Inca religious beliefs impacted the layout of their cities and the planning of their architectural design and the design of their public spaces. The same is true for the Aztecs, who stressed the importance of astronomy in layout and design. The situation of the site in relation to its natural surroundings was also critical in both cases, perhaps more so for the Incas, who constructed Machu Picchu at a high altitude and rugged, undulating, uneven terrain. Hierarchies were heavily embedded in Inca worldview, evident in the positioning of cities like Machu Picchu at altitude. In fact, symbols of hierarchy are embedded everywhere at Machu Picchu, "especially in a ceremonial context," (Nair, 2015, p. 124). The same can be said for the Aztecs, for whom order and cosmic hierarchal structure served a crucial social and political as well as cosmological function. Aztec architecture like that of Teotihuacan reflects hierarchy as much as Incan architecture. Both Incan and Aztec architecture and urban planning emphasize the importance of directionality and layout; no design element or use of space is totally arbitrary. Objects and elements are situated purposely, in relation to one another or often, as with religious structures, in relation to geological and cosmological features including the sun, moon, or stars or alternatively, mountains. Religious beliefs focusing on hierarchy, power, and order informed the layouts of both Machu Picchu and Teotihuacan.Teotihuacan is the older of the two sites by several centuries, as it was constructed in the first several centuries of the common era, roughly concurrent with the beginnings of Christianity halfway around the world between the first and seventh ("Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan," n.d.). However, the site was inhabited long before Teotihuacan reached the pinnacle of its power. The layout of Teotihuacan reflects an affinity with the natural surroundings, geographic and geological features, and also the cardinal directions determined by the orientation of the sun to the earth. By the time Teotihuacan became a fully-fledged city, it was clear that it had been oriented on a north-south axis, with several pyramids flanking the main corridors. Moreover, the Aztecs redirected the course of the San Juan River to "cross the Avenue of the Dead," a clear sign of the power of human beings to control nature, alter the course of fate, and direct human as well as non-human activities ("Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan,"...
In fact, symbols of power are crucial elements in the architecture, design, and layout of the Aztec city. The power of the Aztec rulers was conveyed using a number of symbols, not least of which are the sheer size and dimensions of the structures and the ability for the landscape architects to redirect the course of a river. However, a closer look reveals that power is also implied in the mastery of geometry and engineering principles, giving rise to the pyramidal structures and their clean, geometric lines.
Pre-Hispanic art works are seldom recognized as works of art; instead, they are often grouped as archeological remnants. This explains why you find most pre-Hispanic art pieces in historic and anthropology museums, instead of them being displayed on the walls of great Mexican art galleries like they do other masterpieces from great artists like Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. In fact, these two great artists of all times got inspired
Civilizations of Latin America Human beings have always expressed themselves through culture; throughout history. The achievements made are a product of continued refinement over the ages. They are an inherited product of a diverse modified and complex evolution from the past through time. The Latin American case is a complex one. There is plenty of diversity exemplified but there are contradictions too. The complication arises from the fact that there is
The nine day festival approaching in late June is intended to honor Inti, the Sun God. The festival's importance is found not just in its explicit celebrations of the harvest, the winter solstice and the deity connected with the warmth, heat and sustenance of the sun but additionally in its demonstration of the ancient cultural heritage of Peru. Indeed, most especially in the time of the Incan kingdom's rule,
In a culture that valued the accomplishments of its warriors in battle, the Aztecs needed a way to lift their greatest warriors up on a pedestal through a method that was understood by everyone in their society. They also needed a closely-guarded means of upward social mobility, which likely created a desire for Aztec warriors to perform well in battle, and gave them superior motivation to conquer their neighbors and
It is amazing to find out that the Christians who were conquered by the Muslims were not bitter against those who were once their enemies. Some of them were even Mosarabs, the so called "would be Arabs," who adopted the language and the culture of the Arabs. They lived in Toledo, along with the Christians who adopted the Muslim religion, the Berbers, Moslems, but not Arabs, the Arabs from Syria
It is considered to be a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and has, since 1981, killed more than 25 million people worldwide (United Nations). In most of the world, HIV infection is more prevelant in the heterosexual population, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. In the United States, however, it became known as the "Gay Plague" due to its initial discovery in the homosexual population, the lack of condom use at the
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