This week’s reading was very interesting because there were
a lot of theories taken in explaining the weaknesses and strengths of the Aztec
and Inca Empires. Specifically looking at chapter four, it compared the Aztec
and Incan religious ideologies. It’s very compelling to realize how both these
empires, even though they were in different regions, shared the same religious
culture. Both of their major gods were sky gods. The Aztec and Inca both
manipulated politics and religion to legitimize expansion (153). Conrad and
Demarest agree that religion was a driving force for imperialism; nonetheless,
they do consider how religion could be manipulated for self-interest (154). It’s
important to realize that while their religious structures was highly organized
and some leaders might have been greedy for personal advancement, the religious
format was highly adaptable. Conrad and Demarest argue that why religion aided
in growing the empires it was because it simply worked. It made sense in
respect to how their empires functioned. We can’t use religious ideology to
justify everything; Conrad and Demarest urge us to look into how the
environmental role for imperialism, even though it isn’t as big as the role
religion played. In respect of population pressures, some theorists’ arguments
provided great insight like Cook. Cook argues that through warfare and
sacrifice there is a mortality rate that balances overpopulation (165). While
that makes more sense and evidence can support it, there are some absurd
theories such as Harner’s protein sufficiency theory. Conrad and Demarest want
to provide us with perspectives and analogies from their own to educate the
readers on the controversial debates regarding the Aztec and Inca imperialism. Still,
it seems that ideological adaptation is the strongest argument in why the Aztec
and Inca empires grew and fell (186).
I agree that religion had a large part of the Aztec and Incan fall in regards to their respective empires. Personally, I feel that this is a very common trait throughout all of history. Although not completely related to this particular class, I think it is important to note that Latin America in general stays very religion oriented all the way through the 21st century. In fact, much of the imperialism and liberalism that took place in Latin America was influenced by western religious philosophy (or aka Christianity). Again, whether talking more about modern Latin America, or Latin America in the colonial era, we see that religion is an “excuse” to expand.
ReplyDeleteConrad and Demarest also briefly touch on the environment, and how that had a little bit. I feel like there is merit to these words, because in an age with no technology, and having limited space to expand (due to a mountainous terrain). Not only was there limited space, but also due to the type of soil, there were only certain locations where these nations could farm. This was a limiting factor in expanding, but also in planning on how many people their respective civilizations could maintain and stay powerful. In conclusion of this comment, I believe your thoughts, as well as the book’s is very accurate.