...Aztecs and Conquistadors The Role and Importance of Warfare in Aztec Society: The Aztecs had two different main reasons why they would go into warfare, the first reason was purely political, as they attempted to conquer the territory of their enemies to expand their empires as well as they’re political power and hegemony. The second reason was to do with the Aztec religion, the Aztec’s would search for worthy sacrifices and held them captive the religious ceremonies where they would then be sacrificed to the Aztec Gods. The warfare that was practiced by the Aztecs was largely impacted by these objectives in warfare. But of the two objectives in Aztec warfare, it was mainly driven by the desire of political expansion and was powered by their...
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...130 Individual Research Paper The Aztecs and the role of Human Sacrifice The Aztec was a culture that dominated the Valley of Mexico in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. All the Nahua-speaking peoples in the Valley of Mexico were Aztecs, while the culture that dominated the area was Tenochca. At the time of the European conquest, they called themselves either "Tenochca" or "Toltec," which was the name assumed by the bearers of the Classic Mesoamerican culture, stated in Manuel Aguilar-Moreno’s book, Handbook to Life in the Aztec World. Sadly, many of the Aztec didn't survive after the arrival of the Europeans. But during the earlier years, the Aztec became one of the most advanced civilizations because of their religion, war, and agriculture. The Aztecs gained an infamous reputation for their bloodthirsty human sacrifices with explicit tales of the beating heart being ripped from the still-conscious victims, decapitation, skinning and dismemberment. All of these things did happen but it is important to remember that for the Aztecs the act of sacrifice was a strictly ritualized process that gave the highest possible honor to the gods and was regarded as a necessity to ensure mankind’s continued prosperity. The Aztecs were not the first civilization in Mesoamerica to practice human sacrifice; human sacrifice was practiced to some extent by many peoples in Mesoamerica and around the world for many centuries. But it was the Aztec empire that really took the ritual to...
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...The Maya, Aztec, and Inca were three civilizations that lived in Latin America during the middle ages. It is hard to overlook the fact that they had remarkable similarities, but also some differences.(castletown) Their class structures were similar, and they all valued religion. However, when it came to the roles and expectations of men and women, there are differences between the three races. Each civilization has similarities and differences socially, culturally, economically, politically, militarism, and diplomatically(castletown). In the Mayan civilization, kings, priests, and hereditary nobility were at the top of the social pyramid. Merchants were also relatively high status. However, the majority of people were peasants or slaves. The...
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...The Aztecs The religion of the Aztecs was a dynamic factor that transformed other aspects of the culture. The state religion of the Aztecs gave them powerful advantages over other groups in central Mexico, and encouraged them to capture vast territories in a very short amount of time. War was seen as a religious duty, were the people would honor their gods, gain prestige, and acquire wealth. Constant warfare was required for two reasons: to meet god’s needs for human sacrifice, and acquire warriors for the next phase of imperial expansion. The Aztecs worshipped many deities, many being gods or goddesses with some having dual natures. However, with as many deities as they worshipped the real conflict was between order and disorder. Disorder was associated with uncleanliness or filth; while order was associated with cleanliness. The sun was thought to be the source of all life, and had to be kept moving in its orbit to protect the Aztecs...
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...The Aztecs, also known as Mexicas, dominated northern Mexico all the way to the early 16th century until Hernan Cortes invaded during a Spanish conquest. Legends reveal they originated in Aztlan, somewhere in northern Mexico. In the 12th century they extended their wandering to new boundaries and settled in the central basin of Mexico roughly a century later. Refuge was found in 1325 on the islands in Lake Texcoco where the major city Tenochtitlan was founded. What is now modern-day Mexico, this city quickly flourished and was inferior to only Paris and Constantinople in population size. The fall of the Aztec empire created ripples throughout history. What was once the most prominent and powerful empire, suddenly ceased to exist, in only two years time. The tactics of Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, the religious affiliation with the invasion, cultural sacrifices, and the disease and natural disaster that was brought upon the Aztecs, contributed greatly to the rapid downfall of a major world superpower. Sacrifice It is widely believed that the religious rituals of sacrifice the Aztecs participated in contributed to the decline, in multiple ways. The killing of thousands of people is detrimental to society, never beneficial. The population took a drastic hit and the civilizations established around the Aztec empire never allied because of the violent measures they took. Tlaxcala is a prime example. Many of their people had been killed and they inevitably joined the...
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...AMH 2010 Homework 1 Mark your response for each item on the scantron and turn in only the scantron after being sure your name is on the form. The completed scantron is due by the date indicated by your instructor. Scantrons turned in late for any reason will be accepted but will be granted only 50% credit. 1. Scholars estimate that human migration into the Americas over the Bering Strait occurred approximately ______ ago. A. 2,000 years B. 5,000 years C. 9,000 years D. 11,000 years E. 18,000 years 2. The first truly complex society in the Americas was that of the A. Maya. B. Aztecs. C. Incas. D. Pueblos. E.Olmec. 3. Cahokia was a large trading center located near what present-day city? A. St. Louis B. Memphis C. New Orleans D. Baton Rouge E. Detroit 4. Regarding knowledge of the Americas prior to the fifteenth century, most Europeans A. were aware of the travels of the Norse seaman Leif Eriksson in the eleventh century. B. believed the Americas to consist of little more than several small islands. C. were entirely unaware of the existence of the Americas. D. assumed that the Americas were largely unpopulated. E. had only heard of America from the travels of Marco Polo. 5. The preeminent European maritime power in the fifteenth century was A. Spain. B. Portugal. C. France. D. the Netherlands. E. England. 6. Christopher Columbus A. was trained as a sailor through his long service to Italy. B. was a man of little ambition. C...
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...KEY TERMS: Aztecs- A tribe of Warriors who dominated the Valley of Mexico, led by Hernán Cortés. Also known as Western Historians. Cahokia- Near modern day St. Louis, one of the largest urban centers by Mississippian people with 30,000 residents in 1250. Settlement based on agriculture. Great League of Peace and Power- Confederation of five nations, formed in the fifteenth century to stop conflict and gain strength against enemies. Songhai Empire- Powerful West-African state that flourished between 1450 and 1591, when it fell to Moroccan invasion. One of the highest empires of their time. Reconquista- Long struggle that ended in 1492, which Spanish Christians reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslim occupiers. Protestants- Europeans...
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...Question: Explain the development and the nature of the Byzantine institutions (church and state), social and urban life, and cultural achievements? Answer: Byzantine art is the term commonly used to describe the artistic products of the Eastern Roman Empire from about the 5th century until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. (The Roman Empire during this period is conventionally known as the Byzantine Empire.) The term can also be used for the art of states which were contemporary with the Byzantine Empire and shared a common culture with it, without actually being part of it, such as Bulgaria, Serbia or Russia, and also Venice, which had close ties to the Byzantine Empire despite being in other respects part of western European culture. It can also be used for the art of peoples of the former Byzantine Empire under the rule of the Ottoman Empire after 1453. In some respects the Byzantine artistic tradition has continued in Greece, Russia and other Eastern Orthodox countries to the present day. The finest work, the most elegant, and the most accomplished technically, was, naturally enough, associated with the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, which was the very hub of the civilized world from the foundation of the city as capital around 330 till its conquest by the Turks in 1453. But there were other great centers too. In Rome, Milan, Ravenna, and elsewhere in the West works of the greatest importance that were in no way provincial were executed in the early years of Christendom...
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...You may be wondering why the English did not get involved sooner. This is because England had inner problems with religion and warfare. In 1606 Queen Elizabeth the first released a royal Charter. The cities in England started to become overpopulated, crime ridden, and filthy. Two charters set sail for America in 1606.They were the Virginia Company of Plymouth and the Virginia Company of London. In 1607 Jamestown is established. Unfortunately, Jamestown is a swamp full of mosquitos and this caused half of the people to fall ill and die. During the stay in Jamestown many of the settlers are not expecting to stay long. During the time the settlers should have been gathering and making plans for winter, they were out in search for gold. Many people began to die .Thankfully, the Powhatan Confederacy helped save the last fifty people. The next people that come to Jamestown...
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...Clayton Partridge World History to 1750 Professor Schultz Colonization and the First Globalization In order for one to gain a better knowledge of how terrestrial and ocean colonization unfolded in the Americas, Siberia, Africa, and China, a person must first understand the definition of colonization. Simply put, colonization is an ongoing process of control by which a central system of power dominates the surrounding land and its components. This means that a foreign government moves into the land and seizes control; gaining power, natural resources, and a larger economy. In the year 1492, an Italian explorer by the name of Christopher Columbus set out on an expedition departing from Spain in search of a faster ocean route to reach Asia. Him and his crew set foot on an island in the Bahamas 36 days after deporting from Spain. While in the Bahamas, Columbus and his men visited a total of three islands and built a settlement on Hispaniola Island with salvaged wreckage from one of their ships. Convinced he had reached Asia, he then set sail back to Spain with the two remaining ships. Columbus failed to find what he set out for – a new route to Asia along with the riches it promised, and he passed away short of success in 1506. However, Columbus was still successful in other terms. He is credited with the discovery of the New World and opening the Americas for European colonization. Following Columbus’s discovery, European nations that were on the Atlantic Rim exploited...
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...The ancient Mesoamerica cities of Maya There are 10 annotated bibliographies about the development of ancient Maya sites and each article focuses on different development and origin of the Maya cities. The structure of the political and empire of ancient Maya and the climate atmosphere of the Maya sites were discussed within the articles. The understanding of Maya cities through public building structures along with changing political powers. There were articles about the religions significance of mosaic mirrors and jadeite are also examined throughout the paper. The origin of Maya sites was identified through textile and Nahuatl languages that were found on the architecture walls. The issues of collapse in Maya cities are also identified and discussed in the paper. Blainey, M. G., & Healy, P. S. (2011). Ancient Maya Mosaic Mirrors: Function, Symbolism, and Meaning. Ancient Mesoamerica, v 22, n 2, p 229-244. The article examines the meaning of the mosaic mirrors in ancient Maya through the process of how the mirrors are made and what it is made out of. As mentioned in other article, ancient Maya were creative at art and artifacts. Also, their community were hierarchically organized. Therefore, these well made lithic reflectors were used for ceremonial artifacts and mostly used by elite individuals. These mirrors were flat, shiny objects with highly polished plaques and it has been described as luxury goods which indicate high status for the owner. Furthermore, the...
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...WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS Western Civilization HMS 301 1 WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS Main Topics The Black Death The Effects of the Black Death The Rise of Constitutional Monarchy The Hundred Years’ War The Decline of the Church The Renaissance Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance Italian Renaissance Humanism Machiavelli and Power Politics Leonardo Da Vinci Global Travel and Trade The African Cultural Heritage West African Kingdoms The Europeans in Africa Native American Cultures Maya Civilization The Empires of the Incas and the Aztecs The Spanish in the Americas and the Aftermath of Their Conquest The Impact of Technology Christian Humanism and the Northern Renaissance Luther and the Protestant Reformation The Spread of Protestantism The Catholic Reformation 2 WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS The French Revolution Napoleon Bonaparte The Industrial Revolution Advancing Industrialism Colonialism China and the West Social and Economic Realities Nineteenth-Century Social Theory: conservatism, liberalism & socialism The Radical View of Marx and Engels Picasso and the Birth of Cubism Futurism, Fauvism and Non Objective Art The Birth of Motion Pictures Freud and the Psyche Total War and Totalitarianism The First World War The Russian Revolution Nazi Totalitarianism The Second World War Identity and Liberation: Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X 3 WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS The Black Death ...
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...AP World History Survival Guide Name ________________________________ Teacher __________________________ Block _________________ Table of Contents | Pages | AP World History Overview | 3 – 7 | The AP Exam | 3 | World Regions | 4 – 5 | Five Course Themes | 6 | Four Historical Thinking Skills | 7 | Essays Overview | 8 - 15 | Document-based Question (DBQ) | 8 – 12 | Change and Continuity over Time (CCOT) | 13 – 15 | Comparative Essay | 16 – 18 | Released Free Response Questions | 19 – 20 | AP Curriculum Framework | 21 – 38 | Period 1 (Up to 600 B.C.E.)—5% | 21 – 22 | Period 2 (600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.)—15% | 23 – 25 | Period 3 (600 to 1450)—20% | 26 – 28 | Period 4 (1450 to 1750)—20% | 29 – 31 | Period 5 (1750 to 1900)—20% | 32 – 35 | Period 6 (1900 to the present)—20% | 36 – 38 | Help with Some Confusing Subjects | 39 – 43 | Chinese Dynasties | 39 | Political, Economic, and Social Systems | 40 | Religions | 41 | Primary Sources | 42 | “Must Know” Years | 43 | * Many of the guidelines in this study packet are adapted from the AP World History Course Description, developed by College Board. The AP Exam Purchasing and taking the AP World History exam are requirements of the course. This year, the AP World History exam will be administered on: ___________________________________________ Format I. Multiple...
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...AP World History Survival Guide Name ________________________________ Teacher __________________________ Block _________________ Table of Contents | Pages | AP World History Overview | 3 – 7 | The AP Exam | 3 | World Regions | 4 – 5 | Five Course Themes | 6 | Four Historical Thinking Skills | 7 | Essays Overview | 8 - 15 | Document-based Question (DBQ) | 8 – 12 | Change and Continuity over Time (CCOT) | 13 – 15 | Comparative Essay | 16 – 18 | Released Free Response Questions | 19 – 20 | AP Curriculum Framework | 21 – 38 | Period 1 (Up to 600 B.C.E.)—5% | 21 – 22 | Period 2 (600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.)—15% | 23 – 25 | Period 3 (600 to 1450)—20% | 26 – 28 | Period 4 (1450 to 1750)—20% | 29 – 31 | Period 5 (1750 to 1900)—20% | 32 – 35 | Period 6 (1900 to the present)—20% | 36 – 38 | Help with Some Confusing Subjects | 39 – 43 | Chinese Dynasties | 39 | Political, Economic, and Social Systems | 40 | Religions | 41 | Primary Sources | 42 | “Must Know” Years | 43 | * Many of the guidelines in this study packet are adapted from the AP World History Course Description, developed by College Board. The AP Exam Purchasing and taking the AP World History exam are requirements of the course. This year, the AP World History exam will be administered on: ___________________________________________ Format I. Multiple...
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...Christopher Columbus: The Original American Hero? Was Columbus a hero or a villain? Maybe it’s neither. Columbus was brave and daring, and did things that were important to world history. But he wasn’t heroic in the sense of displaying great moral qualities. Courage, while generally a good character trait, isn’t necessarily heroic or even highly honorable and praiseworthy unless it’s deployed in certain kinds of actions or causes. But he also wasn’t especially villainous in the sense of displaying particular evil qualities. His arrival in the Americas caused a great deal of death to American Indians, chiefly from disease. And it caused the subjugation and literal or virtual enslavement of the Indians. But this didn’t stem from Columbus’s being an unusually evil person. It stemmed from the brutality of the time, coupled with the contact between one culture that was much more powerful than another (and that carried many communicable diseases to which members of the other culture lacked resistance). I’m inclined to say that we shouldn’t celebrate Columbus Day, precisely because such national celebrations should be focused on honoring people who did things that were both especially important and especially honorable (such as veterans, President Washington, or Martin Luther King, Jr.) and not just on people who did things that were especially important. This might conceivably include not-necessarily-good people who did things that were unambiguously good. But European expansion...
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