Final answer:
The Aztec political system was hierarchical, led by a supreme ruler known as the tlatoani, and had a noble class at the top, but today's political systems often allow for representative governance through elections. While both Aztec and modern societies use military forces strategically and rely on taxation or tribute, modern political dynamics also involve global trade agreements and socioeconomic challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparison of Aztec Political Structure with Modern Political Systems
The political structure of the Aztec civilization shared some similarities with modern political systems, but also had distinct differences. Aztec society was highly stratified with a noble class at the top, followed by warriors and commoners. Each city-state, or altepetl, was led by a tlatoani, who was the supreme leader and held political, military, and religious authority. The rule of the tlatoani was not absolute, as there were advisory councils and systems in place to manage the state's affairs.
Today's political systems, such as modern nation-states, can oftentimes be characterized by some degree of representative governance, where leaders and policies are determined through elections. In contrast, the Aztec ruler was seen as a divine representative and did not face elections. Moreover, while modern states deploy a variety of economic systems, these systems usually rely on taxation and redistribution, which can also be found in the Aztec system of tribute collection to support the nobility and state projects.
Military might was central to both Aztec and modern political systems for defense and expansion of territory. However, contemporary political dynamics are shaped by a complex set of factors, including international agreements like NAFTA, challenges of socioeconomic inequality, and the push-pull of migration – issues that reflect both continuity and change from the times of the Aztecs.
As for social stratification, today's states show a variety of social systems, whereas the Aztec hierarchy was more rigid and tied to religious belief. Additionally, mechanisms for maintaining social order like laws and courts exist both in ancient Aztec and modern contexts, yet with disparate connotations and implementations.