Anthropology Term Paper: Comparing Aztec & Tiwi Cultures

The Aztecs of Central Mexico and the Tiwis of North Australia are two very different societies that are studied in the anthropological survey of cultures. Despite all their differences, these two cultures demonstrated a few similarities to each other, and many likenesses to other cultures in history. For this paper, I chose to read the two books, The Aztecs of Central Mexico: An Imperial Society by Frances F. Berdan, and The Tiwi of North Australia by C.W.M Hart, Arnold R. Pilling, and Jane C. Goodale, in an effort to compare and contrast these two very interesting cultures.

The Aztec society was considered a state, based on the many characteristics of its structure and infrastructure. In its peak, the Aztec empire was located in the valley of Mexico. They arrived in central Mexico in the thirteenth century after formally being a nomadic tribe. The Aztec civilization in the valley of Mexico covered about 2500 square miles and was surrounded by high mountains (Berdan 2). The largest city in the Aztec empire was the dual city of Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco, which was believed to have a population of approximately 150,000 to 200,000 people in the year 1519 (Berdan 14).

In regard to property relations, the nobility always owned their land/property, those of intermediate positions such as merchants and luxury artisans occasionally did, and commoners almost never owned their land—they worked and lived on the land of the nobles in exchange for a tribute payment of services or goods they would give to the tlatoani (the leaser of their land). Finally, tlacotin were slaves who never owned their land and in most cases could never even leave it (Berdan 60).

Aside from the occasional visitors on the Tiwi islands, there were few reasons in pre-white times that the Tiwis had anyone to fight with except for themselves. Duels became the main way that Tiwis settled duels amongst themselves. There was one minor war in the country of Mandiimbula in 1928, but in Tiwi wars as soon as one person was hurt (even a woman) the battle was over (Hart, Pilling, Goodale 113-114).

The Tiwis’ production security was not so much dependant on the effort they put in (which remained fairly consistent on a daily basis), rather on the success they experienced in hunting and gathering. Their access to resources was unimpeded because they lived on the land where no on else did, and therefore had any access to any resource they wanted—they could hunt whatever they wanted, pick whatever they wanted, and eat whatever they wanted to.

One of the most important roles of the government was to control the behavior of its citizens. “In general, wayward behavior was discouraged and controlled through the enculturation process. The frequent admonitions and exhortations served to instruct and remind individual Mexica of their roles, responsibilities and proper behavior” (Berdan, 96) If the control of the government ever failed elders and other instructors would threaten criminals with supernatural or physical punishments. Priests warned that those who did not obey the laws or the gods would suffer from diseases. Those crimes that were considered serious were adultery, thievery, and homicide. Often those of high status in society were protected from certain consequences (Berdan 96-97).

Some topics in this essay:
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