1. D: 11/8/12
A: Notes of the Aztecs
S: How were the Aztecs
and Mayans similar?
H: None
w.o.d: chinampas
Warm-Up: Aztec Reading

2. Word of the Day
WORD DEIFINTION SENTENCE PICTURE
Name the
Aztecs gave The Aztecs
to the used the
chinampas
raised fields swampy
on which lakes of
they grew Mexico to
crops. build
chinampas.

3. Aztec Basics
a. 1200 to 1521 when Spain took over Mexico
b. The spoke Nahuatl that birthed words like
avocado, chocolate & tomato
c. Aztec belong to a calpolli or big family
i. Each owned a plot of land to meet the needs of
its members
d. Men were warriors, women were
homemakers
e. All marriages were arranged
f. There was no money they used the barter
system

4. Aztec Religion
a. Many gods were worshiped –
each day, part of the day, month
and city had its on god
b. Each month there was a
celebration to the god
c. Human sacrifices were done by
cutting out the heart

6. Aztec Government & Society
a. Emperor was chosen by the nobles from
the royal family
b. Military units were stationed through out
the land to keep order
c. A great noble commanded each army &
served as a governor
d. The clan was the basis of society and made
up of extended family

7. Aztec Government & Society
e. Four Classes of Society
i. Nobles - owned the calpolli and
additional land
ii. Commoners - worked land or made
crafts in return for protection
iii. Serfs - farmed the land of the
nobles
iv. Slaves - were made up of
conquered people, criminals, or

8. City of Tenochtitlan
a. Built on an island on lake Texcoco
b. Canals were dug to make waterway roads
like in Venice
c. There were 4 sections of 20 clans each.
i. Each clan had its own temple & school
d. The plaza was at the center with temples,
ball courts, homes for the priests, housing
for the military & a marketplace

9. Aztec Education, Writing, & Calendar
a. Both girls & boys attended Telpuchcalli to learn about
Aztec citizenship history, traditions, religion & arts &
crafts
b. Boys learned about warfare
c. Girls learned about singing & dancing
d. Some kids attend Calmecac to become priests
e. Writing was done by using pictures that represented
ideas or sounds
f. Calendars
i. Lunar based on movement of the moon of 13 months of 20 days
ii. Based on the sun the second calendar was 365 days like the
Mayans
iii. Had 52 year eras

10. Aztec Art & Games
a. All art was based on religion
b. The temple was the biggest and best piece of art
c. Sculptures were made out of stone, wood, gems
& stones
d. Jewelry was made of gold copper, & some silver
e. Pottery was made and used in everyday life
f. Women wove cloth. The more decorated your
clothing was the wealthier you were
g. Tlachtli was a game played were you threw a ball
into stone ring
h. Patolli was similar to backgammon

11. Aztec Agriculture
a. Used slash & burn farming and planted
seeds with sticks
b. Built chinampas to grow foods
c. Grew maize, beans, squash, chili peppers,
tomato
d. Raised deer, rabbits, ducks, geese, dogs &
turkey
e. Chocolate from the cacao bean & chicle
from the gum tree
f. After harvest foods were sold in the market
place after some was given to nobles

12. Aztec Medicine
a. Three ways to get ill were punishment from
the gods, black magic from enemies, or
natural causes
b. Medicines were made from plants & herbs
c. The ticitl or shaman was called in for
serious illnesses
d. Two most used plants were yauhtli &
iztauhyatl
e. The maguey plant was used on battle
wounds
f. They performed surgeries to remove
tumors or seal wounds

13. Aztec Warfare
a. All able bodied men had to be a warrior
b. When boys were 13 the began training for
battle
c. Men were honor when they had lots of
captives
d. Battles were fought to collect tribute & find
sacrifices
e. They covered up with cotton armor & many
weapons
f. The goal was always to capture not kill