Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
The Aztec people were ethnic groups that lived in central Mexico during the 14th to the 16th centuries. The Aztecs spoke the ancient Nahuatl language. They practiced human sacrifices and had a rich culture, with festivals of poetry and music, schools of writing, astronomy and statesmanship, as well as sophisticated architecture. The Aztecs religious beliefs were intertwined with mythology. They believed in more than 100 supernatural creatures and gods, and used amulets and charms to get personal protection.
The slave trade is one of the most horrific aspects of American history. Africans were taken from their homeland against their will, and brought over to the United States to enter into a system of forced labor. While this was undoubtedly a dehumanizing experience, some slaves were able to form communities amongst themselves. Religion was an important element of many of these communities. Throughout the years that slavery existed in this country, religion was an important element of the private lives of the slaves.
Hidden for centuries and blocked from human eyes, some chambers hidden within Egypt's Great Pyramid stashed some very important discoveries for archeologists. Pyramids were created to house the dead, as well as preserve their various possessions, according to ancient Egyptian religion. Various chambers housed nobility and servants in coffins called sarcophagi. Scientists have been able to learn various facets about the ancient civilization by slowly unearthing various mummies and goods stored in these chambers.
The ancient Egyptians worshiped many gods. Some of these gods were recognized throughout the land, others only locally. Egyptian religion accounted for the creation of the world and for all the elements. It explained how and why the sun passes across the sky and the crops grow. The pharaoh and the priests were the people's connection to the gods. Through them, they found meaning in life and in death.
Ancient Egyptian religion is usually described by scholars who theorize that many generations worshiped the same gods in the same manner as their forefathers. However, Egyptians were familiar with several types of religion in addition to their own traditional beliefs.
An amulet is an object intended to protect its owner from bad luck, danger or other maladies. The word's origin is debated; it stems either from the Latin "amuletum," meaning "an object to be used for defense," or the Arabic "hamalet," meaning "that which is suspended." Amulets most often take the form of gemstones, coins, pendants, rings or religious symbols, and nearly all cultures and religions have some form of amulet in their history and traditions.
