities and ensure a bountiful harvest, good health, and victory in battle.

One of the most important gods in the Aztec pantheon was Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and the sun. The Aztecs believed that their own people were descended from Huitzilopochtli and that he required human blood to sustain his power. Thus, the practice of human sacrifice was seen as a necessary part of maintaining the balance between the gods and humanity.

But it's important to note that not all sacrifices were equal in the eyes of the Aztecs. Most sacrifices involved animals or other offerings like maize or cloth. Only a small number of people, usually prisoners of war or criminals, were chosen for human sacrifice. Moreover, these individuals were typically treated with great respect and prepared for their death with elaborate rituals and feasts.

In fact, some historians argue that the Aztecs' practice of human sacrifice wasn't any more cruel than the European tradition of executing criminals by beheading or hanging. And in some cases, human sacrifice was actually seen as a way of offering a noble death to those who might otherwise have suffered a worse fate.

Now let's turn to the Aztecs' social structure. Contrary to popular belief, the Aztecs were not a homogeneous society ruled by a single monarch. Instead, their political system was more decentralized, with each city-state having its own ruler and nobility.

At the top of the social hierarchy were the nobles, who were often connected to the ruling family of their city-state. These individuals held important political and religious roles and were associated with the most prestigious professions, such as scribes and warriors.

Beneath the noble class were the commoners, who made up the majority of Aztec society. Commoners were divided into various occupational groups, such as farmers, artisans, and traders. They were also organized into calpullis, or groups of households that shared resources and worked together for the good of the community.

Finally, there were the slaves, who were usually prisoners of war or individuals who had fallen into debt. While slavery was certainly a harsh reality for those who experienced it, it's worth noting that some slaves were able to gain their freedom by demonstrating loyalty and valor in battle.

Overall, the Aztecs were a complex civilization whose practices and beliefs should be understood within the larger cultural context of Mesoamerica. While their use of human sacrifice and warfare may seem barbaric by modern standards, it's important to remember that these practices were seen as necessary for maintaining the balance of power between the gods and humanity. And by examining the Aztecs' social structure, we can see that they were far from a monolithic society ruled by a single despot. Rather, they were a diverse group of people organized into different classes and professions, each with its own unique role to play in society.