MESO-AMERICA WOMEN IN THE MEDIEVAL & EARLY MODERN PERIOD
HISTORY 252
I.MESO-AMERICAN WOMEN
A.GENERAL REMARKS
1.ANY VISITORS TO MEXICO & YUCATAN CAN SEE ADVANCED CULTURE
EARLY MESO-AMERICANS HAD
2.HUMAN SACRIFICE GAVE THESE CULTURES BAD REPUTATION
3.BUT NECESSARY TO PLACE THESE PRACTICES WITHIN CONTEXT OF
REST OF SOCIETY
4.HOW WERE WOMEN REGARDED IN PAST HERE?
5.WILL BE DISCUSSING OLMECS, TENOCHITLAN, TOLTECS, MAYAS, &
AZTECS
B.MEXICAN CIVILIZATION IN GENERAL
1.DATES FROM 1200 B.C.E. & EARLIER
a.BEGINNING WITH OLMECS & OTHERS
2.ALTHOUGH OLMECS HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN VIEWED AS 1ST OF
SERIES OF CIVILIZATIONS
a.CULMINATING IN AZTECS JUST PRIOR TO SPANISH CONQUEST
SOME 3000 YEARS LATER
3.SOME ARCHAEOLOGISTS ARGUE PROBABLE 1 COMPLEX SYSTEM WITH
VARIOUS FLOWERINGS
4.INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF ANCIENT MEXICAN CULTURES IS APPARENT
5.ANTHROPOLOGISTS MAINTAIN THAT MUCH OF MODERN-DAY MEXICO &
NEIGHBORING AREAS
a.GUATEMALA
b.BELIZE
c.PARTS OF HONDURAS
d.EL SALVADOR
6.FORMED CULTURE AREA USUALLY LABELED MESOAMERICA
7.USE OF CALENDARS & EARLY CULTIVATION OF MAIZE, SQUASH &
BEANS
8.MOST CONTACT EXCHANGE OF RAW MATERIALS
a.LIKE OBSIDIAN
b.MARINE SHELLS
c.STINGRAY SPINES
d.FINELY CARVED JADE
2
e.FEATHERS
9.MESO- AMERICANS HAD NO BEAST OF BURDENS
a.NO COWS, HORSES, DONKEYS OR OXEN
b.ALSO NO WHEELS OR CARTS
10.DOGS & JACQUARS ONLY ANIMALS
11.TECHNOLOGY MUCH MORE LIMITED IN MEXICO THAN ELSEWHERE
12.WARFARE TOO DIFFERENT AS NO CHARIOTS OR CAVALRY
a.ARMY ONLY INFANTRY
13.BATTLES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN CLASHES OF INDIVIDUALS
a.NOT COORDINATED GROUPS
14.DESPITE THESE LIMITATIONS COMPLEX WEB OF
a.ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS
INTERCONNECTIONS
15.OLMECS & ZAPOTECS IN THEIR SACRED CITY OF MONTE ALBAN
a.EVIDENCE OF HEART BEING TAKEN FROM CHEST
b.NOW ALSO EVIDENCE OF BASKETBALL TYPE GAME WITH OLMECS
II.MAYAN CULTURE
A.GENERAL REMARKS
1.NOT UNTIL MAYANS DO WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO TALK
ABOUT ROLE OF WOMEN IN MESO-AMERICAN HISTORY
B.STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY
1.PYRAMIDAL LIKE ALL OTHER ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
C.ECONOMY
1.TRADE & AGRICULTURE
2.WHILE MAIZE CHIEF CROP
3.ANCIENT MAYAS BELIEVED THEIR CREATOR FASHIONED THEM FROM
CORN
4.TWO OTHER CROPS BEANS & SQUASH FORM MESO-AMERICAN TRINITY
5.USE TO THINK YEARS OF FALLOW FOLLOWED BY SLASH & BURN &
PLANTING
6.NOW KNOW MAYAS MUCH MORE SOPHISTICATED IN THEIR TECHNIQUES
7.THINK THEY REPLICATED DENSE CANOPY & PLANTS LIKE
INDIGENOUS JUNGLES
8.TERRACING REDUCED SOIL LOSS FROM EROSION
a.MAINTAINED HIGHER HUMIDITY LEVELS IN TOPSOIL
3
9.SO MAYAS ABLE TO SUSTAIN LARGE POPULATIONS
a.RANGING FROM SMALL HAMLETS TO LARGE TOWNS
10.AT ITS PEAK TIKAL ESTIMATED TO HAVE 70,000 PEOPLE IN 5
SQUARE MILES
11.CENTERS RULED BY HEREDITARY ELITES
a.OFFICE OF GOD-KING
b.PASSED FROM FATHER TO SON
12.EXCAVATIONS AT RESIDENTIAL COMPOUNDS OF NOBLE FAMILIES
a.SHOW NOBLES ABLE TO COMMISSION IMPRESSIVE WORKS OF
(1)ART, ARCHITECTURE
(2)WITH THEIR OWN NAME, TITLE & GENEALOGY CARVED
INTO STONE
13.RAISED COTTON THAT WOMEN WOULD WEAVE INTO CLOTH
D.RULERS
1.RULERS MUTILATED THEIR BODIES IN BELIEF FLOW OF ROYAL
BLOOD
a.WOULD NOURISH GODS
2.MALE RULER WOULD PIECE HIS PENIS WITH OBSIDIAN OR STINGRAY SPINE
3.HIS WIFE WOULD DRAW A BARBED ROPE THROUGH HER TONGUE
4.THESE RITUALS WOULD BE PERFORMED BEFORE WAR
5.WIFE WOULD ALSO MUTILATE HER TONGUE WHEN HER HUSBAND'S
YOUNGER WIFE HAD A BABY
III.RELIGION
A.CREATION MYTH & ORIGINS OF MAYA SOCIETY
1.3 GODS INHERITED POWER FROM THEIR MOTHER
a.MOTHER OF ALL CREATION
2.BIRTH OF SONS OF FIRST MOTHER CREATED NEW ORDER
a.PRESENT WORLD
3.THESE 3 GODS BECAME SPECIAL PATRONS OF PALENQUE'S KINGS
4.PACAL'S MOTHER LADY ZAC KUK
a.FIRST MOTHER
5.PACAL HIMSELF IDENTIFIED WITH 3 PATRON GODS
a.INHERITED RIGHT TO RULE OVER PRESENT WORLD FROM THEIR
MOTHER
4
6.PALENQUE ONE OF NB MAYAN CITIES
a.ARTIFACT OF TABLET OF CROSS
(1)TELLS LEGEND OF BIRTH OF MOTHER OF PALENQUE
TRIAD OF GODS
B.IX CHEL
1.MOON, RAINBOW, GODDESS
2.SHE PROBABLY HAD BOTH MALEVOLENT & BENEVOLENT ASPECTS
3.HER BENEVOLENT ASPECTS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALING, CHILDBIRTH
& DIVINATION
4.AT TIME OF SPANISH CONQUEST
a.COZUMEL ISLAND
(1)MAJOR PLACE OF VENERATION FOR IX CHEL
5.NO EVENT HELD GREATER SIGNIFICANCE FOR AVERAGE MAYA THAN
BIRTH OF CHILD
6.NOT ONLY WERE CHILDREN CONSIDERED MEASURE OF PERSONAL
WEALTH & GOOD FORTUNE
7.THEY IMPLIED DIRECT SANCTION OF GODS, ESPECIALLY IX CHEL
a.WHOSE IMAGE PLACED UNDER EXPECTANT MOTHERS DURING
LABOR
b.& UNDER BARREN WOMEN TO ENCOURAGE FERTILITY
8.MOON ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT SEXUAL CONNOTATION
9.ACCORDING TO STORIES SUN & MOON 1ST PEOPLE TO HAVE SEXUAL
INTERCOURSE
10.ANOTHER STORY
a.1 DAY AS IX CHEL WEAVING
(1)MOON SEIZED FROM HER AGED FATHER BY SUN GOD
KINICH AHAU
(2)IRATE OLD MAN SHOT SUN WITH HIS BLOWGUN
(3)MOON FELL INTO SEA & SHATTERED
(4)TINY FISH CAME TO HER RESCUE
(5)PATCHED HER WITH THEIR SILVERY SCALES
(6)WITH EACH HOLDING IN HIS MOUTH TAIL OF ANOTHER
(7)THEY WOVE THEMSELVES INTO NET
(8)TRIED TO LIFT MOON GIRL TO SUN
(a)BUT IN VAIN
(9)INSTEAD THEY LEFT MOON IN SKY
(a)WHERE SHE STILL TRIES TO OVERTAKE HER
LOVER THE SUN
11.MANY STORIES ALSO OF MOON'S INFIDELITIES TOWARDS HER
HUSBAND, SUN
12.SHE HAD AFFAIRS WITH HER BROTHER-IN-LAW, VENUS
13.SHE ELOPED WITH KING VULTURE
C.CHALCHIUHTLICUE = JADE SKIRT
1.WATER GODDESSES OF TEOTIHUACAN
2.ALSO DIAGNOSES ILLNESS & FINDS CURE FOR ILL
3.FROM INSTANT OF BIRTH AN INFANT'S LIFE PREORDAINED
4.MIDWIFE WOULD SAY TO A NEW INFANT
a.GODDESS, BE PLEASED THAT HIS OR HER HEART AND HIS OR
HER LIFE MAY BE PURIFIED, THAT WATER MAY CARRY
AWAY ALL STAIN, FOR THIS CHILD PUTS HIMSELF IN
YOUR HANDS, MOTHER & SISTER OF GODS.
D.IXTAB
1.SUICIDE GODDESS
2.DEPICTED IN MAYA CODICES IN GRUESOME MANNER
a.HANGING BY ROPE AROUND HER NECK
b.HER EYES CLOSED IN DEATH
c.WITH BLACK CIRCLE REPRESENTING DECOMPOSITION ON HER
CHEEK
3.SUICIDE HONORABLE DEATH FOR MAYA
a.HONORABLE PLACE IN UNDERWORLD XIBALBA
E.CEREMONIES
1.TO KEEP UNIVERSE HARMONIOUS & PREVENT DISASTERS OR END OF
WORLD
2.DEITIES HAD TO BE PLACATED BY RITUALS & OFFERINGS
3.IDEA OF FEEDING DEITIES
4.NOURISHMENT CAME DIRECTLY FROM OFFERINGS
5.OR INDIRECTLY FROM DEVOTING TIME & ENERGY TO DEITIES
6.WHEN SOMETHING DID GO WRONG GODS ANGRY AS NOT PROPERLY
NOURISHED
7.DROUGHT ANGER OF OFFENDED RAIN GOD
8.VARIETY OF PRIVATE RITUALS & PUBLIC CEREMONIES
5
6
9.RELIGIOUS RITUALS PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE
10.MOTHER MIGHT OFFER BIT OF TORTILLA TO IX CHEL FOR HEALTH
OF HER CHILD
11.OR FARMER MIGHT MAKE QUICK PRAYER TO CHAC TO BEGIN HIS
DAY IN FIELDS
12.LARGER PUBLIC CEREMONIES SPONSORED BY KING
EXTENDED DAYS
OFTEN
13.MOST CEREMONIES INCLUDED OFFERINGS TO GODS
14.MOST POTENT OFFERING LIFE ITSELF
a.BLOOD REPRESENTING DIVINE ESSENCE OR KUL
(1)IT COULD BE BURNED LIKE INCENSE
15.AT TIME OF CONQUEST BLOOD SMEARED ON IDOL OF GOD BEING
APPEALED TO IN CEREMONY
16.ACCORDING TO SPANIARDS PRIESTS ALSO SMEARED WITH BLOOD
a.HAIR CLOTTED, GORY MOPS
17.ALSO MUSIC, PROCESSIONS, OFFERING OF FOOD, FASTING,
RITUAL DRINKING
18.ALL THESE ACTIVITIES SURVIVE IN MAYA RITUALS TODAY
19.TODAY THEY USE SACRIFICED CHICKENS NOT HUMAN BLOOD
F.OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR RELIGION
1.DIVINATION LIKE WEST
2.USED VARIETY OF SUBSTANCES TO ALTER NORMAL STATE OF
CONSCIOUSNESS
3.TAKING OF NARCOTICS, HALLUCINOGENS & OTHER PSYCHOTROPIC
SUBSTANCES BY SHAMANS
a.SO CAN COMMUNICATE WITH SUPERNATURAL REALM
b.EXPERIENCES UNDERSTOOD AS MESSAGES FROM GODS
4.SOME ACTIVE SUBSTANCES ESPECIALLY ALCOHOL & TOBACCO
a.CONSUMED BY GENERAL POPULACE
5.BUT MOST OF MORE POTENT HALLUCINOGENS & PSYCHOTROPIC
AGENTS FOR SPECIALISTS & RITUAL DIVINATION
6.FERMENTED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MOST OFTEN USED TO ALTER
STATES
7.1 SUCH BEVERAGE BALCHE
a.FROM FERMENTED HONEY & BARK OF BALCHE TREE
8.WILD TOBACCO ALSO USED
a.MORE POTENT THAN TODAY'S DOMESTIC VARIETIES
b.WHEN ROLLED INTO CIGARS & SMOKED
(1)PRODUCES TRANCE-LIKE STATE
9.MUSHROOM SPECIES
a.ONE CALLED UNDERWORLD MUSHROOM
(1)TRANSPORTED TAKER TO XIBALBA
10.SMOKE RISING FROM INCENSARIES STILL BELIEVED TO CONVEY
REQUESTS DIRECTLY TO GODS IN SKY
G.HUMAN SACRIFICE
1.CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO SANCTIFY MAJOR RITUALS
a.INAUGURATION OF NEW RULER
b.DESIGNATION OF NEW HEIR TO THRONE
c.DEDICATION OF NEW TEMPLE OR BALL COURT
2.WARFARE USUALLY PROVIDED VICTIMS
3.ELITE STATUE CAPTIVES SACRIFICED
4.HEADS OF DECAPITATED CAPTIVES WORN AS TROPHIES BY MAYA
KINGS
a.OR BURIED WITH DEAD RULERS IN THEIR TOMBS
b.SHADES OF CELTIC PRACTICES
c.MOST PRIZED OF ALL - ANOTHER KING
5.ONE OF MOST FAMOUS PLACES FOR SACRIFICIAL RITUALS
a.WELL OF SACRIFICE AT CHITZEN ITZA
(1)SACRED TO GODS OF RAIN
6.WHEN DROUGHT OR FAMINE OCCURRED
a.MAYA MADE PILGRIMAGES FROM ALL OVER TO ATTEND
SACRIFICES TO APPEASE ANGRY RAIN GODS
7.BY TIME OF CONQUEST
a.CUSTOM OF REMOVING VICTIM'S HEART PREVALENT
8.VICTIM PAINTED BLUE
a.SACRIFICIAL COLOR
b.WORE SPECIAL PEAKED HEADDRESS
c.LED TO STONE ALTAR
H.MESO-AMEICAN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES ONCE SPANISH & CHRISTIANITY
CAME
7
1.SOME CHRISTIAN & MAYA SYMBOLS SIMILAR
8
2.SO MADE IT EASIER FOR MAYA TO ACCOMMODATE NEW RELIGION
3.EG CROSS MAYA SYMBOL FOR TREE OF LIFE
a.SACRED CEIBA SUPPORTING HEAVENS
4.SO CHRISTIAN CROSS ACCEPTED
a.ALTHOUGH VENERATED FOR ITS TRADITIONAL MAYA MEANING
5.BUT SPANISH SOUGHT TO EXTINGUISH ALL VESTIGES OF PAGANISM
6.MANY MAYA PEOPLE FLED FROM SPANISH OPPRESSION
a.ESTABLISHING REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS DEEP IN FOREST OF SE
YUCATAN
7.UNDER LEADERSHIP OF SHAMANS MAYA RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS
PRESERVED
8.RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS CENTERED ON VENERATION OF MAYA
TALKING CROSS
a.SERVED AS ORACLE
9.IN 19TH C. MEXICAN GOVT TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL OVER THESE
INDEPENDENT MAYA AREAS
a.RESULTING IN WAR OF THE CASTES
10.ALTHOUGH PEACE CAME EARLY IN 20TH C
a.MANY SUCH COMMUNITIES REMAINED ISOLATED & INDEPENDENT
(1)OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC CONTROL UNTIL RECENTLY
IV.MARRIAGE & FAMILY LIFE
A.GENERAL REMARKS
1.FAMILY RULED BY FATHER
B.GIRLS' NAMES
1.UNLIKE BOYS GIRLS NAMES CHOSEN FOR BEAUTY & CHARM OF NAME
a.MATLALXOCHITL = GREEN FLOWER
b.QUIAUHXOCHITL = RAIN FLOWER
c.MIAHUAXIUITL = TURQUOISE MAIZE FLOWER
d.ATOTOTL = WATER BIRD
C.MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
1.POLYGYNY PERMITTED
2.DIVORCE UNCOMPLICATED
a.SIMPLE REPUDIATION BY EITHER PARTY
3.WIDOWERS & WIDOWS REMAINED SINGLE FOR YEAR OR SO
9
4.THEN COULD REMARRY WITHOUT CEREMONY
5.MAN SIMPLY WENT TO HOUSE OF WOMAN OF HIS CHOICE
6.IF SHE ACCEPTED HIM & GAVE HIM SOMETHING TO EAT
a.THEY CONSIDERED MARRIED
7.DUE TO RELIGIOUS PROHIBITIONS
a.MAN COULD NOT MARRY WOMAN FROM HIS TOWN
b.ONLY FROM NEIGHBORING TOWN
c.CALLED EXOGAMIC MARRIAGES
8.HUSBAND HAD TO RELOCATE TO HIS WIFE'S TOWN
a.& LIVE WITH HIS INLAWS FOR 4 YEARS
b.THIS TRIAL PERIOD
c.IF HE DID NOT TREAT HIS WIFE RESPECTFULLY
d.HER FATHER-IN-LAW HAD RIGHT TO CHOOSE 2ND HUSBAND FOR
HIS DAUGHTER
D.ELITE WOMEN'S ROLE
1.FROM TEXTS & PORTRAITS WIVES & MOTHERS OF ROYALTY PLAYED
ESSENTIAL ROLES
a.IN RITUALS & OTHER DUTIES OF MAYA KINGS
2.MOTHERS OF KINGS VITAL TO CEREMONIES HELD FOR DESIGNATION
OF HEIR TO THRONE
3.& INAUGURATION OF NEW RULER
4.ROYAL HISTORIES OF PALENQUE RECORD 2 ROYAL DAUGHTERS
ASSUMED THRONE IN ABSENCE OF MALE HEIR
5.& HELD POSITION OF RULER UNTIL THEIR SONS OLD ENOUGH TO
BECOME KING
E.PEASANT WOMEN'S WORK
1.INSTEAD OF FARM WORK WOMEN DEDICATED TO
a.PREPARING CORN
b.GATHERING HONEY
c.MAKING BASKETS
d.MODELLING POTTERY
e.PREPARING THEIR CHILDREN FOR CEREMONIES
(1)BY PAINTING THEM WITH BRIGHT COLORS
F.PERSONAL APPEARANCE
1.CROSSED EYES CONSIDERED MARK OF BEAUTY FOR ANCIENT MAYA
10
2.IN COLONIAL TIMES MOTHERS INDUCED CROSSED EYES BY TYING
LITTLE BALLS OF RESIN TO THEIR CHILDREN'S HAIRS SO THEY
WOULD HANG BETWEEN THEIR EYES
3.OTHER MARKS OF BEAUTY INCLUDED
a.PIERCING EARS, LIPS & SEPTUM OF NOSE
(1)VARIETY OF ORNAMENTS HUNG
b.FLATTENED FOREHEADS ALSO MARK OF BEAUTY & STATUS
(1)DONE BY BINDING BABIES' HEADS BETWEEN PAIR OF
BOARDS
(2)ONE AT BACK OF HEAD
(3)OTHER AGAINST FOREHEAD
c.ALSO USED TO INDICATE ELITE STATUS
4.PRINCIPAL GARMENT OF MAYA WOMEN COTTON SKIRT = MANTA
5.SOME COVERED THEIR BREAST, SOME DID NOT
6.ALSO COVERED THEIR HEAD & SHOULDERS WITH COTTON SHAWL
7.DRESS I BOUGHT IN YUCATAN IS HUIPIL
a.BEAUTIFULLY EMBROIDERED IN CROSS-STITCH
b.LONG WHITE PETTICOAT IS WORN UNDERNEATH TO HANG BELOW
HUIPIL
8.WOMEN & GIRLS WEAR HAIR LONG
9.MARRIED & UNMARRIED HAD DISTINCTIVE HAIR STYLES
10.MARRIED WOMEN ALSO TATTOOED THEMSELVES
a.LIKE MEN
b.EXCEPT FOR THEIR BREASTS
c.WITH DELICATE DESIGNS
11.EVEN COMMONERS WORE JEWELRY
a.NOSE PLUGS
b.LIP PLUS
c.EARRINGS OF BONE, WOOD, SHELL, STONE
12.ADORNMENTS WORN BY ELITE MORE ELABORATE
a.JADE, STONE, OBSIDIAN, CORAL & SHELL
13.ELITE ALSO WORE COLLARS, NECKLACES, WRISTLETS, ANKLETS &
KNEE BANDS
a.VARIETY OF MEDIUM
11
V.AZTEC WOMEN
A.GENERAL REMARKS
1.ALTHOUGH AZTEC SOCIETY PRIMARILY PATRIARCHAL
2.WOMEN HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES
3.& ENJOYED STATUS FAVORABLY COMPARABLE TO EUROPEAN WOMEN AT
SAME TIME
a.MAYBE EVEN BETTER
4.EVIDENCE INDICATES UPPER CLASS WOMEN RULERS
5.HISTORIANS ARE NOW REFERRING TO LIFE PRIOR TO SPANISH
CONQUEST AS
a.GENDER PARALLEL OR GENDER COMPLEMENTARY
b.WOMEN HAD THEIR OWN HIERARCHY
c.& HELD
HIGH POSITIONS IN SOCIETY
6.MEN & WOMEN HAD DEFINED ROLES
a.BUT BOTH GENDERS VALUED
b.& SEEN AS NECESSARY IN SURVIVAL OF THE OTHER
B.SLAVERY
1.AT LOWEST END OF SOCIAL SCALE AZTEC WOMEN COULD BE SLAVES
2.BOTH WOMEN & MEN COULD ENSLAVE THEMSELVES
a.IF NO ALTERNATIVE TO KEEP FROM STARVING
3.AZTEC EMPIRE ALSO RECEIVED SLAVES AS TRIBUTE
4.SLAVERY PUNISHMENT FOR SOME CRIMES
C.AVERAGE AZTEC WOMAN'S WORK
1.WOMEN RESPONSIBLE FOR
a.KEEPING WATER IN HOUSE
b.GATHERING FUEL
c.GRINDING CORN FOR TORTILLAS
2.BUT WOMEN WERE
a.MIDWIVES
b.PRIESTESSES IN TEMPLES
c.HEALERS
d.MARRIAGE BROKERS
e.SCRIBES
f.SUPERVISORY POSITIONS IN GUILDS
12
3.WOMEN JUDGES & ADMINISTRATORS IN COURTS AS WELL AS MEN
4.MIDWIFE'S GREETING SPEECH TO NEWBORN GIRL PREDICTS
a.'THOU WILT BECOME FATIGUED...THOUGH ART TO SWEAT BY
THE HEARTH...
5.PERHAPS WHY AZTECS ADMIRED WOMAN WHO WAS FERTILE
6.& SKILLED IN
a.WEAVING
b.SPINNING
c.SEWING
d.COOKING
e.VERY TOUGH
7.1 OF MAIN STAPLES OF AZTEC DIET
a.BITTER DRINK MADE OF CACAO BEANS & TORTILLAS
8.AZTEC WOMEN DOMINATED ALL ASPECTS OF TRADE
9.SAW RAW COMMODITIES SUCH AS FISH OR SALT IN PUBLIC MARKETS
10.MADE & SOLD THREAD, EMBROIDERY, COTTON CLOTHING
11.RAISING BIRDS & PREPARING FEATHERS
12.SEWING THEM FOR WARRIORS
13.RICHER WOMEN FINANCED MERCHANT CARAVANS LIKE MUSLIM WOMEN
a.OCCURRED BOTH WITHIN & OUTSIDE AZTEC EMPIRE
14.WOMEN COULD INVEST OR DISPOSE OF THEIR EARNINGS AS THEY
WISHED
15.EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO BOTH BOYS & GIRLS
16.SONS & DAUGHTERS OF COMMONERS WENT TO SCHOOLS CALLED
a.HOUSE OF YOUTH
b.TAUGHT HOW TO BE WARRIORS OR HOW TO BE SPINNERS &
WEAVERS
c.WOMEN WERE TEACHERS TO GIRLS
17.OFFSPRING OF ARISTOCRATS TRAINED FOR PRIESTHOOD
D.WOMEN WARRIORS
1.ACCOUNTS OF WOMEN WARRIORS THROUGHOUT MESO AMERICA
a.BUT RARE
E.WOMEN RULERS
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1.WOMEN RULED ALONE OR JOINTLY WITH THEIR HUSBANDS
2.DYNASTY OF TENOCHTITLAN FOUNDED BY WOMAN
3.FEMALES LEGITIMATE CARRIERS OF RIGHT TO RULE
a.WHICH THEY ENDOWED THEIR HUSBANDS/SONS
4.IN ONE OF THE KINGDOMS SOUTH OF PRESENT-DAY MEXICO CITY
WOMEN RULERS RELATIVELY COMMON
5.DONA FRANSISCA SINAGSICHI PRESIDED OVER HER OWN KINGDOM
WHEN SPANISH ARRIVED IN ECUADOR
F.MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
1.SEXUAL ACTIVITY CONDONED BOTH BEFORE & AFTER MARRIAGE
2.NOT RELEASING SEXUAL TENSIONS BAD
3.STATE-OWNED BROTHELS CALLED HOUSES OF JOY
4.NO SHAME DURING MENSTRUATION & MENSTRUAL BLOOD
a.NOT A POLLUTANT
5.NOT EVEN WORD IN LANGUAGE FOR VIRGIN
6.ADULTERY & HOMOSEXUALITY CONSIDERED GREAT POLLUTANTS
a.BUT WEREN'T THOUGHT OF AS SIN
b.CONSIDERED PUNISHMENT FROM GODS
7.DIVORCE ACCEPTABLE
8.WOMEN FROM MORE INFLUENTIAL FAMILIES FREQUENTLY
TO FORM ALLIANCES
MARRIED
a.LIKE ANGLO-SAXON WOMEN, ETC.
9.DOWRIES & BRIDE PRICES EXCHANGED BETWEEN FAMILIES
10.POLYGAMY COMMON
a.AZTEC NOBLE WIVES USUALLY SHARED THEIR STATUS WITH
ONE OR MORE OTHER WIVES OR CONCUBINES
11.WOMEN TRACED THEIR LINEAGE THROUGH THEIR MOTHERS
a.MEN TRACED THEIRS THROUGH THEIR FATHERS
G.CHILDREN
1.CHILDREN PRIZED IN AZTEC SOCIETY
2.MEN PROVIDED SEMEN & WOMEN THE BLOOD
3.UPON MALE CHID'S BIRTH HIS UMBILICAL CORD WOULD BE BURIED
ON BATTLE FIELD
4.FEMALE CHILD'S UMBILICAL CORD WOULD BE BURIED CLOSE TO
HEARTH
VI.AZTEC RELIGION INVOLVING WOMEN
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A.GENERAL REMARKS
1.WOMEN & GODDESSES OCCUPIED POSITIONS OF IMPORTANCE IN
RELIGIOUS RITES
2.IN FACT MOST IMPORTANT DEITIES OF SUSTENANCE ALL FEMALE
ACCORDING TO SUSAN KELLOGG
3.BUT BALANCE IN ALL THINGS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE
4.DURING ANNUAL 8 DAY CELEBRATION DEDICATED TO TOCI, OUR
GRANDMOTHER
a.WOMEN SKIRMISHED IN MOCK BATTLES
b.FINALLY SACRIFICED FEMALE VICTIM
(1)WHO REPRESENTED TRANSFORMATION OF DEITY
c.GRAND FINALE OF CEREMONY
(1)PURSUIT OF WARRIORS OF CITY BY THESE WOMEN
(2)WHO BRANDISHED BROOMS SOAKED IN BLOOD OF
VICTIM/GODDESS
B.COATLICUE
1.GREAT MOTHER GODDESS FOR AZTECS LIKE ISIS, HERA, INANNA,
CYBELE
2.GREAT PYRAMID COMPLEX IN TENOCHTITLAN
a.DEDICATED TO HUTZILPOCHTLI
b.HAS ALTARS & AREAS DEDICATED TO HIS MOTHER, COATLICUE
c.& HIS SISTER COYOLXAUHQUI
3.PILGRIMAGES TO COATLICUE COMMON
4.WHEN SPANISH & CHRISTIANITY ARRIVED THEN COATLICUE
PILGRIMAGE & IMAGE BECAME OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
C.AHNT KAI
1.GODDESS OF EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, ARTS, HEALTH & HEALING
2.LIKE ATHENA & SOPHIA
D.XOCHIQUETZAL (SHO-CHEE-KET-SAL)
1.GODDESS OF DANCE, MUSIC, CRAFTS, LOVE, & FLOWERS
a.SACRED FLOWER YELLOW MARIGOLD
2.HER NAME MEANS FEATHER FLOWER
3.HER TWIN BROTHER XOCHIPILLI
a.GOD OF PLEASURE
4.XOCHIQUETZAL LIVED ON TOP OF MOUNTAIN ABOVE 9 HEAVENS
15
a.THIS FLOWERY GARDEN PARADISE POPULATED BY
(1)MERRY DWARVES,
(2)DANCING MAIDENS
(3)MUSICIANS
5.AZTEC BELIEVED ANYONE FAITHFUL TO GODDESS
a.WOULD SPEND ETERNITY IN HER PARADISE
b.WHEN THEIR EARTHLY LIFE ENDED
6.XOCHIQUETZAL MARRIED TO RAIN GOD TLALOC
7.MOISTURE TLALOC CREATED HELPED HER FLOWERS TO GROW
8.THOUGH MANY MEN FELL IN LOVE WITH XOCHIQUETZAL
a.SHE REMAINED LOYAL TO HER HUSBAND FOR MANY YEARS
b.FINALLY PERSISTENT & MISCHIEVOUS GOD TEXCATLIPOCA WON
HER AWAY FROM TLALOC
9.AZTEC ALSO TOLD OF MYTH ABOUT FLOOD
a.DESTROYED ALL CREATURES EXCEPT FOR XOCHIQUETZAL & 1
MORTAL MAN
(1)TO REPOPULATE EARTH
(2)THEY HAD MANY CHILDREN
(3)BUT ALL BORN VOICELESS
10.SO XOCHIQUETZAL WILLED DOVE TO DESCEND FROM TREE OF
HEAVEN
11.DOVE GAVE EACH CHILD VOICE & LANGUAGE
12.THEN CHILDREN SCATTERED ACROSS GLOBE
13.SO AZTECS BELIEVED ALL DIFFERENT RACES & LANGUAGES IN
WORLD SPRANG FROM THESE CHILDREN
14.SO XOCHIQUETZAL MOTHER OF WORLD
E.GODDESSES OF CHILDBIRTH
1.AZTEC WOMEN CALLED ON NUMBER OF GODDESSES TO ASSIST &
MINIMIZE STRUGGLE OF BIRTH
2.TEMAZCALTECI = GRANDMOTHER OF SWEAT BATH
a.1ST PLACE WOMAN STARTING LABOR TAKEN
3.DIFFICULT BIRTHS REQUIRED BESEECHING GODDESSES
a.CUICOATL & QUILAZTIL
4.TETEOINNAN
a.PATRONESS OF MIDWIVES
16
5.SOULS OF WOMEN WHO DIED IN CHILDBIRTH HAD SPECIAL PLACE IN
AZTEC AFTERLIFE
a.THEY REVERED
b.ELEVATED TO STATUS OF WARRIOR WHO DIED IN BATTLE
c.GIVEN SPECIAL TITLE = MOCIUAQUETZQUE = VALIANT WOMAN
d.ASSIGNED DUTY OF ACCOMPANYING SUN FROM ITS ZENITH TO
HORIZON WHEN SETTING
6.THESE WOMEN WHO DIED IN CHILDBIRTH ALSO GIVEN NAME OF
DIVINE WOMEN