231.

I'm currently rockin' my Comp Civ class with Maggi and Alesha. 'Tis rather ballin'. I have no where to put my notes right now so I'm just going to post them here. Cool beans.

Aztec Notes

HUMAN SACRIFICE

Human sacrifice = aspect of historical Aztec culture/religion
Spaniards claimed it was widely practiced in Mesoamerica.
Wide range of sacrifice theories such as the idea that the Mesoamerican diet was lacking protein and that cannibalism of victims was a necessary part of the Aztec diet. (discredited)
May also be special socio-psychological factors or political


THE ANTECEDENTS OF MESOAMERICAN SACRIFICE

Sacrificed victims on each of their eighteen festivities
One festival for each of their twenty day months
First sacrifice reported à sacrifice and skinning of the daughter of the king Cóxcox of Culhuacán à story is part of the legend of the foundation of Tenochtitlan.
Sacrifice given extra emphasis under the guidance of Tlacaelel. (apparently)


THE ROLE OF SACRIFICE IN MESOAMERICA

“Legend of the Five Suns” – all gods sacrificed themselves so mankind could live.
Spaniards commanded the Aztecs to stop, but the priests said: “Life is because of the gods; with their sacrifice they gave us life […]. They produce our sustenance […] which nourishes life.”
Believed a great on-going sacrifice sustains the Universe.