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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

History of Civilization The Aztec, Inca, and Maya

America is a continent located between two oceans, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Americas before the arrival of the West, has been inhabited by Indian tribes are thought to originate from Asia. There are many versions about the origin of the Indians in America, for example:

a. Muhammad Yamin in his "History of America" says that the Indians came from Asia, came to America in three waves at times Neolithikum. The first wave is the displacement of the Mongols from Northeast Asia to North America via the Bering Strait, approximately 13,000 years ago. The second wave of the Austronesian peoples from west to east through the Pacific Ocean and reached South America. The third wave of migration of Austronesian sailors in ocean currents that move from New Zealand and East Asia is moving toward South America. A cross between the Mongols and the Austronesian birth of the Indians in America.

b. According to another version, approximately 20,000 to 50,000 years ago the nation Amurian of Siberia in Russia across the Bering Strait to the continent via Amerika.kemudian followed by the Mongols early first century AD, from the mingling of the two nations, was born bengsa American Indian (Amerind ) are spread throughout the American continent from north to south, they lived by hunting, catch fish, gather food and wild fruit.

Indian nations that thrive in the U.S. consists of various tribes. Among the Indian tribes, there is a familiar civilization and high culture, such as the Maya and Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas in Peru.

A. Aztec culture

Nahua tribes, who last reached the high land of Mexico, inherited a vast family of culture in the area. Among the tribes that are Mexica-Aztec or Aztec. At first the Aztecs is a tribe who first fought on the outskirts of the region. During their wanderings as an outside-line group, the Aztecs sometimes decline to dress up the leaves and eat insects. In about the year 1325 AD the Aztecs to place what is now Mexico City. At that time the place was a marshy lake gususan and small islands.

On an island in the lake Tecoco, the Aztecs obtained for such DI meihat an eagle with a snake in its mouth, which is perched on a cactus on. Because he considered it a sign of occult sbeagi, the priests pledged that the island has been selected for the Aztecs by their gods. Distulah they built the city of Tenochtitlan. They expanded the city by making the rafts are made of woven rattan sticks and Uruk soil and plants. In the area of ​​this lake they developed a primitive agriculture. Tenocthitlan city founded by the Aztecs and then developed into a center of ritual activity. Pyramid-shaped building lot established worship.

The Aztecs were a warlike nation, for they are part of the culture war itself and the part of belief system. Aztecs worshiped many gods, or polytheism. They worshiped the sun god is Huitzilochti. They believe that the sun is the source of life and needs to be maintained, in order to continue to circulate in its orbit and spin rising and setting. It required a lubricant that is purely human blood. They believe that human sacrifice is a sacred duty, and must be done so that the sun god continue to provide prosperity for mankind. Performed the sacrifice on the altar dipuncak heart of the pyramid by taking the victim to the pastor. Human sacrifice is also done in mass by killing many people.

Three hypotheses were made by the anthropologist about the reasons for human sacrifice in addition to the reasons for the sacrifice of the god, namely:

1. Sacrifices made to reduce the population, especially since the number of prisoners increased by leaps and bounds compared to the number of births.

2. To give to the people who sacrificed corpses as a source of protein and vitamins. Snagat this hypothesis is weak, because the Aztecs produce corn, beans, and maintain both dogs, chickens and turkeys.

3. A more rational opinion is to frighten dissidents and rebels, so they do not take the fight against the ruling king. The prisoners of war and many are victimized large numbers to the sun god, innocent people are also to blame also the target for the victim as one of the generals who led the war, the corrupt, the judge made the wrong decision, and state officials who do wrong , including those who entered the forbidden zone the king's palace.

In his book State and Nation (1990:208), mentioned that Huzlopochtli, in particular, so greedy, so the special ceremony thousands of people sacrificed as offerings to her in a single day. Monte Zuma II never sacrifice the victim in 5100 a memorial service his throne. At the time of the ruling Ahuitzolt in the 15th century, at least 20,000 people become victims of human being in the ceremony. Potential victims were herded to the top of the pyramid where the priests were all fighting their own heart and cut the victim with a glass stone knife, and then present it is still warm and bloodstained stone altar to the god. For offering such a mass is, the Aztecs can not rely on volunteers and therefore they are often sent to a group of fighters allied territory to arrest would-be victims.

In the heyday of power Aztec, Tenochittlan a ceremonial center that became increasingly bloody be. Various entertainment and sacramental rites of the other, creating a life overshadowed by the symbol of death. For the Aztecs, human blood is a part of the ceremony to prevent the destruction of the world, which they characterized by the disappearance of the sun. Aztec sacrifice for the nation is not a terrible thing, as well as for potential victims. According to their belief, death in the hands of the priests was an honor. Victims were sacrificed to the gods by way of splitting the chest and take his heart, so as not to upset and hungry, and bring in natural disasters. This belief affects pendangan Aztec people. Since childhood they have been trained to be ready when they tertewan ritual sacrifice in the war. Death as a sacrificial ceremony for them means contributed to the liver and blood to be offered to the sun god, and thus was part of the sun in the battle against the dark day (night) so that they become an important part of the sun.

The Aztecs had built an art or architecture that is very high. When the Spaniards came to the city Tenocl (Mexico City) they watched the progress of this nation. Here there are buildings like aquadec or other buildings, where the highway towards the city, wide streets, and canals that pass through the city and the bridge above it. These buildings by using high-tech era. In the city center built great temples as offerings to the sun god. Building height is 30 meters, consists of three levels, each level has 120 steps. On waking the streets and canals are wide for easy traffic of people and merchandise. In the trading activity of their trade in ducks, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, and deer.

Relatively simple architecture of the Aztecs, more concerned with function rather than outward beauty. In the mountains, the home of the Aztecs was made of sun-dried bricks, concrete blocks similar to the one known from Indonesia. In the lowlands, their walled homes twigs or stems of rice that were plastered with clay and grass roof. In addition to as a primary residence, they usually have other buildings such as storage areas and place the whole family steam bath. Aztec that wealthy people had houses of brick or stone built around a Patio, namely the wide open spaces in the middle of the house.

Aztec temples and other buildings decorated with statues merupkan one of the most beautiful works in America. But few relics of Aztec architecture that can still be found. The Spanish, who are Christian, had destroyed all the temples and religious heritage of the Aztecs. They even destroyed the old town Tenochitlan.

Agricultural products are processed in the farm fields are avocados, beans and corn, they also make a craft of gold and silver jewelry. From trading activities and the type of merchandise is sold and the means of supporting the construction of the experts concluded bahawa the Aztecs have a level of high culture and civilization. This civilization collapsed because of the conquest by the Spaniards under the command of Hernando Cortez in 1521.

B. Maya culture

The Mayans inhabited southern Mexico and parts of Central America other. There is a cultural center in the Yucatan Peninsula. The city is estimated at the beginning of the century-3 in the dense forests of Guatemala and the latter have been built in the 10th century and the 11th century on a plateau in northern Yucatan. These cities are a legacy from the Mayan people who have a high level of culture with a record of the most diverse architecture and the most advanced. Mayan culture is evolving from the 1st century BC to the start of a fragment of AD.

Maya culture is centered on an agrarian life. They planted corn, pepper and fruit. They raised turkeys and dogs as well as fishing along the coast. They also spin cotton and sell it to another place. Thus, it can be concluded that the Maya people trading activities other than farming. They bring their goods directly to buyers who are very far away in Central America.

Social organization dmiliki by Maya tribes reign was marked by a rich elite, who also did the trade, the elite also serves as master of ceremonies in the ritual of their beliefs. They also include an educated class who have the privilege of studying science. Outside class, there are the peasants and slaves who had by other groups. The Mayans have a writing system similar to Hierogliyph. This paper used to record important events. Writing that they have developed to function as well as recording the history of the birth, marriage, and death of Maya kings.

With the development of writing, science was developed, this nation has known the calendar year, totaling 18 months of 20 days each month, and there is one month amounted to 5 days. So that there are 365 days per year. They also have developed mathematics. In addition, one of the science of astronomy is that they develop.

Ancient Mayans built a stone monument and established magnificent cities for the gods. There are at least 80 important heritage sites Maya people were scattered in Central America. Some of the temple site plays over 60 yards.

Maya culture to flourish, especially in Guatemala and Yucatan. However, culture is strongly influenced Teotihuakan culture of central Mexico. As one of the largest cities in the world, at the height of Teotihuakan city inhabited by about 100,000 people living in the Adobe or the houses of crude brick and worshiped gods in the great pyramid of stone which still are found near the city of Mexico. From the 4th century until the 8th century to spread its influence in Central America. The architects and builders imitate the pattern of building and decorative patterns. Even after Toetihuakan fell into the hands of people who are not civilized in the year 700, his authority was still alive.

Most of the buildings, amounting to more than 200 in Kaminaluyu as a relic of ancient Mayan tribe on the edge of the city of Guatemala batar built at that time. The biggest of which is a tall pyramid-shaped stone of more than 26 meters with two-chamber tomb in it. King's body is placed on the wooden stage at the center of one of the tomb chamber. The bodies are surrounded by bodies other alleged bodies of people who sacrificed to escort the king to travel to another world. Inside this room are also found to decorations of precious stones, bones and shells, as well as glassware furious that show the richness of culture.

Uaxactun ruins of the Maya is a relic in the middle of a younger age. One building is a former court of the temple of the pyramid-shaped feet bertangga stuck with ornate facade. The building was founded around the year 250 AD. Such relics are also found in the northern Maya area.
In the Classical period, 300-500 years old, Maya culture tribes in the area is experiencing a heyday. The architecture was developed with an increase in the quality of the building. One character is the development of stone buildings, mostly sacred buildings like temples or monasteries. Tikal temple in the high reaches about 888 meters is the highest temple. Monastery in the Maya culture is sometimes covers a vast area that resembles a city, rather on what the central place of religious ceremony was held. But between the years 800 to 950, the Religious centers one by one forgotten and abandoned people. Mayan collapse because of the conquest of troops Hernando Cortez in 1521.

C. Inca Culture

Inca is a group of clans who originally inhabited Peru. According to legend, the origin of the Inca tribe originated from a group of children of the sun god, who comes from a cave in the southeast of the city of Cuzco. Incas Cuzco region has been inhabited since approximately the year 1200. but since the conquest of power in the year 1438 Panchacuti, the Incas began to expand its territory by conquering the surrounding areas. Eventually they form a large and vast territories stretching from Quito in the north to central Chile. Inca language called Tabuantisuyu territory, means the area that covers four areas. The name indicates that the entire territory of the Incas to be divided into four geographical, which is divided into more than 80 provinces. Supreme authority in the hands of a leader who is regarded as a representative of the sun god.
Inca culture developed along the western United States, especially Peru. Archaeological evidence of the existence of Inca culture, which originated from Killke phase (1200-1380), was found in the area around Cuzco in the highlands of southern Peru. Based on the evacuation of sistus-sites in the area indicated that the Inca when it was just a small area.

As with other American tribes, the Incas had military character so that the expansion of the Imperium is done by the war. Since power is held by Pachacuti who reigned from 1438 - 1471, the Incas expanded their territories to conquer the surrounding areas. During the reign of Topa Inca Pachacuti instead, expanded the Inca territory manklukan Coastal areas of southern Peru, Bolivia South., Argebtina south, and Chile. Substitute Topa Inca was Huayna Capac who ruled from 1493 until the year 1525 AD after meniggalnya Huayna Capac, there was a power struggle between Huascar and Attahualpa.

Incas have a livelihood from agricultural or farm life. Since 600-1000 AD, the Incas had developed in the field of agriculture. They create a terracing system to withstand flooding. To cultivate the land, they use a plow made of bronze. Stout plants that are grown by the Inca people nuts, corn, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes. Agricultural output is used for consumption mmenuhi farmers, also to feed the army in large, bureaucratic groups and thousands of factory workers. Typical drink of the Incas is Chica is a kind of beer made from corn.

Inca nation is a nation that is national. The use of national languages ​​dipaksanakan by the king to the people. At the time of Topa Inca, Quechua language set as the lingua franca in all regions of Tahuanntinsuyu.
Incas have ordered society organizations. As the basic unit or the bottom of the Inca ayllu society organizations, the family is based endogama male lineage. Ayllu group that bersal from one region to form a larger group then called me. Each region (province) usually consists of two or three administrative regions (waman). Supreme power is in the hands of government consists Inca emperor who declared himself a descendant of the sun god Inti. Hence the title used by the Inca penguasai dalah Member Cori (who bererti Son of the Sun God). Underneath is the official who called apo as ruler of each area section (4 regions). Under the existing apo tokrikoq who became ruler of each province.

Incas have an advanced knowledge and develop. Although the science is developed in the Inca could not surpass the development of science in the Aztec and Maya pengatahuan. In Mathematics and Astronomy Incas could not surpass the progress in the Aztec and Maya.

Incas had a rapid development in the field of art, especially art up. As in the manufacture of textiles and ceramics, building fortifications, and roads are wide. Advancement of the arts can not be separated from government kemmapuan regulate society.

In the social field, the king was menarruh attention in terms of marriage. Men or women of full age and not have a spouse diplilihkan other people as best man. Then they were mated in a public ceremony.
In the field of religion, the Incas believed the sun god. Their kings are believed to have ties genealogical descent or origin of the sun god. The sun god was a very big influence in Inca society and even the Inca society there is a belief that the sun god is what lowers the Inca royal family. Therefore, every king who is ruling is seen as the god of the sun. It is not known with certainty, whether the Incas also perform human sacrifice as the Aztecs.

In addition to worship the sun god, the Inca also to worship the spirits of the ancestors. The cult was carried out with an exceedingly great ceremony. Kuzko mummy in their store in the bundle of cloth, mummy said it was the king who ruled at the time of Manko Ax (the first Inca). The mummy was placed in a magnificent house, like a palace, sekakan they were still alive in turn issued to witness the ceremony. Members of the royal family is less important, the high nobility and the people are able to preserve the family's bodies.
Inca belief in god does not play a role in covering the entire life of the Inca empire but has a solid religious institutions as part of the government and under the rule.
Development of the Inca culture is so high is eventually destroyed. Incan army had collapsed because of the conquest of Francisco Pizarro in 1533.

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