Art of the Aztec Empire
Class Description: The Aztec, or Aztlaneca Mexica, took to capturing and collecting the art and culture of all those domains that they conquered and subjugated. As a result, Aztec art, thought, and culture reflect an eclectic mixture of the many peoples and cultures of the empire. Explores the origins, art, language, and culture of a Mesoamerican civilization that was unique for its emphasis on human heart excision, but exclusively Mesoamerican in its art, architecture, and ideology.
Personal Reflection:The art of the Aztec Empire was a course which helped shed light on a peculiar but intriguing society known as the Mexica, also commonly referred to as the Aztecs. Dr. Mendoza, the professor of the course was extremely knowledgeable on the subject of Aztec origins and introduced, with specific detail, the myths that the Aztec people held as being true. I especially enjoyed the enthusiasm of the professor when presenting on the topics of poetry and mythology, which played an important role in Aztec society. I must say, this course improved the students’ knowledge when it comes to perceiving Aztec rituals and traditions, for a few reasons. One reason is that many individuals had a preconceived notion of knowing what Aztec society must have been like, in many cases the notions being incorrect. Many of us believed that the Aztec were people strictly devoted to human sacrifice and violent activities, but we soon learned that there was more to their practices than religious sacrifice. One vehicle for understanding Aztec rituals and behaviors was introduced through poetry, which allowed us to gain a clearer understanding of the mind sets and mentality of the society under Aztec rule. Much of the focus of the class was aimed towards understanding the ritualistic meaning behind activities and worships. This course fulfilled the Major Learning Outcome 3, which covers the Cultural knowledge portion of the outcome, by an immersion in a foreign culture. Through this course students were given the opportunity to learn about an absolutely foreign society that played an important role in the development of Central America. This importance carries over to modern day society as a result of the influence that the Mexican culture has on the world. This influence is seen in many aspects of modern day society through, for example, the culinary arts, rituals and expansion of diverse communities.
Aztec Architecture l Aztec Warrior l Obsidian Weapons
Personal Reflection:The art of the Aztec Empire was a course which helped shed light on a peculiar but intriguing society known as the Mexica, also commonly referred to as the Aztecs. Dr. Mendoza, the professor of the course was extremely knowledgeable on the subject of Aztec origins and introduced, with specific detail, the myths that the Aztec people held as being true. I especially enjoyed the enthusiasm of the professor when presenting on the topics of poetry and mythology, which played an important role in Aztec society. I must say, this course improved the students’ knowledge when it comes to perceiving Aztec rituals and traditions, for a few reasons. One reason is that many individuals had a preconceived notion of knowing what Aztec society must have been like, in many cases the notions being incorrect. Many of us believed that the Aztec were people strictly devoted to human sacrifice and violent activities, but we soon learned that there was more to their practices than religious sacrifice. One vehicle for understanding Aztec rituals and behaviors was introduced through poetry, which allowed us to gain a clearer understanding of the mind sets and mentality of the society under Aztec rule. Much of the focus of the class was aimed towards understanding the ritualistic meaning behind activities and worships. This course fulfilled the Major Learning Outcome 3, which covers the Cultural knowledge portion of the outcome, by an immersion in a foreign culture. Through this course students were given the opportunity to learn about an absolutely foreign society that played an important role in the development of Central America. This importance carries over to modern day society as a result of the influence that the Mexican culture has on the world. This influence is seen in many aspects of modern day society through, for example, the culinary arts, rituals and expansion of diverse communities.
Aztec Architecture l Aztec Warrior l Obsidian Weapons