Compare And Contrast The Beliefs Of Aztec Society

Principle beliefs

Aztec is a polytheistic religion that believed that four universes named ‘suns’ that existed before their universe. Each of the worlds were destroyed and all humans had been wiped out every time. Aztecs believed they were people of the sun and that just like the sun they needed to be fed. Therefore the only way of ensuring the sun would rise and have enough energy to bear crops is through offerings (mainly human sacrifice).

The heart was seen as the most precious offering that can be given to the gods from a mortal human. The Aztecs creation story conveyed their main beliefs. This was that before the sun even existed, the deities joined together and created a massive fire. Two of the deities Nanahuatzin (covered in ulcers) and Tecciztecatl (covered in jewels) jumped into the fire and they came out as the sun and moon.

The gods commanded and governed activities such as war, food production, reproduction, commanded the skies, creating the universe and creating human culture. Aztecs believed that in order to please the gods they needed to give offerings, this could be through food, jewellery and the most common human sacrifice

Since the Aztecs recorded most of their beliefs on perishable items such as deer-skin it meant that they basically disintegrated. Later on, what

Agriculture was the heart of the Aztec religion and therefore their society was based around farming. Their land was filled with rich soil for crops and they had easy access to water. Rituals also heavily influenced society as the Aztecs believed human sacrifices needed to be made to ensure the sun was fed and that there was rain needed for the crops. These rituals influenced how the Aztecs fought in war as they preferred to capture their victims and imprison and sacrifice them after, rather than killing them during battle. However their religious obligations impacted their society heavily as it lead to their