Unit 2 Worldview in Conflict

1. Unit 2 Worldview in Conflict Aztec and Spanish

2. Aztec and Spanish in Conflict • The war that developed between the Aztec and Spanish was more than a series of battles. It was also a culture clash between societies.

3. Big Questions • In what ways did intercultural contact between the Aztecs and the Spanish affect each society’s worldview?

4. Where are we starting? • What do we know about the Aztecs? • What do we want to know?

5. Chapter 7: The People of the Sun Unit 2: Worldviews in Conflict

6. Inquiry Question • In what ways do a group’s collective beliefs and experiences contribute to shaping a unique identity?

7. Vocabulary • Aztec • Aqueduct • Chinampa • Compulsory • Tribute • Artifact • Dike (add to handout)

8. What’s in a word? • 19th century historians created the term Aztec. • Referring to the civilization created by the Mexica (a nomadic tribe) during the 15th century. Aztlan – the place from which the Mexica believed they set out from to find their new home

9. Where Were the Aztecs? • In the area of present day Mexico. • Main city is where Mexico City is today.

10. Pg. 152

11. The Aztecs (p.151) • Originally were in the desert of northern Mexico. • A god told the people to migrate south. • Aztecs travelled for 150 years. • Eventually got to the Valley of Mexico.

12. Question Period • What effect do you think the experience of hardship and wandering might have had on the Aztec sense of identity? • Can you name another group of people who wandered the desert before being led to a promised land?

13. Codex Mendoza

14. Notes Package • After reading Page 151 –work with a partner and complete the timeline of the legend of the origin of the Aztecs. (page 2 of notes)

15. Inquiry Question - • How might a society’s worldview influence its ability to adapt to its physical geography?

16. The Physical Landscape • Think of the Rocky Mountains • Is it a place to ski? • A place to go biking or hiking? • A place to relax? • The type of person you are (interests, attitude, knowledge) influences how you respond to geography.

17. The Physical Landscape (con’t) • Aztec’s saw mountains as: • Sacred • Holy • Bringing people closer to the gods.

18. The Physical Landscape (con’t) • Two landscaped: • Physical • Sacred • Connected to each other • Temples that were built for gods were pyramids in the shape of mountains.

19. The Power of Mountains • Sense of security. • Like walls of a fort or city. • Protected them from invaders. • Allowed them to see enemies advancing.

20. The Power of Mountains (Con’t) • Caused problems • Flash floods during rain. • Major flood in 1500 forced Aztec engineers to build a dam. • Prevented rain • Built aqueducts (brought fresh water)

21. An Island Home • Lake Texcoco provided safety. • 3 causeways to connect to mainland. • Bridges were designed to be destroyed. • Population exploded.

22. A Floating Island? • Chinampa – floating island. • Built new land • Drive stakes into lake to make rectangle. • Laid reed mats and piled on soil. • All done by hand – no animals to help.

23. Changing the Geography • Determined to live on the island. • No rivers fed the lakes. • Through evaporation, natural salt was left behind • Built barrier to prevent flooding. • Fresh water available now

24. FAST FORWARD: Mexico City is Sinking • Built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan. • Spanish rebuilt the city in 1522. • Began draining the city. • Provide water for 20 Million. • 9 meters in 100 years.

25. Think it Through • Consulting with Aztec engineers may have helped avoid some of the problems the Spanish builders experienced. In what other areas might Aztec knowledge have helped the Spanish?

26. Sacred Landscapes: Aztec Gods • Controlled every aspect of their world. • Told them how to live. • Many gods. • Some more important than others.

27. Huitzilopchtli • Told Aztecs to leave the north. • Sacrificed people to give this god strength and overcome night. • Tribal and warlike.

28. Tezcatlipoca • Most powerful god. • Name means “Smoking Mirror.” • Used a black mirror to see the future • Lord of the Night Sky. • Battled with Huitzilopochtli.

29. Quetzalcoatl • God of wind. • Name means “feathered serpent.” • Was offered flowers, incense, and birds. • Fought Tezcatlipoca and left the valley. • Would return in “One Reed” • Cortez?

30. Tlaloc • God of rain. • Unleashed deadly floods or prevented rain for years. • Caused drought and famine. • Feared because he controlled survival.

31. Measuring Time • Aztec calendar had close connection to gods and humans. • Sacred and physical landscape. • 2 calendars – solar and sacred. • Sacred was 260 days • Took 52 years to “catch up” to solar.

32. Stone Calendar • Dedicated to Huitzilopochtli. • Shows how world began. • Four eras before present • 1st destroyed by jaguars • 2nd by hurricanes • 3rd by fiery rain • 4th by flood • 5th will be destroyed by earthquake.

33. Human Sacrifice • Deeply religious significance. • Strongest expression. • Victims blood actually fed the gods. • World would end if gods not feed. • War gave Aztecs victims. • People of the Sun

34. Human Sacrifice • Deeply religious significance. • Strongest expression. • Victims blood actually fed the gods. • World would end if gods not feed. • War gave Aztecs victims. • People of the Sun

35. Other Rituals • New Fire Ceremony • Most important ceremony • Occurred every 52 years, as the religious calendar made a full circle • Every fire would be extinguished, leaving only darkness • Priests would then climb Uixachtlan, a sacred mountain, and light a fire • A ritual sacrifice would be performed • Then the priests would return and light all the fires again • Done to prevent the end of the fifth world

36. And there’s more… • Ritual Weeping • That’s right, the Aztecs saw crying as a form of purification and cleansing • They cried a lot

37. And there’s more… • Ritual purification • Each house had a small room with a bath that would be filled with hot water resulting in steam, used to purify the soul • As well as for hygiene

38. A Place to Worship • The Aztecs believed the gods lived in the skies and other sacred places • Temples built to simulate mountains, where the physical and spiritual worlds meet • As a means to simulate these sacred places in their city, the Aztecs built great pyramids

39. Tenochtitlan: Center of the World • Earth was flat and round like a pie. • Divided into four sections. • Tenochtitlan was center. • Gods assigned them here.

40. Tenochtitlan • Also divided into four. • Middle of city were numerous temples. • Hundreds around city • Brought gods closer • Tenochtitlan was a model of the world. • “Venice of the New World”.

41. Expanding an Empire • Read page 165 • The Aztecs were the most dominant force in the world – why would they need to trade?

42. Expanding an Empire • Conquering • Alliances • Trader and warrior were great pride.

43. Expanding an Empire • Merchants traveled with hundreds of slaves. • Carried goods • Gone for months • Acted as spies • Maps and reports • Used to expand

44. Expanding an Empire • “Conquer all the people in the universe” • Largest empire in North America • Society was more important than individual • Prepared to sacrifice for group.

45. Expanding an Empire • Baby boy grew up with a bow and shield • Ready for war • Military was compulsory. • “Coward” was worst insult.

46. Over to You • In a group of 4, discuss question 3 on page 168 • For homework, complete question 1 on page 168.

47. Cheat Sheet • Chinampas • P.162 (Spanish) • Calendar • People of the Sun • Relationship with Huitzilopochtli • City of Tenochtitlan