The Awesome Aztecs

1. The Awesome Aztecs

2. Introduction The Aztec tribe lived in ancient Mexico for about 400 years. For the first 200 years, the Aztecs were constantly on the move. No one wanted the Aztecs as neighbors. The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice. They believed that if their gods were not fed, they would not do their jobs. The sun god would not bring up the sun, and everyone would die.

3. Introduction To keep their gods happy, the Aztecs believed that human sacrifice was necessary. They used people to feed their hungry gods. Some of the people they sacrificed were Aztecs. However, most of the people they sacrificed were captured from neighboring tribes. This did not make them popular with their neighbors. Sooner or later, their neighbors would band together to chase the Aztecs away.

4. Settlement When the Aztecs first arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already living on the best land in the area. This time, rather than fight for the best land or for captives to feed their hungry gods, the Aztecs quietly settled along the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They built canoes so they could fish, hunt waterfowl, and trade with other tribesfor the building materials they needed.

5. Free School for Everyone To build the city they wanted, they knew that they would need many engineers, builders, and traders. This required an educated population. To solve this problem, the Aztecs set up a system of public schools. Attendance was mandatory for all Aztec children, even girls and slaves. The Aztecs were the only people up to that time in history to have free schools that every child had to attend.

6. All-Girls School There were three different schools: one for girls, and two for boys. Girls learned about religion and were trained to be good wives and mothers.They learned how to cook, sew, and how to care for their children. They also learned how to make beautiful woven textiles.

7. Sons of the Upper Class Sons of the upper class went to the nobles’ school. Sons of wealthy traders and merchants also went to this school. They studied law, writing (hieroglyphics), medicine, engineering and building, interpretation of dreams and omens, and self-expression. They also learned about their history and religious beliefs. It was a tough school. The boys were humiliated and tormented to toughen them up.

8. Sons of Commoners and Slaves The other boys’ school was for sons of commoners. Its main goal was to train warriors and farmers. Boys had to sleep under skimpy blankets. They were given hard bread to eat. The commoners’ school also taught history, religion, manners, correct behavior, and important rituals, along with singing and dancing.

9. Specialized Professions No matter which school an Aztec boy attended, he was trained to be a specialist. Boys studied how to be farmers, traders, engineers, builders, astronomers, and doctors. Students who became builders and engineers designed and built the amazing Aztec cities, including the capital city of Tenochtitlan, located on the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco.

10. Floating Gardens As the Aztec population grew, more food was needed. To solve this problem, Aztec engineers created “floating” gardens. They built a series of rafts, which they anchored to the lake bed. They piled on dirt and grew crops. They made walkways out of mud and reeds to connect the floating rafts. The gardens were quite successful. The Aztecs grew chili peppers, squash, corn, tomatoes, and beans.

11. Place of the Prickly Pear • According to legend ... One day, the Aztecs were magically visited by their main god. He  promised his people that they would have a city of their own some day. To find it, they were to look for an eagle, perched on a cactus, holding a snake. When the Aztecs found the magical place of the eagle, snake, and cactus, they were not to make war with their neighbors. Instead, they were settle down peacefully until they had gained strength. They were to use that time to build a glorious Aztec city, a city of their own. For the next 200 years, the Aztecs wandered in the Valley of Mexico. They never doubted their god. They never gave up. They were always on the lookout for an eagle, perched on a cactus, holding a snake in his mouth. One morning, an Aztec priest was standing on the swampy shore of Lake Texcoco. He yawned and looked out across the lake. He could not believe his eyes. On one of the many small islands that dotted the lake, he saw an eagle, perched on a cactus, with a snake wiggling in its mouth .The Aztecs had found their home at last. Aztec legend says the cactus grew immediately into an island. It was on that island that the Aztecs founded their civilization. They named the island Tenochtitlan, "the Place of the Prickly Pear Cactus".

12. Where?

13. Aztec Calendar • 365 days • 52 year century

14. The Spanish Visit • The Spanish arrived in huge boats, bigger than any the Aztecs had ever seen. When they arrived on shore they were treated to gold and Quetzal feathers and they obviously went straight to the gold. The Aztecs were very surprised by this, because feathers were prized by Aztecs. Later, they found out that the Spanish were actually trying to conquer them!!

15. Spanish 1, Aztec 0 Even with the mighty powers of the warriors of Tenochtilan, the Spaniards led by Hernan Cortes, were a big problem for them. By the time the Aztecs surrendered, there were only 30,000 people left in Tenochtilan. In 1600, the population of Mexico was one quarter what it had under the reign of Montezuma. Spaniards built Christian churches on top of the land. Children were baptized and given Spanish names and sent to Spanish schools. Aztecs worked as farmers or miners for their new bosses. The Spaniards had blown up all they could of the Great Temple with several hundred barrels of gunpowder. The great land that used to be Tenochtilan is now Mexico City.

16. Aztec Review • Tim and Moby Explain • Ms.Park's Site Exploration • Aztec Video Clip • Rise ofthe Aztecs