03.02 Travel Journal

Objectives of this lesson:

  • Compare the rise and advancement of the Aztec civilization to the four early river valley civilizations
  • Describe aspects of the Aztec culture
  • Identify factors that increase economic growth

Question to answer:

Why did the Aztecs make their home in a swampy area?

Specific questions to answer:

  1. What significance does the god Huitzilopochti have in Aztec culture?
  2. Since the Aztecs did not have big rivers to rely on like the ancient river civilizations from module 2, what did they do in order to accommodate to their environment?
  3. Once they found their good land to settle, why were the Aztecs forced to move elsewhere?

How were boys and girls treated differently in Aztec society?

Specific questions to answer:

  1. Similar to other ancient civilizations, what were the two options for girls growing up in the ancient Aztec world?
  2. Similar to other ancient civilizations, boys had more opportunities than girls in life. What were the 5 options that boys had growing up (depending on their status in society)?

What type of neighbors were the Aztec people?

Specific questions to answer:

  1. Why was it a good strategy for the Aztecs to marry into other tribes?
  2. Why was it a good strategy to not kill all your enemies? What could they do with these people? (hint: slavery)
  3. What is a tribute and how did this advance the Aztec civilization in terms of their economy?
  4. Based on the final paragraph of page 3 from this lesson, how did the use of slaves help the Aztecs?

Why did the Aztecs practice human sacrifice?

Specific questions to answer:

  1. Like many ancient civilizations, what were the Aztecs? (polytheistic or monotheistic)
  2. Who was the Great Speaker?
  3. Why did the Aztecs sacrifice humans? What did they think they would get in return?
  4. If you were higher in society, what were you expected to give more of to the gods?

Why do you think the Aztec people connected one of their calendars to their gods?

Specific questions to answer:

  1. What was the purpose of the 1st calendar of the Aztecs?
  2. What was the purpose of the 2nd calendar of the Aztecs?
  3. What was unique about both Aztecs calendars every 52 years?

Why were the chinampas so important to the Aztec people?

Specific questions to answer:

  1. What were the chinampas?
  2. What is the purpose of dikes for farming?
  3. In terms of medicine, what cures did the Aztecs come up with?

How did the Aztec economy grow without money?

Specific questions to answer:

  1. What does the word barter mean?
  2. Since there were no coins, what items did the Aztecs use to barter with?
  3. What purpose could the volcanic rock, obsidian, be used for?

What factors led to the fall of the Aztec civilization?

Specific questions to answer:

  1. Hernando Cortes was a Spanish conquistador. Was he a good guy or a bad guy to the Aztecs? What evidence can you provide?
  2. Besides having better weapons, what other deadly force did the Spanish bring with them?