Post tagged aztec - Pre-Columbian Americas

The Rise of the Aztecs Part II, struggling for independence

5 February 2012

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So, in The Rise of the Aztecs Part I, we left the Tepanecs immersed in the dilemma.

What would they do with their new neighbors known as Mexica-people-from-Aztlan or the Aztecs. The despised would-be-aristocrats got themselves into a trouble all right, pissing off their previous patrons of Culhuacan. To flay a princess, of all things! Azcapotzalco’s Tepanecs shook their heads. Clearly the troublesome newcomers had no finesse. No finesse at all.

But those Aztecs were great warriors; there was no argument about that. So the Tepanec rulers saw their chance. First they had launched series of raids against their neighbors in trouble, to make those understand which nation around Texcoco Lake was the most powerful to be reckoned with. Just in case it wasn’t yet clear.

Then, after thoroughly humbling the most warlike of their neighbors, they promptly took them under Azcapotzalco’s protection, against the wrath of Culhuacan.

The small Aztec nation was safe for now, but there was a price to pay. The Aztecs were to supply their new patrons with an unlimited amount of warriors whenever demanded. And the Tepanecs didn’t make them wait. While the Aztecs were busy founding their new capital upon the muddy island of the great Lake, the demands began trickling in. The Azcapotzalco’s ruler had decided to turn on their historical rival – Culhuacan.

Reinforced by a horde of the warlike new allies, Azcapotzalco’s warriors had pounced on its sister-city, in less than ten summers succeeding in taking over all of their trading routes and dependable towns and villages. The surrounding districts and settlements, which had paid a tribute to Culhuacan up to these days, began sending their yearly payments to Azcapotzalco instead.

The Tepanecs’ empire was expanding.

An excerpt from “The Young Jaguar”, Pre-Aztec Series, book #2.

“… The heavyset man nodded and almost visibly relaxed. He was getting old, thought Tecpatl. Of an old this formidable man would not be readable under any circumstances.

The urge to escape the Palace welled. He thought of the spaciousness of his own gardens, of the feast that was sure to contain every delicious snack he had had ever indicated as his favorite, of the ardent, exuberant welcome-home which was sure to await him. He could see her, dressed in the best of her clothes, bathed and groomed, waiting for him, exalted and impatient. Still beautiful, still desirable, still in love with him, still unruly and not fitting, just like fifteen summers ago, when he had met her for the first time.

“You are sure the new Emperor will give you all the commands you desire.” The older man made it a statement.

Tecpatl forced his mind to concentrate. “I hope he will trust me as had his father before him.”

“How long will it take to make Culhuacan crumble?”

“Not very long. Their warriors grew soft. They are not worthy enemy anymore.” Relieved to steer from the dangerous ground of politics, he added: “I’ll be happy to finish them off and re-open the war against the Mayans.”

“Not the Aztecs?”

“Oh, the Aztecs make good warriors. But they are barbarians. They are few and unimportant. Culhuacan is the worthy enemy. They are our equals, our peers.”

The face of the elder man remained still but something in the depths of the narrow eyes changed. “You do wise staying away from the palace affairs. You are a warrior and you better keep it that way…”

…

Were the ancient weapons influenced by the acceptable battle practices or was it all the way around?

26 December 2011

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The evolution of weaponry is a fascinating progress to follow. Our computer games are straining to invent all kinds of new weapons, to dispense with boredom and make the games more attractive to us. But the reality overpasses the imagination.

How the most popular ancient weapons had developed?

Were they dictating the way the battles were fought? Or were they just adjusting?

Take a sword for example.

We are all aware of the benefits of the Roman short gladius. Not as heavy as Celtic long bladed sword, it allowed the legionaries to hold on in long battles without getting tired. They were not even required to raise it high, but would simply trust their gladius toward the loins or the lower belly of the opponent. Well, maybe they did get tired a little as the battle progressed and the time ran by and the sun would near the horizon. A good Roman general, while planning a battle, would take into an account the angles of a rising or a setting sun, so it won’t blind his legionaries.

Gladuis was an efficient weapon, mostly fitting the organized battle formation

But would a samurai like to be a part of the Roman square? The values in ancient Japan were different and so was the evolvement of their sword. Wonderful affair of razor-sharp, long steel, the samurai’s long sword, katana, fitted perfectly their favored hand-to-hand combat. Even when fighting as organized forces, each samurai would always seek out a duel with a worthy opponent.

The knights of the Middle Age Europe were also fond of duels, so the blades of the famous knights’ swords were long and wide, sometimes double-edged, designed for a honorable hand-to-hand.

While yataghan, a Turkish sabre, was curved and single-edged, made of harder steel at its cutting edge, with a very particular two-winged handle

But how about a sword that was not made of steel?

Not every continent had an access to all kinds of metals. In Central America they did wonders with cooper, silver and gold, but none of those metals were hard enough and could rival the cutting qualities of the good old obsidian. So thus the average Aztec sword, mahuahuitl, would be a long affair, more of a wooden club, adorned with plenty of obsidian spikes around the cutting edge.

The warriors of the region were very fond of a hand-to-hand, or in other words, they would never agree to fight in an organized formation. Besting your enemy and, if you are lucky, taking him a captive, was a matter of extreme importance and could not be interfered by one’s peers.

In North America the obsidian was less obtainable and cooper they were working with was even softer than gold. So the flint would have to do. Around the Great Lakes a club with a sharp flint edge was undeniably popular . Those warriors were also adhered individualist.