Source: The Aztecs Believed They Lived In The Fifth Age
Source Athe Aztecs Believed They Lived In The Age Of The Fifth Sun F
Source A. The Aztecs believed they lived in the age of the Fifth Sun. Four times previously, they wrote, the earth and all the people who lived on it had been destroyed. They predicted their own world would end in earthquakes and hunger. In the Aztec year Thirteen Flint, volcanoes erupted, sickness and hunger spread, wild beasts attacked children, and an eclipse of the sun darkened the sky.
Did some priest wonder whether the Fifth Sun was approaching its end? In time, the Aztecs learned that Europeans called the year Thirteen Flint 1492.1 1. What is the Thesis of Source A? 2. What list the evidence that is provided? 3. Weigh the Evidence in Source A (what statements support the thesis the best and why) 4. Are there any assumptions in Source A?
Paper For Above instruction
The primary thesis of Source A is that the Aztecs believed they lived in the era of the Fifth Sun, a cyclical age characterized by destruction and renewal, with predictions indicating that their world would eventually end through catastrophic natural events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and eclipses. This belief reflects the Aztec understanding of historical cycles and divine punishment, suggesting that they saw their era as part of a recurring pattern rather than a unique period. Furthermore, the source implies that despite their existing beliefs, the Aztecs might have questioned whether the Fifth Sun was approaching its conclusion, especially in light of the dramatic events of 1492, the year Europeans arrived.
The evidence provided in the source supports this thesis by detailing specific calamities associated with the Fifth Sun era, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, famine, sickness, attacks by wild beasts, and solar eclipses. These phenomena are presented as signs of the universe’s ongoing destruction and renewal cycle, in accordance with Aztec cosmology. The mention of the year Thirteen Flint, which corresponds to 1492, emphasizes the historical context and connects Aztec predictions with the arrival of Europeans, suggesting a possible reflection or concern about the end of their cosmic era.
When weighing the evidence, the statements that most strongly support the thesis are the descriptions of natural disasters and their significance in Aztec cosmology—specifically, the volcanic eruptions, hunger, sickness, and eclipses—all of which exemplify the tumultuous nature of the Fifth Sun. These events directly illustrate the Aztec belief that their current age was marked by chaos and destruction, reinforcing the idea of an ongoing cycle. The reference to the specific year 1492 anchors these beliefs in a concrete historical moment, hinting that such cataclysmic events might also prompt reflection on whether the current era was nearing its conclusion.
Some underlying assumptions in Source A include the belief that natural disasters are divine signs linked to cosmological cycles, specifically the destruction of the world at the end of each Sun era. There is also an assumption that these signs and predictions are universally understood and significant enough to influence Aztec religious and social thought. Additionally, the suggestion that a priest might wonder about the approaching end of the Fifth Sun assumes a continuity of religious reflection and concern about imminent divine or cosmic judgment, which might extend to interpreting the European arrival as a potential omen or catalyst for change.
In conclusion, Source A presents a view of Aztec cosmology emphasizing cyclical destruction and renewal, supported by specific evidence of natural disasters and their interpretive significance. While it underscores the predictive and reflective nature of Aztec religious thought, it also rests on assumptions linking natural phenomena to divine will and cosmological cycles, which were central to Aztec understandings of history and the universe.
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