Social Sciences Project Abstract
AZTEC AND MAYAN INFLUENCE ON CONTEMPORARY MEXICO
Presenter:
Patricia Fonseca, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; snoopy42@imsa.edu
Advisors:
Socorro Cintron, Foreign Language, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; cintron@imsa.edu; 630-907-5901
Jose Palos, Foreign Language, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; jpalos@imsa.edu; 630-907-5085
Abstract:
The Aztecs and the Mayans, the two most recognizable ancient
cultures of Mexico, influenced
many of the contemporary beliefs of
Mexico. The
Aztec and the Mayan creeds depict many of the values that still maintain
a significant part in the
culture. I focused on the motives behind the ceremonies in order to comprehend
how these ideals/rituals began. Even though these ancient civilizations lacked
the understanding of many natural phenomena they explained them through their
religions. After giving birth, a woman took steam baths every third day for
fifteen days to preserve her tonalli or life heat. This belief, though somewhat
altered by science, still emerges in modern Mexico. The similarities between the
archaic beliefs of these civilizations and contemporary Mexican culture emerge
incessantly. For example, women and men were encouraged to wait until marriage
to perform sex. The Mexicans enforced this for they believed it killed their tonalli
or soul. A proverb relating to this theme stated, "not too ruin thyself
impetuously as if thou wert a dog." Studying the values, and proverbs of the
Aztecs, the Mayans, and contemporary Mexico I concluded that many derived from
the ancient peoples. The intricate creeds the Aztecs and Mayans exercised
allowed their customs to transcend and continue to exist.