The Splendor of Tenochtitlan IT’S YOUR TURN TO INVESTIGATE THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN IT! Start Here!

This was only the beginning of a great empire… The large population of Tenochtitlan created a demand for raw materials and goods that could not be supplied from the lands within the Valley of Mexico alone, so the empire was extended.

One of the Largest Cities of it’s Time! Only Four European Cities- Paris, Venice, Milan, and Naples had populations of 100,000 or more at the time of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan was home to between 80, ,000 people. Only Four European Cities- Paris, Venice, Milan, and Naples had populations of 100,000 or more at the time of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan was home to between 80, ,000 people.

Can you find Tenochtitlan on this larger map? Can you find Tenochtitlan on this larger map? Do you know what major city today exists where Tenochtitlan once was? Do you know what major city today exists where Tenochtitlan once was?

Tenochtitlan was about 5 square miles and occupied what is present day Mexico City. Tenochtitlan was about 5 square miles and occupied what is present day Mexico City. It was a metropolis buzzing with activity. Some 60,000 people gathered daily in the major market called Tlateloco (tla-te-lol-ko). They bartered or traded for goods like: turkeys, rabbits, armadillos, cotton, gourds, cloth, corn and pottery. It was a metropolis buzzing with activity. Some 60,000 people gathered daily in the major market called Tlateloco (tla-te-lol-ko). They bartered or traded for goods like: turkeys, rabbits, armadillos, cotton, gourds, cloth, corn and pottery. Cacao beans were the most common item used for currency or money. Sometimes thieves would counterfeit cacao beans out of wax and dough. Cacao beans were the most common item used for currency or money. Sometimes thieves would counterfeit cacao beans out of wax and dough. When disputes came up, they were settled by a judge, who gave on-the-spot verdicts! When disputes came up, they were settled by a judge, who gave on-the-spot verdicts!

The Market A model of the ancient market, or tianquiztli, of Tenochtitlán appears at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, Mexico. The model represents what was the most famous market in the Aztec empire when the Spaniards arrived in 1519.

The Clean City… Compared to other cities, Tenochtitlan was very clean. Compared to other cities, Tenochtitlan was very clean. There was good drainage, and human waste and garbage were taken away on large boats called barges. There was good drainage, and human waste and garbage were taken away on large boats called barges. A crew of a thousand men swept and washed down public streets every day. A crew of a thousand men swept and washed down public streets every day. Cleanliness was considered essential, and people bathed often, many every day! Cleanliness was considered essential, and people bathed often, many every day!

Aztec Daily Life Click on the following to learn more about Aztec life and culture! Aztec Warriors Aztec Warriors Religion and Gods Religion and Gods Aztec Architecture Aztec Architecture Now that you have researched, you are ready to play the game!

Aztec Warriors The Aztecs were constantly fighting with their neighbors, either to increase the size of their empire or to take prisoners who would probably be sacrificed to the gods at their temples. Young men joined the army at the age of 17. The most feared and famous of all Aztec soldiers were the eagle and the jaguar warriors. The Aztecs were constantly fighting with their neighbors, either to increase the size of their empire or to take prisoners who would probably be sacrificed to the gods at their temples. Young men joined the army at the age of 17. The most feared and famous of all Aztec soldiers were the eagle and the jaguar warriors. In this picture the Aztec warriors are fighting against neighboring Tlaxcaltecs to gain power in the area. In this picture the Aztec warriors are fighting against neighboring Tlaxcaltecs to gain power in the area.

An Aztec warrior usually carried spears made of wood and stabbing javelins and round shields with feather fringes. Flint knives were also used and wooden slings to fire stones at their enemies. An Aztec warrior usually carried spears made of wood and stabbing javelins and round shields with feather fringes. Flint knives were also used and wooden slings to fire stones at their enemies. The ideal warrior was noble, brave and had to serve and respect the gods. Warriors were so important to the Aztecs that new rulers had to start their rule on the battle field, adding cities and provinces to the empire, and capturing prisoners for ritual sacrifice, an essential part of the Aztec religion. Aztec soldiers who fought well could become eagle or jaguar warriors. The jaguar and eagle warriors were distinguished by their uniform and helmets, the jaguar warriors wore jaguar skins with their faces peering out of the animals head and the eagle warriors wore feathered helmets with a gaping beak. The ideal warrior was noble, brave and had to serve and respect the gods. Warriors were so important to the Aztecs that new rulers had to start their rule on the battle field, adding cities and provinces to the empire, and capturing prisoners for ritual sacrifice, an essential part of the Aztec religion. Aztec soldiers who fought well could become eagle or jaguar warriors. The jaguar and eagle warriors were distinguished by their uniform and helmets, the jaguar warriors wore jaguar skins with their faces peering out of the animals head and the eagle warriors wore feathered helmets with a gaping beak. Back to Aztec Daily Life to learn More!

Religion and Gods The Aztecs were very religious. They believed that their gods caused the sun to rise, rain to fall, crops to grow and fire to burn. The Aztecs believed that they lived in the fifth of five eras or "suns". Eventually this era would come to an end, but they thought that if they kept worshipping and feeding their gods, the time of destruction would be delayed. They fed their gods with human blood, which meant sacrificing people -especially prisoners of war- on top of pyramids in front of temples. The Aztecs were very religious. They believed that their gods caused the sun to rise, rain to fall, crops to grow and fire to burn. The Aztecs believed that they lived in the fifth of five eras or "suns". Eventually this era would come to an end, but they thought that if they kept worshipping and feeding their gods, the time of destruction would be delayed. They fed their gods with human blood, which meant sacrificing people -especially prisoners of war- on top of pyramids in front of temples.

They had lots of elaborate ceremonies to honor their gods. The timing of these was determined by the sacred calendar highlighting important farming events such as planting, rainfall or harvest. Priests performed the rituals. They lived in the temple and spent time looking after sacred fires, praying and offering incense. They dyed their bodies black, wore black clothes and never cut their hair. They had lots of elaborate ceremonies to honor their gods. The timing of these was determined by the sacred calendar highlighting important farming events such as planting, rainfall or harvest. Priests performed the rituals. They lived in the temple and spent time looking after sacred fires, praying and offering incense. They dyed their bodies black, wore black clothes and never cut their hair.

Some of the Important Aztec Gods: Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl) This is the wind god and the god of knowledge. Tlaloc Tlaloc is the rain god. He also controls storms, thunder and lightning. Huitzilipochtli The god of sun and war. The main god of the Aztec people. Back to Aztec Daily Life to learn More!

Aztec Architechture The core of Tenochtitlan was a great double pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. The core of Tenochtitlan was a great double pyramid dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc.

The temple area was at the center of the city and contained a number of religious buildings. It was sheltered from the rest of the city by a high wall. Next to this was the enormous royal palace, built on two levels. The ruler and his servants and family used the upper level and government officials worked in rooms on the lower level. The palace also had a jail, a court, counting houses, workshops and stores. There were rules about buildings and were they could be built. Only nobles were allowed to build their large stone houses near to the palace. Ordinary families lived in one- roomed mud brick houses. These were part of a walled compound of houses, where their relatives lived. Most families had a chinampa on which they grew maize and beans.

The Tzompantli Nearby was a giant rack, the tzompantli, on which many thousands of human skulls were displayed. The tzompantli was an altar where the skulls of sacrificial victims were placed, generally war captives in order to honor their gods. It was the most visible expression of political- religious control exercised by the Aztecs. Back to Aztec Daily Life to learn More!

Play The Game! 1. The Aztecs believed that their gods: 1. The Aztecs believed that their gods: a. Had nothing to do with everyday life Had nothing to do with everyday life Had nothing to do with everyday life b. Caused fire to burn and the sun to rise Caused fire to burn and the sun to rise Caused fire to burn and the sun to rise c. Did not need sacrifices Did not need sacrifices Did not need sacrifices 2. The tzompantli was a: a. A rack of animal skulls A rack of animal skullsA rack of animal skulls b. A rack of Aztec warrior skulls A rack of Aztec warrior skullsA rack of Aztec warrior skulls c. A rack of captive skulls dedicated to the gods A rack of captive skulls dedicated to the godsA rack of captive skulls dedicated to the gods

3. How large was Tenochtitlan? a. Five Square Miles Five Square Miles Five Square Miles b. Twenty Square Miles Twenty Square Miles Twenty Square Miles c. Forty Square Miles Forty Square Miles Forty Square Miles 4. What modern city sits where Tenochtitlan used to be? a. Palenque Palenque b. Cancun Cancun c. Mexico City Mexico City Mexico City 5. Who did the Aztec usually sacrifice? a. Slaves Slaves b. Prisoners of war Prisoners of war Prisoners of war c. Priests from other tribes Priests from other tribes Priests from other tribes The End!

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