One of the most interesting things I learned from the lecture this week is the way that Aztec ceremonies and culture influenced the way cathedrals and churches were designed in Mexico. To appeal to the Indian congregations, the churches incorporated an outdoor space or "convento" for worship since that was an important aspect of Aztec religious practice. This atrium was used for outdoor services to create familiarity and continuity for the converted Indians.
What really struck me was how this atrium idea in the churches of Mexico can be attributed to the Christian church's desire to convert Indians to christianity by creating a uniquely Aztec environment. It is in this nexus of cultures that such a lovely and useful feature of church architecture is born.
