Aztec Questions

1.  According to the ‘What’s in a Word?’ explanation on page 152, where might the term ‘Aztec’ have originated?
2.  Mountains were more than geographic forms to the Aztecs. Explain two reasons that mountains were so important in Aztec culture.
3.  What two ‘worlds’ did the Aztecs believe existed? How were these two worlds connected?
4.  Correct the following three false geographic statements to make them true.
§  Mexico is only bordered by one ocean, the Pacific.
§  The Aztec empire was located along the northern borders of today’s Mexico.
§  Ixtaccihuatl and Popacatapetl are two swampy areas in central Mexico.
5.  Who was Huitzilopochtli and why was he such an important part of the Aztec system of beliefs?
6.  Define ‘aqueducts’ and explain their purpose.
7.  Why did the Aztecs develop a sense of security based on the nearby mountain ranges?
8.  What two disadvantages did the original landscape around the city of Tenochtitlan create for its inhabitants?
9. Define ‘physical geography’ and provide an example.
10.  Every culture respects and reveres certain art forms and artistic skills. In our society, we admire musicians, dancers, and authors for their extraordinary talents and gifts. Why was poetry such an intricate part of the Aztec culture? What was its significance?
11.  In your opinion, why do you think the Mexican people have gone to the trouble of preserving the remains of the Aztec aqueducts in their country?
12.  According to the text, an individual’s attitudes, interests, and knowledge are all shaped by the physical geography surrounding him. This is true. Explain how each of the following examples of physical geography may affect the individuals living there. An example has been done to help you get started.
Example: Troy lives in a beachfront house on the warm coast of San Diego, California. How might this physical geography influence his attitudes, knowledge, and interests?
Troy might know more about the ocean’s tides and sea creatures than someone living inland. Living so close to the ocean, there is a good chance he learned to swim very young and he enjoys ocean activities such as sailing, swimming, surfing, wave-boarding, or snorkelling.
a.) Tamika lives in an island village in the Pacific. The island is about 30km from
the mainland.
b.) Luis lives is a small city that borders the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.
c.) Kamai lives in the capital of the Nunavut territory, Iqaluit. It is a northern city
with approximately 6,100 people.
d.) Sanoora and her family live in Banff, Alberta, right in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
e.) Sheldon and his parents live on a farm in the middle of the prairies. Their nearest neighbour is over 7km away and the closest town in 60 km away.
13. Refer back to pages152 to 155 of your Worldview: Contact and Change textbook about Aztec places, such as Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlan, and the chinampas. There you will find a wealth of information about Mexico’s physical geography to assist you in your analysis. As you are reading, focus your attention on the impact of various environmental factors on the Aztecs and their way of life.
After reading the four assigned pages, complete the chart below by providing eight observations about the Aztecs’ natural environment and your own. Your observation points should include both comparisons (similarities) and contrasts (differences). An example of each has been given to help you get started.
The Aztecs and Me: Observations about Physical Geography
Example #1 – Many Aztecs lived in Tenochtitlan, which was surrounded by Lake Texcoco, and I live in land-locked Alberta. I must drive to a lake; I do not live near one. This is a difference.
Example #2 – The Aztecs built bridges that linked the city to the mainland. I live in or near a city that has bridges over rivers, valleys, or ravines. These bridges link one side of the city to the other. This is a similarity.
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