Conference tecrus::mormonism

425.0. "BoM -> Mayans - > Aztecs -> Spaniards" by ECADSR::SHERMAN (Steve ECADSR::Sherman DTN 223-3326 MLO5-2/26a) Mon Mar 29 1993 11:24

    Last night on PBS I saw a fascinating documentary on the Aztecs and
    Mayans.  With respect to the Book of Mormon, I found the "new"
    information to be thrilling.  I don't really know how new this all is,
    but anyway ...  Did anyone else see this program?  I only saw the last
    half so didn't get the title.
    
    They mentioned that the Mayan culture started around 700 AD. 
    Previously, it was thought that the Mayans were a peace-loving and
    unified kingdom.  As I recall, these were points that critics of the
    BoM used, stating that if the Mayans were the remnant of the people
    of the BoM then there was conflict since the remnant were supposed to
    be quite warlike and separated.  Turns out that the Mayans were not
    nearly as peaceful and unified as first thought.  Rather, they were
    intensely warlike and divided into many small kingdoms.
    
    Further, their leaders had become skilled in controlling the people by
    setting themselves up as warriors and centers of religion.  This is
    consistent with what might have happened to a society after the events
    depicted in the BoM.
    
    The accounts of the Aztec's were more startling.  In particular, one
    archaeologist described how they exercised extreme control over a vast
    empire.  Among other things, they rewrote their history to the "true"
    history.  The program presented this as an effort at propaganda to
    control the people, and well it may have been -- using accepted
    traditions of the people and twisting it to serve the rulers.  I guess
    they probably welcomed this knowing that it was closer to the "truth"
    than the empty symbolism they were fed by the Mayans.  This "true"
    history included an account of their first leader, called of god
    to travel with his family to the promised land and to subdue it.  Integral 
    to their religion was this concept of subduing the land and having as 
    leaders those of the family line that led them to the promised land.  
    Further, they profited by extracting tributes from their conquered 
    peoples. 
    
    This is entirely in line with information in the BoM, assuming that the
    Aztecs used the remaining traditions of the people to advantage in
    gaining power over them.  When the Spaniards arrived, it meant the end
    of the Aztec empire.  One might well conclude that the arrival of
    Cortez, the greeting he got and subsequent downfall of the Aztecs was 
    partly a result of the "true" history written by the Aztecs.  I rather
    suspect that the Aztec king that greeted Cortez knew that the "true"
    history was just a fabrication based on old traditions, but he had to
    go and play it through because it was, ironically, also the basis for
    his power over his people.
    
    There was no mention of the BoM in this program.  But, the parallels
    and implications were amazing.  It gave me a feeling of continuity that
    I've not experienced before when comparing modern archaeology with the 
    BoM.
    
    Steve