Social Structure Through Architecture Research Project
Arts
HAVC190T: Topics in Pre-and Post-Columbian Visual Culture
My research paper explores how social hierarchy is defined and communicated through the architecture of the Aztec city, Tenochtitlan. By analyzing the visual elements of prominent structures within the Sacred Precinct and evaluating the city's formal attributes such as layout and the positioning of buildings, specifically the Templo Mayor, the apparent social structure is evident. It is thus revealed how the city and its structures promote and perpetuate the dominant position of the Aztec ruler over the commoners.
