Steps for project
Step 1:
Where did the Aztecs originally live?
The Aztecs used to live in Atzlan, which is located in the North West of Mexico. What prompted them to relocate? Their chieftain, (Tenoch) led them to the valley of Mexico, named Anahuac. At the time, the Aztecs were wild and poor and would occasionally eat snakes and rats. They were driven from one place to another due to Tenoch’s vision. Where did they end up and why? When Tenoch had a vision, he saw the god Huitzilopochtli. He told him to find an eagle devouring a snake on a cactus, which happened to be on the swampy island of Lake Texoco. Chose an artifact, which you feel best, represents this event. Support your choice
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? Cons were: snake infested lakes, Pros: they could crop all year using irrigation. The chinampas were substitutes for farms. The canals were even used y defense. Describe the lay of the land and chose an image for your exhibit.
Step 3:
Which gods were worshiped? The pyramids were built for what purpose? Aztecs used the powers of nature to represent their gods. The most important of their gods was of war and of the sun. Named Huitzilopochtli. The pyramids were built for sacrificial purpose to please the gods.
Step 4:
Who are the different members of Aztec society? Slaves, commoners, and nobility were the 3 classes of the Aztec society. What are their roles? Slaves could by their freedom, but parents sold them at a young age. Commoners, (macehualtin) were engaged in agriculture. They were the majority of Aztecs. They were given full ownership of their land for their lifetime. Finally, the nobility were the people born rich, such as priests and those who earned their rank. Pipiltin was the family occupying the very high social group. The tlatoani was the chosen supreme leader of the nobles. (Choose an artifact that represents the social order of Aztec society.
Step 5:
The Aztecs have a spoken language. What was it called? There are only about 30 phonetic sounds in the Maya language. They used Pictographs, small pictures, (glyphs) to communicate. It was called Nahuatl. Did they use any other forms of communication? Include an example of either written or visual language of the Aztecs.
Step 6:
How did the Aztecs grow food and what was their main crop? The Aztecs made terraces that went down a hall to control the water flow. (This stopped flooding of the farming). They also used “Slash and Burn” method. They could extend their crops using Chinampas. These anchored islands helped the Aztecs grow corn, chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, beans, and other kinds of foods. They mainly ate a tlaxcalli, a thin cornmeal pancake, (tortilla). Their meat included dear, rabbit, duck, and geese. Did they trade and with whom? They traded with other countries like Belize, Honduras …they used cotton, rubber, golden ornaments, woven clothing, salt, jaguar skin, for trade. Did they have a currency (money)? Their currency-included cacao beans. Find an image for your exhibit about making a living Aztec style.
Step 7:
Discuss the Impact of Spanish Contact 1519 from both the Aztec point of view and the Spanish point of view. Hernan Cortes went to South American country with the intention of steeling the gold and bringing it to Spain. With 500 soldiers and small boats, he arrived in the eastern coast of Mexico. It was unfair because the Spanish had guns and the Aztecs did not have any. Find an image depicting this event.
Step 8:
Discuss La Malinche or Dona Marina. She was the first “Mexican” mother. Debate her positive/negative impact on Mexico past and present. What does the term Mestizo refer to? A Mestizo is a person of mixed racial ancestry, especially of mixed European and Native American ancestry. What influences remain today from Aztec
December 12th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Your step 6 was very detailed. Here are some things to consider: What are other possibilities behind the relocation to Tenochtitlan? What are some other cons of living in a swampy lake? How do they perceive their gods? Why were sacrifices made? What were the initial perception of the Aztecs and Spanish upon meeting and how did their perceptions of one another change? I’m sure your classmates will be able to help you.