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AZTEC CONCEPT OF LAW
Abstract
The Aztecs are among the most prominent, most developed and even the most explored pre-Hispanic (prior to the Spanish 16th century colonization of the Americas existing) cultures of Mesoamerica, a culture-historical area comprising Central and Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and certain parts of other Central American states except for Panama. In a broader sense, Aztecs can be identified with Nahuas, who dominated the relatively independent region of Mesoamerica called Central Mexico (the Mexican Valley and its surroundings). The Aztec/Nahua civilization was a conglomerate of autonomous city-states, which shared many common features. In a narrower sense, only the inhabitants of three Nahua city-states are considered as Aztecs. These city-states, neighbors and allies, were: Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City), Tezcoco (now 25 km northeast of Mexico City) and Tlacopan (now Mexico City). Together they built and administered an empire (the second quarter of the 15th century - 1521 AD) that included the overwhelming majority of Nahua city-states. Although the empire had three capitals, i.e. Tenochtitlan, Tezcoco and Tlacopan, Tenochtitlan became the most important center of the entire empire during the second half of the 15th century. Therefore sometimes only the inhabitants of Tenochtitlan are referred to as Aztecs. The article is a reconstruction of the Aztec concept of law, based on primary historical (written) sources and secondary literature. Although the Aztecs did not formulate a general definition of their law, nor did they systematically describe and examine its forms, contents or social functions, they came to a certain understanding of the law, which was complex. Specifically, the Aztecs could consider the law to be: 1. an integral part and at the same time a tool for maintaining the supernatural world order; 2. enforceable rules of conduct that corresponded to the widely accepted values, patterns (ideals) of good behavior of the people in public, as well as in the private sphere, and customs; 3. a set of duties of individuals (men, women and children) to the state, family members, etc.; 4. an omnipresent, relentless and dangerous power in the hands of the ruler (state) which would destroy anyone who would not respect it; and 5. a legal tradition. Aztec concept of law may correspond to the archaic conception of law, known world-wide.
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References15
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