Aztec Questions
Step 1:
Where did the Aztecs originally live? What prompted them to relocate? Where did they end up and why? Chose an artifact, which you feel best, represents this event. Support your choice
The Aztecs originally lived in Atzlan somewhere in North West Mexico. They came to the Valley named Anahuac in Mexico. Tenoch had visualization that Huitzilopochtli told him to lead his people to a marshy island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs ended up in the middle of the lake because he was told to look for an eagle hanging on a cactus, growing from a rock or cave surrounded by water. He told them to build their city there and show gratitude to Huitzilopochtli for his bright idea with human sacrifices. The city that they built was called Tenochtitlán, the city of Tenoch in around
1325.
I think this artifact represents this event the best because this artifact shows that Tenoch is trying to move to the new city or an island where Huizilopochtli told him to in his vision. He is leading his people to a swampy island in the middle of the lake and this artifact fits this event.
Step 2:
The Aztecs ended up in the middle of a lake and built their new capital Tenochtitlan. What were the pros and cons of settling in the middle of a lake? Describe the lay of the land and chose an image for your exhibit.
The pros of ending up in the middle of the lake and building their new capital Tenochtitlan are that the crops grew really well and canals shaping part of the defense system.
The cons of ending up in the middle of the lake and building their new capital Tenochtitlan are that snakes polluted lands and that they had to fight against the native tribes to get taxes from them and to expand widely from their taxes and natural resources.
Step 3:
Which gods were worshiped? The pyramids were built for what purpose?
Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, Tlaloc, Xipe - Totec and Chalchiuhtlicue were worshiped. The pyramids were built for sacrificing the people to make the Gods happy, in other words, for sacrificial ceremonys.
Step 4:
Who are the different members of Aztec society? What are their roles? Choose an artifact that represents the social order of Aztec society.
The different members of Aztec society are slaves, commoners, and nobility.
Slave: The children of poor parents could be sold, usually for only a certain time period. Slaves could buy their freedom back. The slaves that run away and achieved the royal palace without being trapped were given their freedom straight away.
Commoners: The most various social group was known as the Macehualtin; these people were occupied in agriculture and the common trades. Although they worked the land in family units and were allowed to keep their produce, the inhabitants of the neighborhood or calpulli jointly owned the land. Commoners were specified lifetime ownership of an area of land. The lowest groups of commoners were not allowed to own their property. The lower social orders were prepared by peasants were emotionally involved to the lands owned by the nobility and were thankful to grow them in exchange for part of the harvest.
Nobility: The nobilities were the people who were born by the nobles, priests, and those who earned their status. A minority of families known as the Pipiltin occupied the very highest social sphere. These people were members of the hereditary nobility and taken the top positions in the government, the army and the priesthood.
Step 5:
The Aztecs have a spoken language. What was it called? Did they use any other forms of communication? Include an example of either written or visual language of the Aztecs.
The language they spoke was called Nahuatl. They used pictographs to communicate. Likewise it is not written in an alphabetic script but uses pictures and symbols to convey information. The Aztecs used painted screen fold books and they carved and painted glyphs on walls and monuments, and carved stelae.
Step 6:
How did the Aztecs grow food and what was their main crop? Did they trade and with whom? Did they have a currency (money)? Find an image for your exhibit about making a living Aztec style.
The Aztecs grew food by farming and they used the slash and burn method to farm. Chinampas were used for farming crops. Their main crop was corn. Other than that, they also grew chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, and beans. They traded natural resources and also exported natural resources from other parts of empires of Aztec. For currency, the Aztecs used evident luxury goods such as cotton cloaks, gold dust covered in quills, and most notably, cacao beans themselves.
Step 7:
Discuss the Impact of Spanish Contact 1519 from both the Aztec point of view and the Spanish point of view. Find an image depicting this event.
Step 8:
Discuss La Malinche or Dona Marina. Debate her positive/negative impact on Mexico past and present. What does the term Mestizo refer to? What influences remain today from Aztec culture of the past?
