Changes

In ancient Europe Old World societies and even many in Central and Middle EastSouth America, hierarchy of the gods and power relationships between the gods and humanity established how people saw their place in the worldand how they could relate to the gods. Purpose and meaning of life were justified following the relationship of humanity with gods. These relationships do not only reflect belief systems but also how societies themselves were structured. In North America populated by pre-Columbian Native groups, many different tribal groups did not have clearly defined hierarchies of political or social power. This is reflected in their religious beliefswhere spirits and gods did not exist in a strict hierarchy. On the other hand, societies with clearly defined classes and social hierarchies had well defined hierarchies in understanding humanity, its purpose, and how it fit with the gods. Aztec and South American societies generally had defined hierarchies of power and relationship of humanity with gods, where these gods even required regular human sacrifice. Harmony and balance in nature and life are common themes of purpose in east Asia and North America, but hierarchies of power and separation of power between humans and the gods is more evident in east Asia, more comparable to other parts of the Old World.