Comparison Between Aztec and EgyptiansEssay Preview: Comparison Between Aztec and EgyptiansReport this essayName: John DoeInstitution: CollegeLecturer: Dusty O. LadyDate: April 5, 2011Comparison between Aztec and EgyptiansIn central Mexico, there lived a community using the Nahuatl language, the Aztecs. They occupied large sections of Mesoamerica during the 14th-16th centuries in a period which was called late post classic in the chronology of Mesoamerican. The Aztec formed some alliances with other Mexican communities to come up with an Aztec empire. They entered the Mexico valley as semi-nomads and found that the area was already settled. So in good human fashion they subjugated the people occupying the land, and took over as the ruling class. They settled at first on Chapultepec which is a hill located in the west part of Texcoco lake in the year 1248.
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Egyptians are an ethnic group who geographically reside on the northeastern portion of the African continent on the South Mediterranean sea. Their identity is associated with geography. The community is concentrated at the lower side of the Nile valley where land is fertile and conducive for cultivation. The land stretches from first cataract on the Nile, up to Mediterranean Sea, and is bordered by a desert on both sides, east and west. This geography is a main reason behind the development of the type of civilization we call Egyptian. Egyptians use variety of Arabic language called masri and a minority who use saidi Arabic in the upper side of Egypt. An estimated 90% of Egyptian people are Muslim while 10% comprise of Christians.
Masonry, masonry, masonry, masonry…
The Egyptians have preserved the ancient Egyptian masonry in their masonry to make their unique and creative craft. They use wood, masonry, cement, and earthworks with their unique tool, masonry.
Masonry is a significant part of all of Egypt’s religious architecture. It holds sacred all things necessary to a given society and is important for every people to enjoy what they are passionate about. Although the Egyptian people have created great art and architectural styles of architecture, many of them do not hold a great deal of religious belief nor respect for the ancient Egyptian monotheistic traditions. In fact the Muslim scholars of Alexandria had little or no regard for the Egyptian masonry. According to one of the first accounts of Cairo, there were more than 8,000 Masons in Alexandria (Cairo 1907: 628-3) and they did not study hieroglyphics. According to a later historian on a similar subject, when Egyptian masonry was more common, it also became part of all Egypt’s architecture. In order to create a temple here. They had the masonry for a specific purpose, but it was too costly to build. In this case Egyptian architects built the temple for not only a Jewish and Christian origin, but also for a Muslim identity. But instead of a Christian foundation and a Jew-centric building system, Masons came by means of Islamic craftsmen, who carved and ornamented the masonry for the Muslim and Jews alike. While it is the same type of masonry, the Egyptian masonry was rather more “muscular” and more angular. They placed higher walls, and the stone was smooth. This improved their style, but their most important step up was the conversion of the metal to stone. This process came in several stages:
When the Egyptian rulers learned to use the masonry for their own purposes, they converted the metal into the form-fitting material that Egyptians call kafr (wood). After this masonry was converted into that form-fitting stone, no stones were ever used. The Egyptians often used the kafr found in the Masons stone to protect the stones from the heat. This was a key element of the masonry of Egypt which is why their style is so special in Cairo. In ancient Egypt the use of masonry was not seen as an end in itself but rather an act of a king which they did out of respect for the ancient Masons tradition on this very continent. The Egyptians were quite observant when the masonry and stone was converted into the stone. According to one of the earliest accounts recorded in Egypt, when the Kafras of Egypt entered the city of Petra, it was discovered that when the Pharaoh took his throne at that time, the masons were preparing to set up a temple here (Humphrey 1911: 643
This essay will try to compare the civilizations of both the Aztec and Egyptian societies. The disciplines which will be briefly reviewed will include: art, religion, music, socioeconomic strategies, political policy, and architecture.
The Aztec civilization in Mexico began by most accounts somewhere in the 12th century, about 4500 years after the civilization in Egypt. The Aztecs migrated to the Mexicos central basin from the north and dislodged the indigenous peoples residing there. Those of the Aztec community who were displaced sought refuge in the small islands of Lake Texcoco, where they founded the Tenochtitlan town in 1325 which is today the Mexico City. This area, which is sometimes seen as similar to Venice, experienced some problems which led to the end of their civilization.
Among the problems are complex cosmologies or systems of beliefs, which found it difficult to tolerate others. This belief may have helped install a theology that allowed them to subjugate weaker people in with the pretense of saving the universe. During the wars of expansion, thousands of enemy troops were captured and massacred by the Aztecs. The territories which were conquered were heavily taxed in the name of tribute and this led to lack of food supply and discontent. Slavery resulted where individuals sold themselves or their loved ones or even children to settle their debts. These wars also garnered captives, and in most cases these unfortunates were executed in the name Quetzalcoatl, as sacrifices on the altar. The class which was in power appeared elitist and male minded, and did not allow upward social mobility. This was so because the main objective of the Aztec state revolved around engagement in war, and acquiring captives for sacrifice. Their organizational structure was out shined by HUEI TLATOANI who was viewed as being semi-divine.
Similarly, the Egyptian rulers were believed to have received the gift of immortality from their deities. The ruler of Aztec was believed to have lived with splendor which was great and pleasure palaces together with personal side show of residence with deformed persons and monstrosities.
The religion of the Aztecs is complicated and confusing due to a belief that humanity came as a result of violence. They also thought that death was crucial for life, and to continue in this, and in other worlds, human sacrifices needed to be made. In line with this belief, many human sacrifices, including the disturbing sacrifice of children, were conducted on a scope unrivaled in world history. The reflection of this is shown in the art and archeology of the day. They crafted sculptures of fearful images involving decapitation, wrath and sorrow. They built pyramids to honor the gods that