Cultism was one of the most prominent pre-Imperial systems in early human history. Its fundamental feature was the centralization of power in hands of a person who was regarded as a deity, or a direct representative thereof. For example, the ancient Egypt is still known for its customary prohibition of looking the Pharaoh in the face. The Aztec beliefs problably weren't so literal (as their weren't exactly cultists), but their nobility was also considered to be descendants of the famous Quetzalcoatl, or The Feathered Snake. Similar was true for Japanese emperors.