The Aztecs

Common Misconceptions

 

Unfortunately, misinformation and the lack of education on ancient Native American cultures have contributed to their improper representation. To make things even more inaccurate, ancient Native Americans are also "bundled-together" as if their architecture, customs, geographical distribution and ethnic groups were interchangeable. It is common to find portrayals of the Aztec as hyper-violent, blood-thirsty barbarians who worshiped all sorts of gruesome aberrations or the Mayans  as quasi-mythical cosmic observers who could communicate with extra-terrestrial beings.

The misinterpretation of Native Americans has been a pervasive practice since colonial times. European conquerors, in order to justify their actions, had to discredit the achievements of the conquered civilizations and exaggerate their defects. However, over the past few decades archaeologists and researchers have been able to piece together a more accurate view of how these cultures lived and interacted with each other.

While the Aztec empire is no longer, their descendants along with the descendants of other mayor Mesoamerican civilizations are still present in modern day Mexico. Hopefully, with the discovery of new archaeological finds and the distribution of accurate portrayals of these ancient civilizations, their legacy will continue to captivate and inspire future generations.