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 the current day traditions of many different cultures and the traditions the Aztecs used to observe. Understandably, 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 pretty extraordinary. Before we discuss the daily lives and traditions of the Aztecs, it’s 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
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As an attempt to prove that it was possible for them to make the journey, explorer Thor Hyerdahl made his way across the Pacific on the KonTiki, a huge raft he built for the voyage. Others suggest the Aztec and Mayas ceremonial centers, calendars, and rituals were influenced by the customs practiced by members of ancient Asian communities, who migrated down the west coast of the Americas. The one detail that disproves this theory is archeologists have yet to find a single Asian or Mediterranean artifact anywhere in the New World (Carrasco, pg 21). The next two ideas are quite amusing, but like the previous one, their biggest flaw is lack of evidence. Is it possible the ancestors of ancient America are actually citizens of the lost city of Atlantis that saved themselves before their city was lost to the sea (Carrasco, pg 22)? Without any evidence of the city’s existence, it’s a rather hard theory to prove. And others believe the pyramids and structures were created by life forms from somewhere out in our universe and left on our planet as a way to mark the area should they decide to return (Carrasco, pg 24). While the ideas are entertaining they aren’t very …show more content…
Populated with millions of people from hundreds of different ethnic groups, Mesoamerica was a very diverse area during its time. Daily Life of the Aztecs describes the inhabitants as being shorter and stockier in build, the men rarely growing taller than 5’7” and women usually shorter than 4’10”. A hooked nose sat upon their prominent, broad faces and were framed by brown or black, almond shaped eyes. Their skin color varied from dark brown to a sun kissed light brown. When the Europeans arrived in the Americas, they described the Natives as hard working, loving, and spiritual people who farmed, sang, and created beautiful art. They also valued personal cleanliness and bathed often, using the roots of different plants and the fruit of a soap tree to make a cleanser. Steam baths were also a big part of their daily lives and were used not only for hygiene and ritual purification, but also during pregnancies and sicknesses (Carrasco, pg
As an attempt to prove that it was possible for them to make the journey, explorer Thor Hyerdahl made his way across the Pacific on the KonTiki, a huge raft he built for the voyage. Others suggest the Aztec and Mayas ceremonial centers, calendars, and rituals were influenced by the customs practiced by members of ancient Asian communities, who migrated down the west coast of the Americas. The one detail that disproves this theory is archeologists have yet to find a single Asian or Mediterranean artifact anywhere in the New World (Carrasco, pg 21). The next two ideas are quite amusing, but like the previous one, their biggest flaw is lack of evidence. Is it possible the ancestors of ancient America are actually citizens of the lost city of Atlantis that saved themselves before their city was lost to the sea (Carrasco, pg 22)? Without any evidence of the city’s existence, it’s a rather hard theory to prove. And others believe the pyramids and structures were created by life forms from somewhere out in our universe and left on our planet as a way to mark the area should they decide to return (Carrasco, pg 24). While the ideas are entertaining they aren’t very …show more content…
Populated with millions of people from hundreds of different ethnic groups, Mesoamerica was a very diverse area during its time. Daily Life of the Aztecs describes the inhabitants as being shorter and stockier in build, the men rarely growing taller than 5’7” and women usually shorter than 4’10”. A hooked nose sat upon their prominent, broad faces and were framed by brown or black, almond shaped eyes. Their skin color varied from dark brown to a sun kissed light brown. When the Europeans arrived in the Americas, they described the Natives as hard working, loving, and spiritual people who farmed, sang, and created beautiful art. They also valued personal cleanliness and bathed often, using the roots of different plants and the fruit of a soap tree to make a cleanser. Steam baths were also a big part of their daily lives and were used not only for hygiene and ritual purification, but also during pregnancies and sicknesses (Carrasco, pg