Are the Na'Vi also like the Aztecs and Incas?

[HarryCanyon]

I mean we all know they are based on Native-Americans but who thinks they are also like the Indians of South America?

[Tsyal Makto]

Culturally they tend to be of North America (and environmentally for the Horse Clans), but environmentally they are of South America (Omatikaya). The Ikran clans seem to have a bit of a more mediteranean climate.

Disclaimer: Above post written while under a sleeping pill (insomnia lately). Proceed with many grains of sand.

[Woodsprite]

Indians of South America.... well, I don't know. If referring specifically to the Aztecs and Inca tribes, then no. Definately not. Aztecs and Incas were both very uncivilized. VERY savage. Human sacrifices abound any conversation when you talk about them. They may have been intelligent, discovering scientific truths like the Mayans did, and building huge monuments and pyramids (that, ironically, had absolutely no purpose except to perform their barbarianism upon), but they were tribes of great power, control, and war.

They're the example that was probably presented to the mercenaries that worked for the RDA, telling them the Na'vi were like them, when they aren't.

[Aketuan]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

Indians of South America.... well, I don't know. If referring specifically to the Aztecs and Inca tribes, then no. Definately not. Aztecs and Incas were both very uncivilized. VERY savage. Human sacrifices abound any conversation when you talk about them. They may have been intelligent, discovering scientific truths like the Mayans did, and building huge monuments and pyramids (that, ironically, had absolutely no purpose except to perform their barbarianism upon), but they were tribes of great power, control, and war.

They're the example that was probably presented to the mercenaries that worked for the RDA, telling them the Na'vi were like them, when they aren't.

Yeah, I was just going to mention the crazy obsession with human sacrifice, and the poor quality of living...I think native Americans would be closer.

[Tsyal Makto]

They can be pretty analogoues to some of the tribes of Africa and Southeast Asia as well. Which ones? Don't ask me now, refer to the bottom of my first post to see why. I'll research a bit tomorrow. There was one I had heard of today that sounded a bit like the Na'vi, but the name escapes me at the moment. I'll see if I can find it again tomorrow.

[Woodsprite]

Well sure, there are always good things about people. I'm just saying... overall, the aztecs and incas aren't the tribes that come to mind when I think of the Na'vi.

[Ashen Key]

The Aztecs were in Mexico: the Inca in South America. Neither were the sum and parcel of either Central America OR South America. Particularly South America. I actually think the Omaticaya would have lot similar with Amazonian tribes, due to the similar climate and locale.

And in reply to various other people - both the peoples of Central America and the those under the rule of the Inca empire also had civilization - regardless of your feelings on human sacrifice, they had farms, they had buildings and temples and palaces, they had rank, and by these things we technically value civilization. 'Barbarians' (to use a term I actually dislike using) do not build pyramids, regardless of what they were used for. And incidentally, in terms of how their cities were actually run, they were MILES ahead of the Europeans.

And also, I really should mention that the Aztecs weren't any worse when it came to killing people than anyone else at the time period, either - witch hunts, inquisition, reformation in Europe alone. All deaths, mostly done in ritual, in the name of a deity.

And the groups of Native Americans who weren't under either Aztec/Triple Alliance or Inca rule weren't exactly peaceful, either. The Navajo spring to mind here, and endemic warfare was common. The link (to wikipedia) also mentions a number of Native American groups, whose pattern of warfare probably reflects that of the Na'vi.

Which brings me to my final point - although I look at a range of different peoples and cultures, I do try and look to the Amazonian peoples a lot when I'm poking at trying to flesh Na'vi society out - similar environment, so the lifestyles would be the closest analogy.

[Rainbowhawk1993]

Aztecs believed in human sacrific. The Na'vi love and accept eachother as siblings.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Rainbowhawk1993

Aztecs believed in human sacrific. The Na'vi love and accept eachother as siblings.

More to the point - the Mexcia believed that blood made the sun continue to rise which (in part) lead to them being a rapidly expanding empire, while the Na'vi have no opinion on the matter and only try to move into a new territory when there are enivormental or population pressures.

Also, the Na'vi believe in an afterlife, while the Mexcia Triple Alliance didn't.

[Banefull]

Unlike the Aztecs or Incas, the Navi do not build giant cities, believe in private property, have society divided into classes, a standing army, or have government over a large society.



They also engaged is mass farming. The Incas in particular terraformed massive amounts of land to be suitable for farms.



As far as inhabitants of the America's go, they are perhaps the furthest away you could get.

[Human No More]

They do have private property, although other than they you are correct.

[Tiberius]

Originally Posted by HarryCanyon

I mean we all know they are based on Native-Americans but who thinks they are also like the Indians of South America?

James Cameron has already been asked several times if the Na'vi were based on Native Americans and he always says NO. He reiterates the fact that the Na'vi are first and foremost Aliens, but in their clothing, hair styling and cluture, they resemble numerous cultures found on Earth, and that their plight is analagous with peoples across the world and throughout history who have been on the receiving end of imperialism.

The Na'vi are nothing like Native Americans, niether those living in the north nor those which lived further south like the Aztecs and Incas.

[Ja'k Dawsiin]

i have always had a fascination with the Incas, particularly because of Macchu Piccu, but no, the Na'vi are not anything like the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans, Toltecs. the Na'vi coexist within the natural habitat of their environment, taking and giving in equal measure, and their footprint does not impede on the natural surroundings. they truly are part of the chain, but a link in the larger whole.

[Wind12]

I agree that the Na'vi have some characteristics drawn from different earth Culture, but ultimately they are thier own

[Moco Loco]

I saw all those old usernames and knew it must be a necropost. I definitely didn't used to think they resembled any single Earth culture, but now that I'm so familiar with them the influences seem really clear.