The Aztecs - Religion Flashcards
In what way do a group’s beliefs and experiences contribute to shape a unique identity?
A group’s beliefs and experiences contribute to shape a unique identity because their beliefs would shape the ways they act, dress, talk, and think about things in their society, etc. This makes someone who they are. The way you act, the way you dress, the way you talk all factors that make up your identity, in which people know you by. If one practices their beliefs, morals, and values and adopted them into their life, it shapes who they are as well. One’s experiences also shape their identity as it shows others how from their experience, good or bad, it taught them someone. It helps you grow, and shows others your true identity. Experiences also contribute to one’s identity, as it reveals how one chooses to spend their time and discover new things.
What were the Aztec’s beliefs about the gods?
The Aztec’s beliefs about the gods and goddesses were that they had controlled every aspect of their lives and looked up to their gods to lead/guide their lives. The Aztecs had many gods that each represented different things, but some gods were more important to the Aztecs than others. Each of these gods had a personality, a well-defined role, and a physical image with human and animal features. Every day, they would sacrifice a human in order to please the gods that they valued so much. Some individuals were even chosen to impersonate some gods during ceremonies.
Why was human sacrifice so important?
Human sacrifice was so important to the Aztecs because the Aztecs believed that their world was created by Huitzilopochtli through sacrifice when he sacrificed himself to change himself into the sun to maintain human life. So since it was created by sacrifice, they believed that they had to maintain the universe in balance through these sacrifices. They thought that through their sacrifices and rituals, the universe would continue to exist. The Aztecs believed that human blood was most prized by the gods, so they sacrificed many humans in order to please the gods, so the sun would keep rising. They believed without the human sacrifices their universe would be destroyed.
Why was Huitzilopochtli so important to the Aztecs?
Huitzilopochtli was so important to the Aztecs because they believed that the fifth era of the sun had occurred because he had sacrificed himself to change into the sun, in order to maintain human life. This made the Aztecs worship him greatly, and create many ceremonies specifically for him, on being the New Fire Ceremony.
List two responsibilities that the gods had according to the Aztecs?
Two responsibilities that the gods had according to the Aztecs was to
Guide/help them through their lives: They looked to the gods for signs on how to live. For example, the sun god told the Aztecs where they should establish their capital city of Tenochtitlan.
Provide them with food and water?: They had many gods and many of them were associated with rain, water, and food. Each of these gods would provide the Aztecs with what they needed to survive, and they would cut themselves if there was not enough rain or food, in order to please the gods and make them give more.
Keep world alive: Had to make sure that the sun rose.
Give them resources kept them going: Had to provide them with the resources that the Aztecs needed to live.
What were the responsibilities of the Aztecs to the Gods?
The responsibilities of the Aztecs to the gods was to obey them and listen to their commands. They were also expected to provide them with human blood from the human sacrifices that they were constantly doing. They had sacrificed at least one person a day, even if it was a child. Most people even thought that being sacrificed at ceremonies was an honor, as it meant they would be taken care of by the gods when they were dead. Make sure the sun never died.
List 4 gods and their powers.
Huitzilopochtli: Sun god - He was very strong and warrior-like, being able to destroy towns and men.
Quetzalcoatl: Knowledge and creativity god - He has superhuman strength and endurance, plus he can fly.
Tlaloc: Rain God - He was the lord of the powerful element of water.
Tezcatlipoca: God of death and cold - He was an evil power with superhuman strength and enhanced senses.
Summary paragraph
The Aztecs had a very unique religion that shaped their identity and customs in many ways. The Aztecs believed that the gods controlled every aspect of their world and looked to the gods for signs on how to live and act. The Aztecs had many gods that each represented different things. Each of these gods had a personality, a well-defined role, and a physical image with human and animal features. Everyday, they would sacrifice a human in order to please the gods that they valued so much. Some individuals were even chosen to impersonate some gods during ceremonies as they were super important. They had four main gods. The first one was the sun god, Huitzilopochtli, whose name meant “Blue Hummingbird of the Left.” He told the Aztecs where to settle which brought them great success which is why he was so important. He is a patron of war and sacrifice. He even had a shrine on the top of the Aztecs’ temple. The second very important god was known as Tezcatlipoca. He was the god associated with death and cold and was represented as an evil power. His name meant “smoking mirror.” He was a patron of the night and represented the opposite of his brother, the third important god. The third important god was Quetzalcoatl. His name meant “Feathered Serpent” and he was the god of knowledge, learning and creativity. He was also linked to the idea that he was human, and was the last emperor of the Aztecs. The last god was Tlaloc, the rain god. He is associated with agriculture and fertility. He also had his own shrine next to Huitzilopochtli’s shine (sun/war god.) They believed that the cries and tears of newborn children were sacred to the god so they sacrificed many children for him. The Aztec’s duties were to fight and die for the gods and to keep the world order in balance. Huitzilopochtli was so important to the Aztecs because they believed that the fifth era of the sun had occurred because he had sacrificed himself to change into the sun, in order to maintain the human life. They thought that they were Huitzilopochtli’s chosen people so they needed to make sure the sun never fell and the earth survived. They thought sacrifices were super important because they had to maintain the universe in balance through these sacrifices. The Aztecs believed that human blood was most prized by the gods, so they sacrificed many humans in order to please the gods, so the sun would keep rising. They believed without the human sacrifices their universe would be destroyed. Thousands of sacrifices happened each day. They also blood let, which meant to cut themselves and bleed for the gods, as they thought the gods treasured human blood above all. They would also do many other things as sacrifices to their gods.
