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Differences And Similarities Between The Spanish And Aztec Empires

Decent Essays

The Spanish and Aztec empires; both powerful empires in their regions during the 15th and 16th centuries had many differences as well as similarities in their daily lives. They experienced these similarities and differences in their daily lives from leadership, religious practices, and social hierarchy. This essay will compare those similarities and differences.
The Aztec empire was made up of many tributary city-states called Altepetl, each one was ruled by a supreme leader, supreme judge, and administrator. The tatoloni of the capital city of the empire, Tenochtitlan, ruled as the emperor of the empire. The tatoloni was the ultimate owner of all the land in the city-states. He had power, and control over the whole of the Aztec empire. Leadership …show more content…

The Aztecs were polytheistic; believing in many different gods, while the Spanish were monotheistic; believing in only one god. After the Spanish inquisition the country was 100% devoted Catholics. The Catholic Spanish had many religious practices; after the birth a child is baptized, it is a ceremony where water is sprinkled on their head symbolizing purity, this Christian ceremony was for both genders. The Aztecs however, had more traditional ideas in gender roles in a society, and introduced them after the birth of a child. After birth, baby boys were given a bow and arrow, and girls were given a weaving tool, a broom, and a basket. The Aztecs practiced blood sacrifices to feed their gods, going to the temple was a part of their daily lives. The leaders of the Aztec religion were the high priests, and the emperor. The Spanish did not practice blood sacrifices, but were devoted Christians. They had rituals such as weakly rites of confessions, and Sunday mass. Another catholic ritual is after the death of a person a priest performs a prayer. The religious leader of the Catholic faith is the pope. Both the Aztecs and Spanish although had different beliefs and practices the similarity was that they were highly devoted to their

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