Social 8 Steps
Anthropologist: Someone who studies and observes human’s behavior and how they came to be.
Archeologist: Someone who studies early humans and ancient civilizations.
Economist: Someone who is a professional in the fields of economics.
Historian: Someone who records down important events and compiles it in a chronological order.
Linguist: Someone who is able to communicate in several languages fluently.
Theologian: People who study and learn about divine beings and their purposes.
Essential 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 some where in North West Mexico. They wanted to relocate because their leader Tenoch had a vision of a snake, eagle and cactus that would mark their new land. They ended up in the Valley of Mexico called Anahauc because there is where their leader saw an eagle, snake, and cactus.
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 settling in the middle of a lake was that many could not attack them unless they come in boats which would handicap the enemies slightly and also the could make moats and catch plenty of fishes for the population to eat. However getting around and through these marshes and swampy water was not easy so the Aztecs built canals, bridges, lime stone lined walls, and causeways. They lay of the land was muddy, wet, surrounded by swampy lakes, filled with marshes, and itself was a small little island.
Step 3:
Which gods were worshiped? The pyramids were built for what purpose?
The gods that were worshipped were Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, Tlaloc, Chalchiuhtlicue, Huitzilopochtli, and Xipe. The pyramids were built to perform sacrificial rituals and other religious acts.
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 Aztecs were very much separated through status and all were considered as different members according to their status, they were generally set into 3 groups, nobility, commoners, and slaves. Commoners were often addressed as macehualtin, these people’s daily lives consisted of agriculture and common trades. Commoners would be given a life time ownage of their area though the lowest commoners were not allowed to own property.
As for the slaves they had a hard life. Their lives would usually start of as their parents selling them and after a while they would buy back their freedom. Another way of winning their freedom is if they sneak out and manage to reach the royal palace, so with that they will be instantly freed.
Now the nobles were the highest ranking elite group and had a lot of respect directed towards them. Warriors and priests were considered great and the leader of this group was called tlatoani, the leader who shall lead them till his death. The great artisans, physicians and truly wise teachers were also highly praised and considered on with the elite group of nobles.
Step 5: Communication
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 Aztecs spoke a tongue called Nahuatal and this belonged to a large group of Indian languages. The Aztecs wrote in pictographs to try to put out their ideas, drawings, or sounds. A variety of these languages are still spoken in the remote areas of Mexico and the Southwestern US.
Step 6: Economy
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.
Their main crops were corn, chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, beans, and other kinds of food. They also built causeways and bridges to trade with many parts of the Aztec empire. The Aztecs only traded though and did not pay with money.
Step 7: Arrival of the Spanish (Websites on web quest are not working). Try the following websites:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/aztec.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/16325/y-conq.html
http://www.pbs.org/conquistadors/cortes/cortes_flat.html
http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4hcortez_p1jf.htm
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.
The Spanish had just arrived on a new land and set out to own it with the help of some other tribes at that area. With that they gathered many and finally made it to the Aztec empire and were over whelmed with its size and architecture. However they arrived on the day where the Aztecs predicted a manifestation of their god would come. Therefore the Spanish were lucky and were welcomed like royalty and treated like gods.
Step 8: Fall of the Empire
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?
Was considered a traitor and spy to the Aztecs for she had helped Cortez conquer them, however she had excellent communication skills and saved thousands of Indians and even had him help stop slaughter of humans. Really she was not offering help to Cortes but was given to him as a slave and from there their communication grew. The term Mestizo means someone who has a mix of Spanish and American blood. Some influences of the Aztec culture of the past is the language that we speak and the food we eat, also slaughter and human sacrifices have been banned and branded as illegal.
