1. Journey from Aztlán Keith Scott: The American Association of Anthropology doesn’t have finitive standards for anthropology education. For now, we need to draw from related disciplines within the social studies. Keith Scott: The American Association of Anthropology doesn’t have finitive standards for anthropology education. For now, we need to draw from related disciplines within the social studies.

2. Keith Scott: 1. Territory of Alta California 2. Sonora and Sinaloa 3. Territory of Baja California 4. Territory of Nuevo Mexico 5. Chihuahua 6. Coahuila and Texas 7. Durango 8. Nuevo León 9. Jalisco 10. Zacatecas 11. San Luis Potosí 12. Tamaulipas 13. Territory of Colima 14. Guanajuato 15. Querétaro 16. Veracruz 17. Michoacán 18. México 19. Tlaxcala 20. Puebla 21. Oaxaca 22. Soconusco 23. Chiapas 24. Tabasco 25. Yucatán Keith Scott: 1. Territory of Alta California 2. Sonora and Sinaloa 3. Territory of Baja California 4. Territory of Nuevo Mexico 5. Chihuahua 6. Coahuila and Texas 7. Durango 8. Nuevo León 9. Jalisco 10. Zacatecas 11. San Luis Potosí 12. Tamaulipas 13. Territory of Colima 14. Guanajuato 15. Querétaro 16. Veracruz 17. Michoacán 18. México 19. Tlaxcala 20. Puebla 21. Oaxaca 22. Soconusco 23. Chiapas 24. Tabasco 25. Yucatán 1. Territory of Alta California 2. Sonora and Sinaloa 4. Territory of Nuevo Mexico 5. Chihuahua 6. Coahuila and Texas Keith Scott: Map of Mexico prior to Mexican American War, 1848 Keith Scott: Map of Mexico prior to Mexican American War, 1848

3. Around 800 A.D., or perhaps even as late as the 1200s, a group of people immigrated to the Valley of México from the legendary land of Aztlán—thought to be in northern México or the American Southwest, perhaps in the four corners area. Keith Scott: Drawing from a related discipline, the movement of these people are best understood within the realm of human, or cultural, geography. Keith Scott: Drawing from a related discipline, the movement of these people are best understood within the realm of human, or cultural, geography.

4. The Aztec language, Nahuátl, and the language spoken by the Pueblo Indians are related. A million people, mostly in México, still speak Nahuátl, but that number is dropping. The Aztécs and the Pueblo may have a common ancestor in the Anasazi, a people who disappeared 7000 years ago. Keith Scott:Linguistics is a discipline within anthropology FYI...

5. But back to our wandering tribe….They were not usually welcomed wherever they went, and were derisively referred to as Chichimecs. At one time they were enslaved by another tribe. They called themselves Méxica. We know them as the Aztecs They developed a reputation as fierce fighters. But back to our wandering tribe….They were not usually welcomed wherever they went, and were derisively referred to as Chichimecs. At one time they were enslaved by another tribe. They called themselves Méxica. We know them as the Aztecs. They developed a reputation as fierce fighters. Keith Scott: Within the discipline of history, it’s fair to say that the Aztécs made a little bit on their way to the valley. Keith Scott: Within the discipline of history, it’s fair to say that the Aztécs made a little bit on their way to the valley.

6. Their religion developed, too, with a pantheon of gods led by the sun god, Huitzilipochtli, a warrior god Who required human sacrifice. Aztéc legend has it that Huitzilipochtli is the god who urged them on to the place where they would build Tenochtitlán. Keith Scott: The Aztecs were extremely motivated in the hereafter, owing to the harshness of their lives along the way to Mexico. Warfare was valued, and warriors who died in battle were immediately taken into heaven. A woman could also be taken immediately into heaven if she died in childbirth. Keith Scott: The Aztecs were extremely motivated in the hereafter, owing to the harshness of their lives along the way to Mexico. Warfare was valued, and warriors who died in battle were immediately taken into heaven. A woman could also be taken immediately into heaven if she died in childbirth.

7. The religion emphasized the dark side of human experience. One early celebration, which has developed into the current celebration of Día de los Muertos can be traced to the festivities held during the Aztéc month of Miccailhuitontli, ritually presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl ("Lady of the Dead"), and dedicated to children and the dead. Aztéc month of MiccailhuitontliAztéc month of Miccailhuitontli Keith Scott: The church did its best to transform pagan holidays and practices into Christian observances. Day of the Dead was subsumed by All Saints Day, though it still retains its original devotion and practice, for the most part. Keith Scott: The church did its best to transform pagan holidays and practices into Christian observances. Day of the Dead was subsumed by All Saints Day, though it still retains its original devotion and practice, for the most part.

8. Aztéc prophecies told them that they would find a new home and that there would be signs. Those signs included— an eaglean eagle a snakea snake a cactusa cactus Keith Scott: The item in the corner is an Aztéc calendar, a complicated mathematical device that still isn’t completely understood. Keith Scott: The item in the corner is an Aztéc calendar, a complicated mathematical device that still isn’t completely understood. An Aztéc Calendar

9. On their journey they discovered an eagle, clutching a snake, perched upon a cactus on an island in a shallow lake in the Valley of México On their journey they discovered an eagle, clutching a snake, perched upon a cactus on an island in a shallow lake in the Valley of México. It was a swampy mess, and they had to build their city by driving logs into the swamp to create foundations. Their produce gardens floated on masses of reeds and mud called chinampas.

10. There they built the city of Tenochtitlán, which is now called México City. Keith Scott: The Spaniards thought Tenochtitlan was repugnant, so they built over it. Even today builders are still unearthing parts of the original city. Perhaps their disgust found its roots in such things as devotional walls of skulls, or pyramids designed so that sacrificed blood would actually flow off their four corners. Keith Scott: The Spaniards thought Tenochtitlan was repugnant, so they built over it. Even today builders are still unearthing parts of the original city. Perhaps their disgust found its roots in such things as devotional walls of skulls, or pyramids designed so that sacrificed blood would actually flow off their four corners.

11. Wall of Skulls: The Catédral Metropolitana was built by the Spaniards in the 1520's on top of the site of the Aztecs' Wall of Skulls, which was like an alter they put skulls of the sacrificed on.

12. The image of eagle, cactus, and snake serves as Mexico’s Great Seal, which is displayed in the center of the Mexican flag.

13. The Aztéc Empire disappeared -- but not the people. This current map shows modern-day México. The hearth of the Aztécs is now in the United States. Keith Scott: A hearth in geographical terms may be a homeland or place of significance revered by a particular culture. What other hearths can you think of? Kosovo Israel Palestine It does not have to be a place where the people live anymore. Keith Scott: A hearth in geographical terms may be a homeland or place of significance revered by a particular culture. What other hearths can you think of? Kosovo Israel Palestine It does not have to be a place where the people live anymore.