The People of the Sun The Aztecs

Where are we?

North America

Mexico

Aztec territory

Why were they there?

Aztec god Pronounced: wheets-eel-oh- POCH-tlee Huitzilopochtli

Told Aztecs to move south Stop when you see an eagle on a cactus Build a city there

Wandered for 15 years

Still wandering….

Finally

Physical Landscape Two landscapes Discussion questions: Physical Sacred Discussion questions: Is the land sacred to your ancestors? Is it sacred to you? Will it be sacred to your descendants? Physical Landscape

Pyramids Pyramids were sacred Discussion questions In the natural landscape, what looks like a pyramid? What do you think about mountains? What do you think the Aztecs thought about mountains? Pyramids

Tenochtitlan Pronounced: (the- noch-TEE-tlahn) Built on an island in Lake Texcoco At the time, one of the largest cities in the world 200 000 to 300 000 people Tenochtitlan

Discussion question What did you notice in the background?

Take another look.

Mountains Pros Cons Mountains made people feel secure Felt like a fort Protection from attackers Cons Mountain runoff  floods Block clouds that bring freshwater  drought Too much or too little Mountains

Discussion question: What are the pros and cons of where you live?

Floods Earthen dams Adapting

Drought Aqueducts

Up close

Discussion questions: Where does your water come from? Why don’t we use aqueducts like the Aztecs? How would you explain the term “aqueduct” to a young child?

Causeways and Bridges Similar in purpose Not the same thing Watch for the differences Causeways and Bridges

Causeways

Bridges

Discussion questions: What is the difference between a bridge and a causeway? How would you explain the difference to a young child?