Religious views even impacted explorers when traded products, particularly chocolate – a resource unique to Native American societies and particularly sacred in ancient cultures of Mesoamerica like the Aztecs later. become a European commodity. In order to fully understand the origin of the European cultural integration of chocolate, it is crucial to recognize the meaning of chocolate in its original cultural context. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Especially since chocolate, when first consumed by Europeans, was an unrecognizable substance compared to what it would become once assimilated into dominant European society. This was particularly relevant to European religious society because in Mesoamerican cultures, chocolate was a beverage endowed with the essence of the sacred and was evidently prepared with spices and recipes that included only ingredients native to the Americas. For example, chocolate was a substance that was used in Mesoamerican religious sacrificial rituals because it symbolized the spiritual powers of blood "ritually consumed in betrothal and marriage ceremonies, and presented to visiting dignitaries." This intrinsic connection between chocolate and blood is crucial to understanding the context of the confections' origins, because through this relationship, chocolate is revealed to be more than just a drink to enjoy. Rather, chocolate represented life and spirituality and was treated with the utmost respect because it had extreme cultural value to the Aztec people. Chocolate played a huge role in not only spiritual but also social conventions because of its value and sacredness. And Christian missionaries, rulers, and colonialists viewed these gatherings as a great threat that contradicted their own religious beliefs. Indeed, “the Spanish missionary Diego Duran, who heard this story from Indian informants, reported that “when the time came to drink the chocolate that had been brought to them, the Indians' most prized drink, they were filled with fear". Keep in mind: This is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay And once again, the sacred religious value that chocolate held in Aztec society was heavily neglected by Europeans to the point where this divine good was shipped to the Old World and mass marketed, commodified and appropriated. Europeans found a way to avoid the religious and social essence of the. chocolate, because accepting this meaning was completely contrary to their European views of Christianity. It was a substance considered both dangerous and powerful to Europeans...