The Aztecs: Agriculture or Human Sacrifice
Historians should accentuate both agriculture and human sacrifice when offering explanation towards Aztec society. Both sacrifice and agriculture are distinct aspects that remain significant subject matters that need emphasis. The conceptual theories of these Aztec notions have created impacts on history and the success of Aztec civilization. There is dissension on whether historians should prioritize agriculture over human sacrifice when discussing Aztec society. However, I believe each element highly contributes to the innovative decision of the Aztecs, and both have great prominence in the development of their civilization.
Agricultural achievements have had a large influence on the prosperity of the Aztecs, and have greatly improved the lives of their people. During the pre-conquest, or the time period before the Spanish conquistadors arrived, the Aztecs created many advancements and found inventive ways to survive and build a successful empire. For example, in Document B, it explained, “…the Aztecs developed an ingenious system for irrigating agriculture called chinanpas (lofts used for farming). Another example is, “Approximately twenty thousand acres of chinanpas were constructed [around Tenochtitlan] and the yield was high: four corn crops per year were possible.” These excerpts from the document show the advancement and creativity the Aztecs used to develop farming techniques and structures with available materials. Food is a very vital and necessary resource in the expansion and improvement of a civilization, and the surplus they created was enough to support their large population effectively. Through these accurately engineered farming developments, the Aztecs have created a serious advancement that helped their empire’s prosperity and provided resources greatly needed by their society.