Compare and Contrast(Religion)
You may have found out already that there were a alot of similarities throughout our discussion of the Inca and Aztec religions. A main similarity between both religions that I could clarify is their strong faith in their gods. For example they both required human sacrifices to maintain living, they both acquired several temples in which they offered gifts and sacrifices to their gods, and they both had festivals where they expressed their graciousness to their cherished gods.
As for the differences between the Inca and Aztec religions, there wasn't much. In fact, there barley was anything considerably different between those two religions. The strongest difference really was the names of the gods and their abilities and objectives. The Aztec gods didn't necessarily have the same purposes. Each had a special god with a unique ability. For example the most important Aztec gods were; Tlaloc the god of rain, Huitzilopochtli the patron god of the Mexica tribe, Quetzalcoatl the culture hero and god civilization and order, and Tezcatlipoca the god of the destiny, fortune and is slightly connected with war and sorcery. As for the Incas the most important gods were; Into the sun god and Viracocha the creator or in other words the father in all of the gods who created the earth and all other planets.
This sheet down below shows you a simple venn diagram of the Aztec and Incan qualities and their similarities.
As for the differences between the Inca and Aztec religions, there wasn't much. In fact, there barley was anything considerably different between those two religions. The strongest difference really was the names of the gods and their abilities and objectives. The Aztec gods didn't necessarily have the same purposes. Each had a special god with a unique ability. For example the most important Aztec gods were; Tlaloc the god of rain, Huitzilopochtli the patron god of the Mexica tribe, Quetzalcoatl the culture hero and god civilization and order, and Tezcatlipoca the god of the destiny, fortune and is slightly connected with war and sorcery. As for the Incas the most important gods were; Into the sun god and Viracocha the creator or in other words the father in all of the gods who created the earth and all other planets.
This sheet down below shows you a simple venn diagram of the Aztec and Incan qualities and their similarities.
Conclusion (Religion)
Based on what I discussed earlier, you can see that religion was extremely important in the Aztec and Incan empires. It was part of their daily lives. Their beliefs were so strong that they even offered human sacrifices without having any guilt or remorse. They thought that the noble cause justified the wicked means.
We can see how religious priests occupied the most important status in the society and they were very powerful. They went to extreme efforts and costs to build huge pyramids-shaped monuments in order to be closer to their gods. Even their festivals were performed for the whole purpose of honoring their gods. Also we saw how much they were obsessed with the afterlife, and this is a very important sign of being religious.
We can see how religious priests occupied the most important status in the society and they were very powerful. They went to extreme efforts and costs to build huge pyramids-shaped monuments in order to be closer to their gods. Even their festivals were performed for the whole purpose of honoring their gods. Also we saw how much they were obsessed with the afterlife, and this is a very important sign of being religious.
Click this link to find out how The Incan empire, leading to their religion began. It is an interestingly visual presentation in which you click to find out how Religion in the Incan Empire developed.
http://www.mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/2_eng_myths.htm
http://www.mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/2_eng_myths.htm
Compare and Contrast (Art)
You must have already noticed the differences and similarities in art between the Inca and Aztec Empire, but the thing that I noticed the most was similar and was very common in both empires is that Music, Literature and Dance was one of the most famous and well known form of Art in both empires. In addition, they both used pottery in order to represent a specific tribe or god, they both used the same techniques and colours in there pottery.
The differences between both these empires is quite wide, you ay have noticed that art in the Aztec Empire may have been a form of religious expression, whereas in the Incan Empire, it was used as metalwork. Sculptures in the Aztec Empire was mostly made out of stone, whereas sculptures in the Incan Empire were made out of metal. Aztec art was very lifelike and realistic, whereas Incan Art looked very fake. Incan art mostly consisted of stonemasonry and textiles. The Incas were mostly famous for there Monumental Architecture.
The differences between both these empires is quite wide, you ay have noticed that art in the Aztec Empire may have been a form of religious expression, whereas in the Incan Empire, it was used as metalwork. Sculptures in the Aztec Empire was mostly made out of stone, whereas sculptures in the Incan Empire were made out of metal. Aztec art was very lifelike and realistic, whereas Incan Art looked very fake. Incan art mostly consisted of stonemasonry and textiles. The Incas were mostly famous for there Monumental Architecture.
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As mentioned before, you can see that Art had a huge impact on the Aztec and Incan empires. It was part of there daily routines as they kept working on a specific piece of art for a standardised time. All of the techniques used in Aztec and Incan art from mixing colours, to blending to designing and so on, are still used in our recent generation. We saw how the sculptures and pottery that was made were used for specific religious ceremonies and rituals. In addition, we saw how Aztec art such as pictographs, paintings and warrior drawings can still be seen on the walls of their temples and within their ancient artifacts.