03.02 Lesson Summary and Assessment What Do I Have to Do?
An illustration of Moctezuma II, the Aztec ruler at the time of the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica.
Moctezuma II’s Aztecs were a fierce and powerful culture with many great achievements.
© Palazzo Pitti / Florence / Italy / Bridgeman Art Library / Universal Images Group / Image Quest 2016
The Aztecs were a fierce and powerful culture in ancient times. They made many important strides in art, religion, and medicine as a thriving culture. Their economic tribute system helped to support military operations. The tributes also helped rulers and leaders to stay wealthy. However, the Aztec empire did not last forever. The empire fell in the early part of the 16th century.

Task: You will create a storybook about the origin, growth, and fall of the ancient Aztec culture. The storybook will have five sections and should be written like you are telling a story from start to finish. It is up to you to decide what five aspects of Aztec history you will present in your story. However, it is important that you remember to tell about the origin, growth, and fall of the Aztecs. Each section of the story must also have an image that goes along with it.

Audience: Imagine that you are making this book to read to a group of fourth graders and the goal of the book is to teach them about the rise and the fall of the Aztecs.

Requirements:

Your storybook must have five sections. Each section should explain a unique part of the Aztec story.
Your storybook must specifically tell about their origins, how the civilization expanded, and what factors led to their collapse.
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The life of an Aztec.

Who are the Aztec?

The Aztec were very industrious. Like the Ancient Egyptians, the Aztecs were also great builders. They built pyramids and temples. The temples were where the sacrifices were held. The person was taken to the top of the temple and sacrificed there. It was believed that the height of the temple made them closer to their Gods. Housing varied on your social status. The Emperor lived in a lavished two-story house. While the general public lived in adobe houses. Can you believe that the Aztecs had steam rooms? They had a special room where the walls were heated by fire. When the wall was hot, they would throw water on it which created steam. They thought it was good for their health. The same holds true for today.

The Aztecs were a small and nomadic tribe. They traveled northwestern Mexico. Then in 1116 CE, Huitzilopochtli the God of War and the Sun told the tribe to move south. The God said to look for their new home, it will have a sign. The sign will be a eagle sitting on a cactus eating a snake. 100 years went by, and they still haven't found the sign. Until one day when they were in the Valley of Mexico, the priest found the sign! The sign was in the middle of a shallow lake. The lake is called Texcoco. But it was already inhabited by other tribes. The other tribes were not willing to share the land, the only place left was a swampy area. But the Aztecs were willing to make it their home.

And finally...

There were multiple reasons that led to the down fall of the Aztecs. It is believed that when Hernando Cortes discovered the Aztecs in 1519 CE, he brought disease with him. Because the Aztecs had never been exposed to these diseases they had no immunity. Small pox was thought to wipe out 70% of the population. There was also a slaughter by the spanish soldiers. There are still ancestors living in Mexico and in the surrounding areas. Over all the Aztecs had a quick accession and even quicker down fall.

Spanish explorer

Hernando Cortes.

Making it their home.

The Gods.

The Aztecs practiced polytheism. Polytheism is a belief in many gods. Their main God is Huitzilopochtli. He is the God that helped them find their home. The Aztecs believed in human sacrifices, that it made the Gods happy and it allowed them to stay alive. The sacrifices were done by taking a persons heart out while they were still alive. They would kill women and men, girls and boys. Including members of their own tribe.

The hard working Aztecs made the best of their swampy home. They called their new home Tenochtitlan. They built canoes and other things and other things that could be used for hunting and fishing. They also built Chinampa which are floating gardens. Aztecs used these to grow their food. The Aztecs grew maize, beans, and other food items. It is thought the Chinampas contributed to 50% to 66% of the cities food.

Chinampas.

This is Huitzilopochtli.

Taking over.

The Aztec population began to grow, it grew very quickly. They founded their capital city as Tenochtitlan in 1250 CE. As the population grew they spread to the Gulf of Mexico and to the Pacific Ocean. The Aztecs are known for war. They would invade other cities and take it over and whoever survived had to pay tributes. A tribute is a tax. Sometimes, they married into other tribes and got their land that way. Not only would they take their land, but they would take anything else they needed or wanted. Like building materials or any valuables. They also took slaves.

Explanation:

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