A review by inquiry_from_an_anti_library
Aztecs: A History From Beginning to End by Hourly History

adventurous informative tense fast-paced

3.0

Is This An Overview?

Through their belief system, Aztecs valued life as they understood life to be transient.  That nature was cyclical, that nature could give life and take life away.  Sacrificing to their deities was part of their code for living, for the deities sacrificed, and the people needed to continue the practice.  Status affected what was to be sacrificed, but none could escape the inevitable catastrophes.  Science and religion were intertwined, and reinforced each other.  They had techniques for hydraulic engineering, which were used to reclaim swamp territory.  The political system was based on an alliance of clans, a decentralized network.  Geopolitics caused tension between different groups, with alliances forming to overcome tyranny of another.  Trade existed along with a tribute system.  An Aztec market was part of the culture, which had various guilds that held enough power and authority to enforce behavior. 

 

Caveats?

This is an introductory book.  To understand more about the Aztecs would require more research.  This book provides various sources for learning about the complexity of Aztec society.