What Everyday Life Was Like for the Aztecs

Summary

El video explora la vida cotidiana de los aztecas, destacando su rica cultura influenciada por las tradiciones olmecas y mayas. Se abordan aspectos como los sacrificios humanos, el comercio, la educación, las prácticas agrícolas y las estructuras sociales. Los aztecas dependían del maíz y otros cultivos, comían insectos y utilizaban sofisticadas técnicas agrícolas como el sistema chinampa. Además, el video detalla sus costumbres matrimoniales, el uso de armas como la cerbatana y su inclinación por los juegos, rituales y calendarios. A pesar de sus prácticas violentas, los aztecas eran espirituales, creativos y avanzados científicamente.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ La civilización azteca estaba influenciada por las tradiciones olmecas y mayas, pero durante los siglos XIV, XV y XVI adquirieron un gran poder e influencia en México y Centroamérica.
• ⛩️ Los aztecas fundaron la ciudad-estado de Tenochtitlán, que más tarde se convertiría en la actual Ciudad de México.
• 💔 Los sacrificios humanos eran una parte importante de la vida azteca, realizados en honor a los dioses en momentos de crisis como sequías o hambrunas.
• 🛍️ El comercio era vital para los aztecas, aunque veían a los comerciantes de largas distancias con recelo. El mercado local era un centro social y económico.
• 🌽 La dieta de los aztecas era principalmente vegetariana, basada en maíz, frijoles, calabazas, tomates y chiles. También consumían insectos como parte de su alimentación.
• 🪃 Los guerreros aztecas usaban una variedad de armas, incluidas cerbatanas, arcos, flechas, lanzas y armas de mano como dagas y garrotes.
• 💍 El matrimonio azteca era ceremonial, con la primera esposa teniendo un estatus especial. Los hombres ricos podían tener múltiples esposas, pero los herederos solo provenían de la primera unión.
• 🏫 La educación era obligatoria para niños y niñas, aunque diferenciada por género. Los varones nobles iban a escuelas militares mientras que las niñas aprendían tareas domésticas.
• 🚜 Los aztecas usaban el sistema de chinampas para maximizar la agricultura, creando campos flotantes que mejoraban la producción agrícola.
• 📅 Los aztecas seguían dos calendarios, uno solar de 365 días y otro ritual de 260 días, que regulaban sus actividades religiosas y sociales, incluyendo sacrificios humanos en días específicos.

Q & A

¿Qué influencias culturales tuvo la civilización azteca?

La civilización azteca se construyó sobre una combinación de tradiciones olmecas y mayas.

¿Cuál fue la ciudad principal de los aztecas y qué nombre tiene hoy?

La ciudad principal de los aztecas fue Tenochtitlan, que hoy es conocida como Ciudad de México.

¿Cuál era el propósito de los sacrificios humanos en la cultura azteca?

Los sacrificios humanos eran una práctica común en la civilización azteca para honrar a los dioses y se realizaban según un calendario ritual o en tiempos de crisis como sequías o hambrunas.

¿Qué eran las Guerras Floridas (Xochiyaoyotl) y por qué se llevaban a cabo?

Las Guerras Floridas eran conflictos organizados por los aztecas para capturar prisioneros destinados al sacrificio. No se trataba de ganar territorios, sino de obtener víctimas para sus rituales.

¿Cuál era el papel de los comerciantes de larga distancia (Pochteca) en la sociedad azteca?

Los Pochteca eran comerciantes de larga distancia que transportaban bienes a mano o a cuestas. Aunque eran vitales para el comercio, también actuaban como espías e informantes debido a los peligros de los viajes.

¿Qué alimentos componían la dieta básica de los aztecas?

La dieta azteca estaba basada principalmente en maíz, frijoles y calabaza. También consumían tomates, aguacates, chiles, insectos como saltamontes, y algunos comían carne o pescado, especialmente las clases altas.

¿Cómo se organizaba la educación en la sociedad azteca?

Todos, tanto hombres como mujeres, recibían educación, pero los contenidos variaban según el género y el estatus social. Los niños nobles asistían a escuelas militares o religiosas, mientras que los niños comunes aprendían agricultura o oficios.

¿Qué eran las chinampas y cuál era su importancia en la agricultura azteca?

Las chinampas eran islas artificiales creadas con barro y plantas sobre las que los aztecas cultivaban diversos productos agrícolas. Eran esenciales para maximizar la productividad de las tierras.

¿Qué tipo de juegos y actividades recreativas realizaban los aztecas?

Los aztecas jugaban juegos de mesa como el Patolli y participaban en el juego de pelota mesoamericano, que tenía connotaciones religiosas. También cantaban, bailaban y celebraban rituales comunitarios.

¿Qué papel jugaban los calendarios en la vida diaria de los aztecas?

Los aztecas utilizaban dos calendarios: uno solar de 365 días y otro ritual de 260 días. Ambos regían las festividades religiosas y los sacrificios, asegurando el correcto cumplimiento de los ritos.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Introducción a la vida de los Aztecas

Este párrafo introduce la civilización azteca, mencionando aspectos como su calendario, templos y arte. Explica cómo esta cultura se construyó sobre tradiciones olmecas y mayas, alcanzando su apogeo en los siglos XIV al XVI. Se invita a los espectadores a explorar cómo era la vida cotidiana de los aztecas antes de su caída ante los conquistadores españoles, con un enfoque en sus sacrificios humanos y su relación con la guerra y la religión.

05:02

🏞️ Fundación de Tenochtitlán y sacrificios humanos

Los mexicas fundaron Tenochtitlán, que más tarde se convertiría en Ciudad de México. Este párrafo se enfoca en la centralidad de los sacrificios humanos en la vida religiosa y social de los aztecas. Los prisioneros de guerra y esclavos eran sacrificados durante tiempos de crisis o como parte de un calendario ritual. Se menciona la Guerra Florida de 1450, cuyo propósito principal era capturar prisioneros para sacrificios.

10:02

🏛️ Comercio y los Pochtecas

El comercio era crucial para el éxito del imperio azteca. Los mercados regionales eran regulados por el gobierno y servían como centros de intercambio de bienes y socialización. Los pochtecas, o comerciantes de larga distancia, formaban sus propios grupos sociales y a menudo desempeñaban roles como espías e informantes debido a los peligros que enfrentaban, incluidos piratas y bandidos.

🌽 Alimentación de los Aztecas

La dieta azteca dependía en gran medida del maíz, junto con frijoles, calabazas, tomates y otros vegetales. Aunque los nobles consumían más carne y pescado, los insectos como saltamontes y hormigas eran una parte común de la dieta para todos, debido a sus beneficios nutritivos y medicinales. Hoy en día, los insectos siguen siendo parte de la cocina en algunas regiones de México.

🗡️ Guerreros y armas aztecas

Los guerreros aztecas estaban bien armados con una variedad de armas, incluyendo hondas, arcos, flechas, lanzas y el mortífero cerbatana, que a menudo utilizaba dardos impregnados con veneno de rana. Aunque estas armas eran letales en combate, también se usaban para la caza, destacando la habilidad militar de los aztecas.

👰‍♀️ Matrimonio y poligamia en la sociedad azteca

El matrimonio en la sociedad azteca era un evento importante y regulado. Solo la primera esposa de un hombre pasaba por una ceremonia formal, aunque los hombres podían tener esposas adicionales. La poligamia era común entre los hombres ricos, pero todos estaban legalmente obligados a tratar a sus esposas con igualdad. Aunque el adulterio por parte de una mujer resultaba en una sentencia de muerte, los hombres también enfrentaban penas severas si cometían adulterio con una mujer casada.

🏫 Educación para todos

Niños y niñas en la civilización azteca recibían educación, pero con enfoques diferenciados según su género y estatus social. Mientras los niños aprendían habilidades agrícolas o militares, las niñas se centraban en las tareas domésticas. Los niños nobles asistían al calmécac para recibir formación religiosa y política, mientras que los comunes iban al telpochcalli para aprender habilidades prácticas.

🌿 Agricultura y el sistema de chinampas

La agricultura era vital para los aztecas, quienes empleaban el sistema de chinampas, una técnica agrícola que aprovechaba el barro de los pantanos para fertilizar los cultivos. Este ingenioso sistema permitió maximizar la producción agrícola, complementado con otras prácticas como la recolección de algas y el uso de fertilizantes naturales.

👗 Vestimenta y jerarquía social

La ropa en la civilización azteca indicaba el estatus social de las personas. Los miembros de las clases altas vestían prendas adornadas con joyas, plumas y tejidos especiales, mientras que los plebeyos llevaban ropa más sencilla. Los guerreros y comerciantes también usaban joyas para marcar su rango, mientras que los sacerdotes vestían ropas especiales para los rituales.

🎲 Juegos, bailes y entretenimiento

Los aztecas disfrutaban de diversas formas de entretenimiento, como juegos de mesa, baile y canto. El patolli era un juego de azar popular, mientras que el baile y el canto eran esenciales en las ceremonias religiosas y celebraciones comunitarias. También jugaban al juego de pelota mesoamericano, en el que los perdedores podían ser sacrificados.

🗓️ Calendarios y rituales religiosos

Los aztecas seguían dos calendarios: uno solar de 365 días y otro ritual de 260 días. Los sacerdotes eran responsables de realizar ceremonias según estos calendarios, incluyendo sacrificios humanos. Cada 52 años, los dos calendarios coincidían, marcando el inicio de un nuevo ciclo con rituales especiales para asegurar la continuidad de la humanidad.

Keywords

💡Mexica

El término 'Mexica' hace referencia al pueblo indígena que fundó Tenochtitlán y que eventualmente se convertiría en el núcleo del Imperio Azteca. En el video, se menciona que los Mexicas se asentaron alrededor del lago Texcoco, donde fundaron la ciudad de Tenochtitlán, que hoy conocemos como Ciudad de México. Los Mexicas son clave para entender el origen y la expansión del imperio azteca en Mesoamérica.

💡Tenochtitlán

Tenochtitlán fue la capital del Imperio Azteca, construida sobre islas en el lago Texcoco. En el video, se menciona que la ciudad fue un centro cultural y económico antes de su caída ante los conquistadores españoles en el siglo XVI. Hoy en día, Tenochtitlán es el sitio donde se ubica Ciudad de México, lo que subraya su relevancia histórica y geográfica.

💡Sacrificio humano

El sacrificio humano era una práctica religiosa común en la civilización azteca, donde esclavos y prisioneros de guerra eran ofrecidos a los dioses para garantizar la prosperidad de la sociedad. Según el video, estos sacrificios se realizaban según un calendario ritual y en tiempos de crisis, como sequías o hambrunas. Los sacrificios eran también motivo de guerras, como las Guerras Floridas, que se luchaban para capturar prisioneros destinados a estos rituales.

💡Guerras Floridas

Las Guerras Floridas fueron conflictos entre los aztecas y otros pueblos mesoamericanos que no buscaban conquistar territorios, sino capturar prisioneros para ser sacrificados. En el video se menciona una guerra en 1450 como ejemplo de este tipo de conflicto, donde los guerreros luchaban solo el tiempo necesario para obtener prisioneros antes de finalizar la batalla.

💡Pochteca

Los pochteca eran comerciantes de larga distancia en la civilización azteca, quienes transportaban bienes entre regiones y, en ocasiones, actuaban como espías o informantes debido a los peligros que enfrentaban en sus viajes. El video destaca que los pochteca vivían en áreas separadas de la ciudad y formaban sus propios grupos sociales, además de tener que lidiar con bandidos y piratas.

💡Chinampa

Las chinampas eran un ingenioso sistema de agricultura utilizado por los aztecas para maximizar el rendimiento de sus cultivos. En el video se explica que los agricultores aztecas creaban estas islas flotantes a partir de barro y plantas, y las utilizaban para cultivar alimentos básicos como el maíz. Este método aseguraba la fertilización continua del suelo y optimizaba el uso del agua.

💡Poligamia

La poligamia era una práctica aceptada entre los aztecas, donde un hombre podía tener múltiples esposas, aunque solo la primera era considerada para heredar los bienes familiares. Según el video, los hombres ricos eran los que solían practicar la poligamia, ya que se esperaba que trataran a todas sus esposas con igualdad. El video también menciona que los concubinas eran comunes, pero el adulterio era severamente castigado.

💡Calmecac

El calmecac era una escuela para los hijos de la nobleza azteca, donde recibían una formación intensiva en asuntos militares, religiosos, cívicos y legales. En el video se menciona que estos jóvenes se preparaban para convertirse en sacerdotes, funcionarios del gobierno o guerreros de élite, y que el calmecac era una institución clave para formar a los futuros líderes del imperio.

💡Telpochcalli

El telpochcalli era una escuela destinada a los hijos de los comunes en la sociedad azteca, donde se enseñaban habilidades agrícolas y entrenamiento militar básico. A diferencia del calmecac, el telpochcalli se centraba en preparar a los jóvenes para trabajos manuales o para servir como soldados comunes en tiempos de guerra. El video destaca esta distinción en la educación según el estatus social.

💡Juego de pelota

El juego de pelota era una tradición mesoamericana adoptada por los aztecas, que se jugaba con una pelota de caucho en un campo en forma de 'H'. El video describe cómo este juego tenía un componente religioso, donde el perdedor a veces era sacrificado a los dioses, elevando las apuestas más allá de un simple deporte. El juego simbolizaba la lucha entre el bien y el mal, y formaba parte de los rituales religiosos de los aztecas.

Highlights

The Aztec civilization was built upon Olmec and Mayan traditions but expanded to dominate most of Mexico and Central America during the 14th to 16th centuries.

Human sacrifice was a regular part of Aztec religious and social practices, often involving slaves and prisoners of war to appease the gods.

The Aztecs waged the 'Flower Wars' to capture prisoners for sacrifice, not to conquer land, illustrating their unique approach to warfare.

Trade was essential to the Aztec empire, though long-distance merchants (Pochteca) were viewed with skepticism and sometimes acted as spies or informants.

The Aztecs relied on maize (corn) as their staple crop, but they also consumed beans, squash, tomatoes, avocados, chilies, and insects like grasshoppers.

Aztec warriors used a variety of weapons, including slings, spears, and blowguns tipped with poisonous frog secretions.

Marriage in Aztec culture was legally binding, and polygamy was practiced by wealthier men. However, only the first wife participated in elaborate ceremonies, and cheating carried severe punishments.

Both boys and girls received an education in the Aztec world, with boys learning trades and military skills, while girls were taught domestic tasks, singing, and dancing.

The Aztecs developed the chinampa farming system, which involved creating fertile soil by dredging swamp mud, leading to highly productive floating gardens.

Social class dictated clothing and adornments, with the elite allowed to wear furs, feathers, and gold, while commoners wore simple cotton garments.

Aztec leisure activities included board games like Patolli, music, dancing, and the Mesoamerican ballgame, where losers could be sacrificed.

The Aztecs used two calendars, a 365-day solar calendar and a 260-day ritual calendar, both of which guided religious ceremonies and everyday life.

The Aztec ballgame, inherited from earlier civilizations, was often played for high stakes, as losers were sometimes sacrificed.

Religious rituals, such as mock battles, fertility ceremonies, and human sacrifices, were aligned with the ritual calendar, reinforcing the Aztecs' spiritual and religious practices.

Once every 52 years, the Aztec solar and ritual calendars aligned, leading to major celebrations and sacrifices to prevent the gods from ending humanity.

Transcripts

[MUSIC PLAYING]

You may have heard of their calendar, seen their temples,

or admired one of their cool-looking sculptural

artifacts in a museum.

But chances are you have no idea what life was really

like for the Aztecs.

The Aztec civilization was built upon a complex combination

of Olmec and Mayan traditions.

But during the 14th, 15th and early 16th centuries,

the Aztecs acquired a new baller level

of power, influence, and riches across most

of Mexico and Central America.

Today, we're exploring what everyday life

was like for the Aztecs.

But before we get started, be sure to subscribe to the Weird

History Channel and let us know what ancient civilization you

would like to hear about.

OK.

It's time to hop into our time machines

and live like the Aztecs did.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The Mexica originally settled in the area around Lake Texcoco

where they founded their city-state of Tenochtitlan.

Oh, you've never heard of Tenochtitlan?

Well, you may know it by its current name--

Mexico City.

This booming culture, with a uniform set

of societal expectations, thrived

before eventually falling victim to Spanish conquerors

in the 16th century.

Can you imagine if human sacrifices were a normal part

of your everyday life?

Well, for the Aztecs, it really was.

This type of ritualistic purging was

a pretty common and run of the mill religious and social

convention in the Aztecs civilization.

Slaves and prisoners of war would

be sacrificed to the gods according to a ritual calendar

as well as in times of drought, famine,

or other periods of strife.

If there weren't enough people around sacrifice,

then the Aztecs would attack their neighbors

to gather some prisoners for the bloodletting.

One such war, the so-called Flower Wars, took place in 1450

and was likely waged in order to bring about human sacrifice

tributes as well as to train warriors.

Both sides would fight long enough

to obtain prisoners for sacrifice.

Then the war would end.

Known as Xochiyaoyotl, were never about land

or defeating the enemy.

But, as the number of sacrificial victims grew,

the demographics of the different clans and states

changed.

The Tlaxcala pretty much boycotted the whole war

for the sake of offing people in rituals part of being an Aztecs

and eventually allied with the Spanish.

As with most vast empires, trade was

essential to the success of the Aztecs,

though culturally they did look at long distance merchants

with an eye of skepticism.

Regional markets, however, were managed and overseen

by the government and were great outlets

for the quick exchange of goods, not to mention

gossiping and socializing, a classic Aztec activity.

Pochteca, or long distance merchants,

often lived in separate areas of the city

and formed their own social groups.

And as there were no trucks or trains running around,

merchants had to move their goods

by hand or on their backs, making it a serious workout.

These big hauls were doubly dangerous at times

when pirates and bandits factored into the equation.

Because of this ongoing threat, some Pochteca

were put to work as informants, spies, and messengers,

occasionally they'd even wear disguises.

Like most cultures across Mesoamerica,

the Aztecs depended on maize, AKA corn, as their staple crop.

They also grew a lot of beans and squash,

as well as tomatoes, avocados, chilies, tubers,

and root vegetables, enjoying a mostly vegetarian diet.

The upper class folks generally more meat and fish

than the commoners.

But there were plenty of ants, grasshoppers, and worms

for everyone from all walks of life to enjoy.

Yeah.

You heard that right.

The Aztecs straight up ate bugs.

Mm, grasshoppers.

Aztec farmers even cultivated insects and used their eggs

to make tortillas similar to the ones made today out of corn.

Some insects were cooked, while others were eaten alive.

The Aztecs felt particular insects had medicinal values.

In fact, in many parts of Mexico and Mesoamerica

today, insects are still a part of the cuisine.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

One of the many weapons in the Aztec warriors' bad ass

repertoire was a blow gun.

Aztecs warriors also carried slings, bows, and arrows,

and spears in preparation for combat

at various ranges, not to mention daggers, batons, clubs,

and axes for hand-to-hand combat.

Basically, you don't want to get on the bad side of an Aztecs

warrior, especially one that has one

of their most discreet and deadly weapons

of all-- the blow gun.

The blow gun was most commonly used for hunting animals,

but would have been a handy tool against one's enemies, as well.

The guns themselves were five to six foot long

hollow tubes, hovering darts that

were tipped with poisonous frogs secretions.

The modern world is pretty violent.

But, for the most part, we're safe from death

by poisonous frog spear.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Ding dong.

Here comes the Aztec bride.

Much like our world now, marriage

was a big part of Aztec life and was ceremonial and done

according to strict legal conventions.

Bizarrely, only a man's first wife

went through the elaborate and traditional marriage ceremony.

After his first marriage, a man could then

take on a secondary wife, who would also

be legally recognized.

But his rightful heirs would only

come from his first marriage.

Polygamy wasn't for everyone though.

It was usually the wealthier men who took on multiple wives

as they were supposed to treat all their wives

equally and fairly.

And plus, weddings are expensive, you know?

Imagine hosting an Aztecs open bar wedding

for seven different wives.

Phew, that liquor tab really adds up.

Concubines were also common.

But cheating on one's wife was illegal.

Presumably because men were the head of the household,

a woman committing adultery resulted in a death sentence.

A total double standard, but men committing adultery

with a married woman was also a capital offense.

Splitting up was only granted on special occasions.

Court petitions to separate on the basis of abuse,

incompatibility, lack of a male heir, or abandonment

could be filed in certain circumstances.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

That's right.

Boys, girls, men, and women all received an education,

though each group was trained to do specific tasks based

upon their gender, age, and social status.

Girls and boys were educated by their parents,

homeschool style, from a young age with a greater emphasis

placed on basic skills.

Typically, girls were taught domestic activities

like sewing, weaving, cooking, and other home-based tasks,

while boys learned the basics of farming,

or whatever trade their fathers practiced.

If you were a boy of certain nobility,

you might branch off to calmecac,

which was essentially a military school,

around the age of 12 or 13.

At this military middle school, they'd

learn the skills necessary to be warriors-- running, jumping,

fighting-- as well as matters of law,

religion, and other civic topics.

These elite boys were expected to go on

to become government officials, scholars, teachers, or priests.

Around the same age, commoner boys

went to telpochcalli to learn more about agriculture

and receive some warrior training.

Middle school-aged girls, on the other hand,

went to a separate school to learn

about running the household, as well as singing, dancing,

and crafts.

Once commoner boys and girls finished school,

most returned home to put their skills to use.

One thing all schools had in common

was they all taught about religious rituals

and the duties related to citizenship and history.

Only the most talented students were

chosen to become priests and ritual healers.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Since agriculture was essential to the survival of the Aztecs,

they developed several practices to ensure they got the most out

of their land.

They used this thing called the chinampa system, which

called for the dredging of mud from the bottoms of swamps

to fertilize soil.

The chinampa system helped with planting growing and harvesting

everything from corn to peppers to tomatoes.

Aztecs farmers would then place the muck on top of reed rafts

and float the rafts on top of water,

holding them in place by planting trees or building

walls.

The Aztecs would also channel water into these raised fields

and terraced them to increase yield efficiency.

In addition to that technique, the Aztecs

planted small gardens, collected algae,

and fertilized soil with human manure.

Aztec men wore simple clothing.

But their level of adornment and decoration

was more than a fashion trend.

It was a matter of social rule.

The breakdown goes as follows.

Individuals of a higher social class

were able to dress up their loin cloths, capes, skirts,

and loose-fitting shirts with gold bracelets, necklaces,

earrings, and pendants.

They would also wear furs and feathers

to further indicate their social position.

The elite classes also wore clothing made of ayate cloth,

crafted from the Maguey cactus, while commoners

wore simple cotton garments.

All of the Aztecs loved color and often dyed their clothes

vibrant shades of yellow, red, and blue with plant and flower

dyes.

Serious runway material.

The merchant and military classes

typically used jewelry to distinguish themselves.

Kind of like modern day armies, Aztecs warrior heroes

were able to wear additional ornamentation as they became

more successful in battle.

Sadly, lower classes were unable to wear

adornments comparable to their social superiors.

But they could dress more elaborately than merchants.

Priests, on the other hand, wore special clothes and costumes,

which consisted of some sort of jacket

or long robe that was dark in color, depending

on the role the priest was playing.

When the Aztecs weren't working or fighting,

they actually knew how to have a good time.

They passed the time by playing board and dice games,

sang, danced, and even gambled.

Patolli was one of the most common games

and was played by moving tokens on and off a reed mat

based on the throw of beans that served as dice.

Young women were taught dancing and singing in school

because dancing and singing were actually considered part

of maintaining a household.

Singing and dancing was also an important part

of religious ceremonies and community celebrations.

And it was happening all the time in Aztec life,

like one big Broadway musical, with a few hundred

human sacrifices sprinkled in.

The Mesoamerican ballgame predates

the Aztec civilization, but they picked up

where the Olmec and Maya left off and played

the game as a religious event.

Just as battles provided Aztecs with sacrificial victims,

so too did the ballgame.

The game was played on an H-shaped field,

with the creation story of Mesoamerica

carved into the surrounding stone walls.

The loser of the game, which involved

trying to keep an eight to 10 pound rubber ball from hitting

the ground, or to get it into the opponent's goal,

would be sacrificed to the gods.

The stakes were a little higher than your average pickup game.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The two calendars in Aztecs civilization

dictated all aspects of life.

The solar calendar was made up of 365 days.

Hm.

Just like us.

And divided into 18 months, with at least one

major religious ritual in each month.

Days were given sign names that indicated

a particular aspect of nature, such as deer or water.

And then there were 13 numbers that represented sequentially.

At the end of 360 days, there were five unlucky days that

didn't have names or numbers.

Aside from the solar calendar, the Aztecs

also had a ritual calendar which ran for 260 days.

It was the responsibility of the priests

to make sure the rituals were conducted according

to the calendar and in honor of the appropriate god or event.

Ceremonies, such as mock battles, fertility rituals,

and human sacrifices, were carried out,

depending on the day.

The ritual calendar was also divided into 20 days,

with animals and elements of nature ascribed to them.

And then, again, they were broken off

into 13-day increments, indicated by numbers.

The two calendars were operated at the same time

and actually did match up once every 52 years, at which time

a new cycle of both was celebrated

with additional rituals and sacrifices

to make sure the gods didn't decide it

was time to put an end to humanity entirely.

One ritual that took place was removing a man's heart

and lighting his chest on fire.

That fire would then be transferred

to homes and temples throughout the empire.

Gruesome?

Sure.

But that's just the way things were for the ancient Aztecs.

A naturally spiritual, creative, and scientifically adept

society, the Aztecs made a mark on the world

that is still felt to this day, even if life for them

wasn't exactly a walk in the park.

What do you think of the daily life for the Aztecs?

Let us know in the comments below.

And while you're at it, check out some of these other videos

from our Weird History.

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