(in English): This thesis examines and tests the hypothesis whether political entity, in literature traditionally referred to as the "Aztec Empire", was actually an empire equivalent to European states of that age. Based on this hypothesis there are two objectives in this paper. The first one is to answer the question of what principles really stood on this political entity, how the relationships between the core of the empire and other provinces varied and what affected these relationships. The second objective is to examine the economic system of the Aztec empire because that was extensively intertwined with its political actions and influenced them. All three components of the Aztec economy are analyzed, thus supplying the Triple Alliance on its own (intensive agriculture, trade) and extracting tributes from conquered territories. Attention is also paid to the history of "Aztec empire" and its Mesoamerican context. The main sources are edited sources from early colonial times, depicting the situation before the arrival of Europeans and secondary literature, stemming mainly from ethnohistorical research.

Xipe Totec is an Aztec god often associated with agriculture and fertility. It is a deity type that is common in ancient societies dependent on agriculture but what sets him apart is his link to a rather brutal set of rituals. Known as ‘Our Lord, the Flayed One’ he is depicted in a flayed skin from a sacrificed victim, and the act of flaying is a central part of his mythology and worship. The study aims to investigate the reasoning behind the symbolism that connects brutal acts such as flaying with agriculture and fertility; and what the symbolism can tell us about the Aztecs’ mindset and worldview. To bring a successful conclusion to the study, Xipe Totec’s functions and roles are analysed from a social context. The study hopes to contribute to the study and interpretation of Aztec society and culture, especially concerning religion.