Aztec and Mayan Religious Practices
             Thesis Statement: Aztec and Mayan religious practices were unique and sometimes barbaric. From daily rituals to elaborate ceremonies dedicated to the worship of deities the Aztec and Maya were ensconced in their religion.
             B. Structures Built towards Devotion
             III. Religions effect on Aztec and Mayan Society
             A. Similarities and Differences between the two societies
             Central America is a continent rich in culture as well as history. Inhabitants of Central America are comprised of a mixture of Indian and Spanish decent. The best known of the Central American Indians is the Aztec and Maya. The society of the Aztec and Maya held religion to the utmost highest priority. Aztec and Mayan religious practices were unique and sometimes barbaric. From daily rituals to elaborate ceremonies dedicated to the worship of deities the Aztec and Maya were ensconced in their religion. Aztec and Mayan religious zeal indirectly contributed to their demise.
             The Aztecs had a number of gods that they worshipped. Many gods had different powers of nature. Some were said to control the actions of a man (Spinden 229). Tezcatlipoca was was said to be a magic and an omniscient god, most likely the chief of the active gods. Aztecs favored the god of war Huitzilopochtli though. Tlaloc was important to farmers for he was the god of rain. Many a sacrifice was made to that god especially in that hot, dry climate they lived in. Ehecatl was the god of wind. Aztecs even had a god for each major city. There were two gods that were, in a sense, imported from another culture. That meant that the Aztecs adopted these gods when they took over a certain tribe or Indian nation. Quetzalcoatl was the most important and had the largest following and history. Xipe was another adopted god worshipped then that is still worshipped by Central Americans today (Spinden ). ...