Mesoamerica and the Andes

Paper Summary:

This paper presents a study of Mesoamerican history, social structure, political system, and religious beliefs. The paper discusses the stratification of society into serfdom and nobility and how this affected the Mesoamerican political system and looks at the external influences on Mesoamerican religion. Literature from authorities on Mesoamerican culture is referenced and cited throughout the paper.

From the Paper:

"Not only did both societies recognize different ranks of nobility and accord special titles to the heads of noble houses and lords of domains, but in both Spanish and Mesoamerican society, great leeway and regional variation existed in the use of terminology, and, once can surmise, in the fluidity and interdependence of society. In both Spanish and Mesoamerican/Andean society, some commoners rose to be nobles, through wealth or notable deeds, while some borderline nobles were indistinguishable from commoners. In central Mexico as well as Spain, commoners varied greatly in wealth, and significant groups of merchants, retainers, and craftsmen stood out from the mass of commoner-agriculturalists in one way or another."

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