The Aztecs and the Mongols

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1 The Aztecs and the Mongols Samantha C Whisenant Post University HIS 101: World Civilizations Professor Staffey March 1, 2024

2 The Aztecs and the Mongols The Aztecs and Mongols were influential civilizations with distinct lifestyles and achievements. The Aztecs were deeply rooted in agriculture and worshiped multiple gods, while the Mongols were nomadic warriors known for their horseback riding and military prowess. The Aztecs built the impressive city of Tenochtitlan and expanded their empire, showcasing advanced engineering, art, and astronomy knowledge. Meanwhile, the Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, established the largest land empire in history, known for their military strategy and the creation of the Silk Road. Despite their differences, both civilizations had robust political structures and left a lasting impact on history.The Aztec and Mongol empires share notable similarities despite emerging in different periods and regions. One significant similarity is their heavy reliance on tribute as a means of sustenance. Both empires primarily subsisted on tribute, although they differed in the specific resources they got. Aztecs got tribute through sacrificial victims, food, clothes, military equipment, and luxury goods. The Mongols relied on tribute as livestock, weapons, silk, and cash. However, these similarities also gave rise to differences between the two empires. The Aztecs, for instance, migrated to Mexico, while the Mongols were unified in the region where they already lived. The Aztecs intertwined religious significance with warfare, whereas the Mongols observed their religion separately from their military endeavors. These similarities and differences played a crucial role in shaping the identities of the Aztec and Mongol empires. While the Mongols eventually recognized the need to govern beyond tribute because of the scale and success of their conquests, the Aztecs discovered that conquests enhanced the support provided by the tribute system, particularly in sustaining their growing population (Adler & Pouwels, 2018).While the Aztec Empire had a centralized, theocratic government with strong religious ties, the Mongol Empire operated under a decentralized system

3 with tribal leadership and a focus on military prowess. Both empires left lasting legacies in their respective regions of influence.The Mongol Empire was under the leadership of a Khan, who held the highest authority. Typically, the Khan was the most powerful among the tribal leaders, and his commands were regarded as absolute. During the early stages of the Mongol Empire, the Mongols displayed a high tolerance towards various religions and often supported them simultaneously. They believed in the spiritual potency of divine beings and sacred places. Following the conversion of Kublai Khan, many Mongols embraced Tibetan Buddhism. Pastoralism and a decentralized patrilineal system based on clans characterized the social structure of the Mongols. A chief led each tribe, and these tribes formed the foundation of the Mongol military apparatus. The Mongols typically sought to impose the social structure of the steppes on the people they conquered (Cartwright, 2019).Both civilizations shared a hierarchical structure, with a supreme leader occupying the highest position. However, the Aztecs had a more complex system than the Mongols, who had a more decentralized system of clans.In terms of religion, the Aztecs practiced that involved human sacrifices, while the Mongols displayed greater religious tolerance and adopted the religions of the subjugated regions. The leaders in both civilizations wielded absolute power, a. government or semi-divine figures. Government structures of the Aztec Empire and the Mongol Empire differed significantly. The Aztec Empire, the Triple Alliance, emerged in the 14th century in the Valley of Mexico. It was a centralized and theocratic government system. The ruler, the Huey Tlatoani, held political and religious authority. Within the empire were various councils, such as the Council of Nobles and the Council of Commoners. The administration included officials responsible for taxation, justice, and public works. The nobility held considerable power, and a clear social hierarchy existed. The emperor also served as the supreme military commander. The Aztec government was closely

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