The Aztecs (Indian Races) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ...this nation was degenerating, although it may have been increasing in barbarity in this one respect, owing to the insatiable cruelty of their kings. In the early ages of the world bloodthirstiness appears to have been the rule, even after signs of civilization were well under way, and races which, from their general intellectual standing, should have been peace-loving and uncruel, were rarely an exception. It is so to-day in the heart of Africa; it was so in the past centuries in the heart of Asia. Is it any wonder that it was so in the heart of America? The mythology--which term means a mythical jtheology; doctrines of gods who were really but jlmyths--of the Aztecs was in many respects like / that of other early nations of the East. This is one of the reasons for supposing their ancestors were originally from Asia. Still, the likenesses oetween the religions of the peoples of Asia and of the Aztecs were not greater than were their dissimilarities. Like most untutored peoples, they had always believed in good and evil spirits, and, therefore, their gods were both good and bad, but, unfortunately, their chief gods were what we should call bad. They had minor gods of a different character, as of the seasons, of the harvest-time, of warriors, hunting, fishing, medicine, mountains, thunder, etc., who were scarcely good or bad; but of their five chief gods at least three were certainly far from good in what they rigorously demanded oL.their worshipers. The Aztecs did rise up to some conception of a Supreme God, who was chief Lord of the universe, and supreme even above the god who made the earth and the heavens. Their literature proves this. There are beautiful appeals to God (to Teptl, TJlje Supreme God) as the great Lord over all. He was also...