What was the importance of chocolate to the Aztecs

INTRODUCING CACAO

The  story ofchocolate begins thousands of years B.C. in the region we at present know as Southern Mexico and Primal America. A tree bearing unusual fruit with vibrant colors produced seeds then valuable that it was considered to be a gift from the gods. Information technology was the cacao tree, known to the Aztecs equally Xocatl. Aztec people were not the first to discover and cultivate this magical fruit. The credit for that belongs to earlier Mesoamerican civilizations. But, their empire was dominant and their passion for the cacao bean was unprecedented. The value of chocolate every bit a commodity reached new heights under the Aztec Empire. Cacao tradition was alive and well with the Aztecs. Did chocolate die with the Aztecs? No, the terminate of this great empire was just the beginning for chocolate in some other office of the world.

MEET THE AZTECS

NOMADS FROM THE N

The Aztec civilization began when the nomadic people known as the Mexica migrated from the North in the 13th century. They came from a place they chosen Aztlan which nearly archeologists believe was a region that is at present the southwestern United States. They attempted to settle in the Anahuac valley (now Mexico) but were unable to find a habitation where they were non met with hostility from other native cultures. They bounced around, only did not give upwards their search for a state to rebuild Aztlan. They found a spot on an island in a lake they called Texcoco. It was marsh land - non platonic for building - only they congenital nonetheless. It eventually became the city of Tenochtitlan which ways "Place of the Cactus Fruit". Over the next 300 years, they thrived. They were a community of innovative developers, advanced farmers, and vehement warriors. The Aztec empire solidified through the alliance of three cities: Texcoco, Tenochtitlán (Mexico), and Tlacopán. It was this political structure that enabled Tenochtitlan to become of the virtually populated and developed cities in the globe.

A Solar day IN THE LIFE: TENOCHTITLAN

What was everyday life similar for the Aztec people? Reply: A lot of farming, a lot of schoolhouse, and a human sacrifice here and there.

THE LOWER CLASS SAVED THEIR BEANS

Aztec people were separated by many social strata, the most important of which were the upper-class nobility (known as pilli) and the lower-class (known as macehualli). Slaves existed but were given the opportunity to work and buy their way out of slavery. It was unlikely that you would encounter a person of the macehualli or slave classes drinking chocolate. They held onto their cacao beans because they were a monetary equivalent.

XOCOLATL WAS THE SPOKEN Give-and-take

The Aztecs spoke language chosen Nahuatl which is known for having very long words. Nahuatl fragments tin still be found in modernistic Latin American dialects. For case, the words "Chocolate" and "Coyote" are both rooted in Nahuatl. While we can't give credit to the Aztecs for discovering chocolate, but the proper noun they gave information technology, "Xocolatl" has stood the test of fourth dimension.

KEEP IT Clean

One might assume that a nomadic tribe that settled in a marsh would live in filth. Not the case with the Aztecs. They bathed every day and believed that a hot bathroom could cure sickness. Every dwelling had a bath business firm with a fireplace to create a steam-room effect. King Montezuma is reported to take bathed twice a day - undoubtedly while holding a chocolate potable.

GROWING Young MINDS

The education of the Aztec child was taken very seriously. In general, the parents would teach of import lessons such as line-fishing, farming, weaving a loam, and grinding corn. Simply, the education connected. Aztec was i of the get-go cultures where all children went to school. The nigh desirable type of schoolhouse was the Calmecac where a high priest taught astronomy, the calendar, writing, math, and religion.

THE GODS WANT BLOOD

The most of import gods in Aztec civilisation were Huitzilopochtli (god of war and sun) and Tlaloc (god of rain). The people believed that these gods were non satisfied until they received an offering of the blood of innocent people. The rituals were horrific. Some were an extraction of the heart of a living person. Aztecs viewed human sacrifice as repayment for the sacrifices gods made in creating a proficient harvest or the sun/rain. Aztec civilisation took the gruesome practice to a level not seen before past another civilization in the region. When the weather took a dramatic plough, threatening the crops, they sacrificed more people. The victims were usually prisoners of war, just in some cases, the loser of a ball game would get the call.

AZTECS Attain NEW HEIGHTS

The Aztec Empire was the near dominant kingdom in the region. They developed a powerful regular army, alliances, and a city-land system that facilitated trade and allowed their ideology to spread through a network of communities. They built canals, causeways, palaces, and temples including Templo Mayor which stood in Tenochtitlan (now Mexico Urban center). They created and nerveless impressive fine art that focused on animals, gods, and plant life. The calendar used by the aztecs had 365 days and 18 months - remarkably accurate and somewhat like to what nosotros use today. At its height under Montezuma 2, the empire ruled over 15 Million people and Tenochtitlan was home to more than than 200,000 people.

THE AZTECS WERE FOLLOWERS

WHAT IS MESOAMERICA?

The region that covers well-nigh of what we now refer to as "Key America" from function of Mexico down through Republic of costa rica and Nicaragua is Mesoamerica. Aboriginal Mesoamerican culture began with the Olmecs who took root in the fertile lands of what we might refer to as south-central Mexico. They developed traditions, agronomical practices, and religious beliefs that were the footing for Aztec civilization.

OLMEC FOUNDATION

Archeologists take different understandings of the timeline of Mesoamerican civilizations. Just there'southward a full general understanding that the Olmecs paved the fashion for Zapotec, Teotihuacan, and Maya. The Maya thrived for a long period of time (well-nigh 2500 years). Afterwards the Maya, the Toltecs rose to ability and many Mayan ideas resurfaced. These cultures were forebearers for Aztec tradition. What exercise Mesoamerican civilizations have in common? They bankrupt from the pattern of nomadic communities with farming and building community. They created magnificent monuments and statues, made advancements in mathematics and the calendar, and about played a ball game (known every bit "ōllamalitzli " to the Aztecs). They had social classes, central places of worship, and developed merchandise with other regions. Mesoamerican gods were like across each civilization (or the same in some cases) and they shared the use of homo cede to delight their gods. Language varied, but the utilize of glyphs (uncomplicated pictures) in their writing was some other practice they had in common.

AZTECS LEARNED Near CHOCOLATE

The Aztecs learned near the value of cacao beans from their predecessors, the Maya who began cultivating cacao as early equally 600 Ad, and the Toltecs who continued it. Aztecs adopted the thought that information technology was a god-given fruit, used cacao beans as a article, and followed the tradition of preparing chocolate as a potable.

 A Souvenir FROM QUETZALCOATL

Quetzalcoatl is a Toltec proper name for a Mesoamerican God who represented a multifariousness of vibrant vivacious things such equally wellness, dearest, sex, agriculture, and food. To some cultures, he was known simply as "The Garden God" who passed forth secrets and lessons used in farming. Quetzalcoatl was depicted equally a feathered ophidian, and many monuments were built in his accolade. The Aztecs believed that he came to earth from an afternoon star bearing a souvenir for the Toltec people. What was this magical gift? The Cacao tree. Quetzalcoatl was later driven from the earth due to a jealous battle with other Gods who tricked and embarrassed him. Prophesy of Quetzalcoatl'due south return to world would play a office demise of the Aztecs.

WHAT THE MAYANS WERE DRINKING

Like their Mesoamerican predecessors, the Mayan people cultivated and harvested cacao beans. They developed a procedure that we still utilise today to produce cacao liquor or cacao paste: They removed the beans from the pod (some other name for the fruit), fermented them in containers, laid them out to dry, and so footing them. The liquid was mixed with h2o and chile peppers. Other ingredients such as flowers, vanilla, and honey were added. The effect was a thick, bitter, foamy potable. They worked to make the drink as froth-filled every bit possible past pouring from one container to the next. Stirring with a special spoon similar utensil chosen a Molinillo was another approach.

WHAT THE AZTECS DID WITH CHOCOLATE

WHO GOT A TASTE

The Aztec version of the chocolate drink differed from the Mayan because it was served common cold. A small-scale minority of upper-class citizens enjoyed the frothy drink. It was expensive to make, requiring many valuable cacao beans. Equally such, it was enjoyed by rulers, priests, and noblemen from a tall pitcher. The Aztecs believed that the drink was medicinal, provided free energy, and boosted sex drive. Lower grade members of social club would become a gustatory modality of the divine drink on special occasions such equally a nuptials.

Coin BEANS

Tenochtitlan was a busy identify for trade. Some of the valuables that were exchanged include gold, turquoise, cotton wool, and of grade, cacao beans. The Aztecs were not able to grow the cacao tree in Tenochtitlan, so the beans were acquired through trade. This made it more than valuable in the Aztec customs. Cacao beans were the primary currency of the Aztec Empire and they were taxed. Beans were stockpiled when possible, and treasured like gold. 1 legend says that when Cortes came to meet with the Aztecs, he asked for golden and was shown cacao beans instead.

MONTEZUMA CAN'T GET ENOUGH

Nobody enjoyed the bitter chocolate potable quite like the ninth ruler of Tenochtitlan, Montezuma Two. "Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin" ( his name translated to Nahuatl) drank the spicy chocolate cocktail fifty times a twenty-four hour period. Additionally, he had thousands of pitchers prepared for the members of his household daily. He kept a storage room full of beans acquired through trade, taxation, and military conquests. He too prepare forth the edict that cacao was reserved for men who went to boxing.

HOW Information technology ALL ENDED

 IS HERNAN A GOD?

Earlier the arrival of Hernan Cortes in 1519, Montezuma and his people saw several ominous signs: A comet streaked through the dark sky, and a temple went upwards in flames. According to legend, Montezuma knew something was coming, but wasn't sure what it was.When Cortes arrived at an island off the coast of Mexico he was met by an Aztec man named Teudile - Montezuma's steward. Cortes demanded a meeting with Montezuma and used the fire and flare of his army to strike fear in the messenger. News of Cortes' magnificent display led Montezuma to believe that the conquistador was Quetzalcoatl. He was convinced that the prophesy of his return had finally become reality.

Meeting IN TENOCHTITLAN

Montezuma sent priests and sorcerers to meet Cortes. Cortes entered Tenochtitlan afterward conquering the Cholulans who attempted to trap and impale cortes. Word spread of this battle, so Montezuma had one more than reason to fear Cortes. The Aztecs were amazed by the army of horses, dogs, and weapons. Cortes' regular army was nonplussed past the magnificent city of Tenochtitlan. It'southward hard to say who was more impressed at this cultural intersection. They were welcomed into the city, and given goblets of the mystical chocolate drink. Some records indicate they were given fifty jars. Despite this offering, a feeling of distrust arose and Cortes captured Montezuma.

BATTLES AND SMALLPOX

Montezuma was later killed. The Spaniards and Aztecs fought bloody battles including "The Night of Tears" where thousands of Aztecs were killed and about a yard Spaniards as well. Cortes was nether pressure level from all directions as a Cuban arrest political party had come for him. Montezuma's cousin, Cuauhtémoc, became ruler of the Aztecs. They collection out the Spanish, but the Aztecs were subsequently ravaged by smallpox. With the army diminished, Cortes finally took Tenochtitlan. When the state of war was over, more than 200,000 people had been killed.

HOW CHOCOLATE LIVED ON

Cortes returned to Kingdom of spain with many riches extracted from the Aztecs. Perhaps the most enduring of all was the tradition of chocolate. He passed along the details of how to ready the beans and make the drink. He also went on to build cacao plantations in the new colonies which produced beans for trade and brought prosperity to Spain.The Spanish did not settle for the biting drink enjoyed by the Aztecs. They enhanced the recipe to their liking, with more vanilla, sugar, and fewer spices. Chocolate remained an exclusive treat, however. The Spanish elite enjoyed it in secret for decades earlier sharing it with the rest of Europe.When chocolate finally did spread to Italian republic and France, the recipe changed yet once again. The Aztec Empire dominated in their time. Montezuma probably felt that he controlled the earth of chocolate. Merely history shows that chocolate outlived the Aztecs. Their civilization was simply one chapter in the story of this amazing fruit.

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Source: https://www.chocolate.org/blogs/chocolate-blog/chocolate-and-the-aztecs

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