異域文化 遠(yuǎn)古的回響 Aztecs帝國(guó) 1

Modern Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. Once it was a wilderness area. A valley of saltwater lakes and swamps, surrounded by mountains and active volcanoes. At the beginning of the 14th century a nomadic tribe called the Mexica settled here, giving their name to Mexico and its capital city. Today the Mexica are better known as the Aztecs.

The Aztecs transformed themselves from simple nomads into rulers of the most powerful empire Central America had ever known. But after just 200 years it would all be gone.

Eyewitness accounts of Aztec life and intricate illustrated records portray a highly sophisticated and literate society. Yet, there was a dark side to Aztec life. People lived in fear. Ritual human sacrifice was performed on a scale unmatched throughout history. It’s for this above all things that the Aztecs were remembered.

How could brutal sacrifice be so commonplace in such a civilized society? Who were the Aztecs really? Bloodthirsty barbarians or a great world civilization?

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nomadic: adj. 游牧的

nomad: n. 游牧民

bloodthirsty: adj. 嗜殺的，殘酷的

barbarian: n. 野蠻人