THIS IS A STORY ABOUT…

AGE OF EXPLORATIONTwo societies, both wealthy and powerful.

Building Empires

Completely unknown to each other

Teaser: they were about to collide

Quick ThinkWhat are parts of Worldviews?

What is history?

Imagine the first contact between two groups who come from very different places with different histories and different worldviews. What would happen?

FIRST CONTACT

Aztecs and Spanish

Societies

AZTECS: GEOGRAPHY

GEOGRAPHY CONTINUEDCan you say diverse?

DesertsMountainsTropical ForestsRanch LandRich Farm LandSeacoasts (WEST/EAST)

PLATEAU – large raised area of mostly level land

Rivers

Rio GrandeUsamacinta

UsumacintaLargest rivers

Pre-Columbian Meso-AmericaTime in Americas before Columbus (1519)

Region stretching from central Mexico to Nicaragua

GEOGRAPHY CONTINUED

Live in central basin aka VALLEY OF MEXICO

Lake Texcoco: largest of five lakes

CENTRE OF AZTEC CIVLIZATION

GEOGRAPHY CONTINUED1. Larger cities located around lakes

2. Increase of population of city dwellers

3. More reliance on farmers in the outer areas to meet their food needs

4. Variety of farming techniques, different kinds of food

abundance of corn, chili peppers, squash, tomatoes, beans, and other kinds of food

IRRIGATIONStop and think…

IrrigationValleys 

For Farming

Dams divert water from natural springs to the fields

Why?

harvests on a regular basis

Other Farming TechniquesSlash and burn

GEOGRAPHY CONTINUED

Canals

Waterways

Transportation

AZTECS: TIMETemperature/Seasons

Arable Soil

Harvests

Spring-like in the valleyWhy?

ALTITUDE!

TIME CONTINUED

ANALOG OR DIGITAL?

AZTECS: BELIEFS

Most cultures have stories and beliefs about the creation of the world and the origins of its people… what are some creation stories in Canada?

AZTECS: BELIEFSHuitzilopochtli: main god of the Aztec

Incarnation of the Sun

What did he tell his followers?

BELIEFS CONTINUED

Important Dates~ 1100: Leave Aztlan

~ 1200: Arrive in Valley of Mexico

~1250: Finally settle in Lake Texcoco

~ 1300: First temple

Tribe ReflectionsName two interesting things you learned

today

Name something you’re confused about still

HOMEWORK – use your notes to answer the following questionsWhat are the three important farming

techniques used?

What was the key events in Aztec history that affected their worldview in A) GEOGRAPHYB) TIMEC) HISTORY

How long did they travel for?

Teaser: Spanish Exploration

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/games/fling/aztecs/