Aztec Laws

Warning - I may be poking fun at some of the Aztec laws here...but I am no way belittling them. I'm just having fun :)

Document Section, page 593

These laws tell me some funny things about the Aztec society:

1)      The King is such a King!

The King is so important that if he chooses not to show up and be the King, he doesn’t have to! (#1). The King can wear sandals in the palace, be adorned with beautiful threads to show off that he’s the King, and he can sentence citizens to death. But, should he chose to “stay home”, he can.

2)      They Aztecs and their favorite sin: Vanity.

With the exception of #1, the first 6 laws and # 9 were focused on what certain classes could and could not wear. There seemed to be so much emphasis on who wears what so you can identify them in a crowd, it’s like reading People Magazine’s best-dressed at the Oscars! We’ve learned there are more important things then who Kim Kardashian is wearing.

3)      Is every crime worth dying for?

According to these laws, if anyone does something incorrect, wears the wrong shoes, or the wrong type of fabric, those individuals can be sentenced to death! So, if I were a commoner, who most likely worked all day, in the heat, with little shade, I would not be allowed to wear cotton clothing. Cotton – which is breathable and comfortable. No, that is reserved for the elite. I would only be allowed to wear “garments of maguey fiber”. Mmmm, sign me up for that!

All kidding aside (am I really kidding?) these laws (if we assume they are accurate) seemed to set quite the foundation and lifestyle of the Aztecs and if they hadn’t been conquered, I am curious what would have become of them and  wonder how would their laws have changed over time. There is still much to learn about these peoples, but I enjoyed reading this section.

My Thought on Religion and Society

Religion has nearly always been a part of our history. Religion started as origin stories, folk tales, and family tales and now they separate us socially and can define us as who we are as humans and as a society. These stories, these religions, originated as oral traditions, shared with the youth generation after generation. Later, and where available, these stories were transferred to paper to also become written stories or in some religions termed to be the “written word” of their people or their god.

Some of the common threads of these stories and religions is its power to guide and motivate people. Through the telling of these stories, people learn how to think, act and treat people and the world around us.

Confucius spoke about “virtue” as a way of guiding and treating people. He said “If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness” (pg199). Socrates said, “…old and young alike, not to take thought for your persons and your properties, but first and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul” (pg 204). Finally, Jesus spoke about virtue and value by saying, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (pg 206).

To me, all three of these religious leaders having spoken about virtue and being good. They have tried to help guide their followers to live a peaceful and satisfying life by doing well to others. My view on religion, is that it guides us in how to speak, act, and be human; how to be kind, truthful and loving which helps to create a peaceful and safe world to live in.

I ask you, if religion is such a guide, does it matter which religion is “correct”, or does it matter that we have these religions?