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Aztecs
One of the 2 new Meso-American
civilisations, the Aztecs lack stables. The Aztecs excel in infantry with
their Eagle Warriors, arguably the strongest Champions and the strongest
infantry unit, the Jaguar Warrior. The lack of knights makes Aztecs a weak
Castle civilisation and their infantry - a strong Imperial civilisation.
Their bonuses make them a potentially strong feudal civilisation too.
Bonuses:
- Villagers Carry +5
- Military Created 15% faster
- +5 Monk hit points for each Monastery technology
Unique Unit: Jaguar Warrior (infantry)
Unique Technology: Garland Wars (+4 infantry attack)
Team Bonus: Relics generate +33% gold
Political
control of the populous and agriculturally rich central valley of Mexico
fell into confusion after 1100. Gradually assuming ever-greater power were
the Aztecs, probably a northern tribe that had migrated to the valley and
occupied a minor town on the shore of the great central lake. They were a
society that valued the skills of warriors above all others, and this
emphasis gave them an advantage against rival tribes in the region. By the
end of the 15th century, the Aztecs controlled all of central Mexico as a
military empire that collected tribute from rivals.
The Aztec culture drew upon the experience of those that came before it
and invented little that was new. They had an advanced agriculture that
supported a very large population. They built immense buildings of grand
design and flourished in many arts. They were adept metal workers, but had
no iron. Lacking any suitable draft animal, they made no motive use of the
wheel.
One of the distinctive features of the Aztec culture was its penchant
for sacrifice. Aztec myths dictated that human blood be fed to the Sun to
give it the strength to rise each day. Human sacrifices were conducted on
a grand scale; several thousand in a single day were not uncommon. Victims
were often decapitated or flayed, and hearts were cut from living victims.
Sacrifices were conducted at the top of tall pyramids to be close to the
sun and blood flowed down the steps. Although the Aztec economy was based
primarily on corn (or maize), the people believed that crops depended on
the regular provision of sacrificial blood.
The incessant demand for sacrificial victims meant that the Aztecs
tolerated loose control over satellite cities because frequent revolts
offered opportunities for capturing new victims. During times of peace,
"garland wars" were arranged strictly as contests of courage and
warrior skill, and for the purpose of capturing victims. They fought with
wooden clubs to maim and stun, rather than kill. When fighting to kill,
the clubs were studded with obsidian blades.
Despite their great agriculture and arts, the Aztecs appear in
retrospect to have been a waning society. They passed on no significant
technology or ideas of religion or political theory. Their civilization
was brought to an abrupt end by the arrival of the Spanish in the early
16th century. Already devastated by European disease passed by early
traders, they fell to a small Spanish army armed with steel weapons,
firearms, and riding a few horses. The cruelty of the Aztecs contributed
to their downfall by making it easy for the Spanish to enlist allies among
the non-Aztecs in Mexico. |
