1. Worldviews in Conflict
Social Studies 8: Unit 2

2. Introduction Turn to page 148
Examine each image carefully and read the captions for each one.
How does each image depict the contact and mixing of different worldviews?

3. Social Studies 8: Chapter 7
The People of the Sun
Social Studies 8: Chapter 7

4. The People of the Sun Turn to page 151
Read the story in the light blue box
What effect do you think the hardship wandering might have had on the Aztec people?
What other story do you know that is similar to this?

5. The People of the Sun Our Inquiry Question for this chapter is…
In what ways do a group’s collective beliefs and experiences contribute to shaping a unique identity?

6. The Physical Landscape
The inquiry question for section 1, “The Physical Landscape” is…
How might a society’s worldview influence its ability to adapt to the physical geography?

7. The Physical Landscape
What do you think of when you see the mountains?
What feelings do you have?
Your worldview, attitudes, and knowledge shape how you respond to the physical geography around you.

8. The Physical Landscape
The Aztecs saw mountains as sacred or holy sites.
The height of a mountain was believed to bring a person closer to the gods.
So for the Aztecs the world consisted of both physical and sacred landscapes.
Not surprisingly the Aztecs built their temples to resemble mountains.

10. The Physical Landscape
The land the Aztecs settled in was a swampy island in a shallow, salty lake.
But the Aztecs believed they were sent there by their god, so they were determined to survive.

11. The Physical Landscape
Examine the map on page 152.
Pay special attention to the elevation guide in the lower left corner.
How is the location of the Aztec home connected to their religious beliefs?

12. The Physical Landscape
The power of mountains
Mountains provided security
They also allowed flash floods
And often prevented rainfall
Solution: The Aztecs built a dam at one end of their lake to control the water level and an aqueduct to bring a constant flow of fresh water into the city.

13. The Physical Landscape
An Island Home
The Aztec built their city (Tenochtitlan) on Lake Texcoco.
This provided excellent protection from enemies.
Turn to page 154 and read the “Zoom In” section.

14. Chinampa

15. Chinampa – slide 2

16. The Physical Landscape
Changing Geography
Examine the map on page 155.
Identify the changes to the physical landscape that were made by the Aztecs.
Why would they do this? What advantages were there?