Carrasco, David,, and Scott Sessions. Daily Life of the Aztecs. Westport, CT: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1998. Print.
Daily Life of the Aztecs was an incredibly insightful and educational source of information regarding all aspects of Aztec life. One thing I found to be especially intriguing was how many similarities there are between some current day traditions of many cultures and the ones the Aztecs used to practice. Obviously there are some major differences too, but the fact that we can still find ways to relate to people who lived centuries before us is simply extraordinary. Before we discuss the daily lives and traditions of the Aztecs, its helpful to first find out where they came from. During the 13th and 14th centuries the Mexica, who we now know as the Aztecs, migrated to the Basin of Mexico (Carrasco, pg 19), but until recently, the question that has perplexed historians and scholars alike …show more content…
The architecture and use of temples and other buildings shared similar characteristics, as did their calendars and forms of writing. The most striking connection would probably be the importance pyramids held for each of these society’s, yet at the same time the use and meaning of the pyramids is also what sets them apart. Egyptians utilized their pyramids as tombs for the Pharaohs and their families and performed many sacred rituals within the interior of the structures. In contrast, the Aztecs placed more emphasis on the exteriors of their pyramids, using them for a continuous cycle of imperial displays, performances, and rituals (Carrasco, pg 21). And though the shape of the structures was the same, the actual architecture of them were quite different. These facts suggest the Aztecs conception and uses of the pyramids were independently formed as opposed to being influenced by Egyptian
Daily Life of the Aztecs was an incredibly insightful and educational source of information regarding all aspects of Aztec life. One thing I found to be especially intriguing was how many similarities there are between some current day traditions of many cultures and the ones the Aztecs used to practice. Obviously there are some major differences too, but the fact that we can still find ways to relate to people who lived centuries before us is simply extraordinary. Before we discuss the daily lives and traditions of the Aztecs, its helpful to first find out where they came from. During the 13th and 14th centuries the Mexica, who we now know as the Aztecs, migrated to the Basin of Mexico (Carrasco, pg 19), but until recently, the question that has perplexed historians and scholars alike …show more content…
The architecture and use of temples and other buildings shared similar characteristics, as did their calendars and forms of writing. The most striking connection would probably be the importance pyramids held for each of these society’s, yet at the same time the use and meaning of the pyramids is also what sets them apart. Egyptians utilized their pyramids as tombs for the Pharaohs and their families and performed many sacred rituals within the interior of the structures. In contrast, the Aztecs placed more emphasis on the exteriors of their pyramids, using them for a continuous cycle of imperial displays, performances, and rituals (Carrasco, pg 21). And though the shape of the structures was the same, the actual architecture of them were quite different. These facts suggest the Aztecs conception and uses of the pyramids were independently formed as opposed to being influenced by Egyptian