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Name: ______________________________
Answer Key
Show Me What You Know About Aztec Worldviews: Geography, Time, Beliefs
PART A: GEOGRAPHY
1. Definitions
Writing in complete sentences, define four (4) out of the seven possible words and
if possible give examples. (4 definitions x 3 marks = 12 marks)
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Age of Exploration
a. Time Period of travelling around and discovery
b. Spanish spread across the Atlantic
c. Spaniards met Aztecs
Plateau
a. One of the geographic landforms found where Aztecs live
b. large raised above sea level area of mostly level land
c. Between two mountains, there is a raised valley
d. An example is Lake Texcoco, there are many plateaus in Mexico
Rio Grande
a. One of the five major rivers
b. Goes from United States down to Mexico
c. Many Aztecs lived near the Rio Grande
d. Means big river
Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica
a. Time period/location of the Aztecs
b. Pre-Columbian = before Columbus arrived in 1519
c. Mesoamerica = middle America (latin), from Central Mexico down to Nicaragua
Valley of Mexico
a. This is the place where Aztecs settled after 150 years, arrived in 1200
b. Surrounded by mountains, large plateau
c. Centre of Aztec Civilization
Irrigation
a. Farming technique of the Aztecs
b. Creation of natural pathways, canals for water to flow from lakes to crops
c. Creates stability of harvests
Tourism (Hint: Video)
a. Tourism is when people travel the world
b. Tourists bring lots of money into the economy of different tourist destinations
c. Mexico is a tourist destination and is a major source of income for Mexicans.
Tenochtitlan
a. Where Aztecs found an eagle perched on a cactus
b. Built a large city, center of the Aztec civilization
c. It was the first temple they built for Huitzolopotchli
d. Huge city on a swampy island, Lake Texcoco
2. Geography: Paragraph
Answer one (1) out of the two possible short answer questions in paragraphs (introductory sentence, three
examples/evidence, concluding sentence). (1 paragraph x 8 marks = 8 marks)
Name: ______________________________
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Why were farming techniques so important for the Aztecs? (Hint: Discuss and explain more than
one farming technique and the different types of vegetables the Aztecs grow.)
Where did the Aztecs live and discuss the effect of the diversity of different geographic landforms
there and how it affects the Aztec worldviews. (Hint: Notes, Textbook, Video)
Five points for content, 2 for grammar, 1 extra for completion______________________
PART B: TIME
3. Time: Multiple Choice
Circle the best possible answer. (6 questions x 2 marks each = 12 marks)
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How long did the Aztecs travel for?
a.
b.
c.
d.
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Which season did the Aztecs
experience year-round?
a.
b.
c.
d.
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~ 79 years
~ 150 years
~ 3500 years
~ 6 years
March 21 and September 21
June 21 and December 21
March 21 and June 21
September 21 and December
21
What is arable soil?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Acidic soil
Soil that is useful for crops
Red soil
Thin soil
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The great stone calendar shows:
a. How the world began
b. How it will end
c.
That there are 250 days
d. All of the above.
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What year was the first Aztec temple
built?
a. 2012 CE
b. 1100 CE
c. 300 BCE
d. 1300 CE
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Summer
When are the two equinoxes?
a.
b.
c.
d.
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4. Time: True/False
Read each statement and evaluate if the statement is true or false and write ‘T’ or ‘F’ in the space provided.
If ‘False’ is answered for any of the statements, correct the statement by writing the ‘True’ response below.
(4 questions x 2 marks each = 8 marks)
True The Aztecs used analog time.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
False The altitude did not affect the temperature in Aztec territory.
The altitude did affect the temperature for Aztecs_______________________________________________
Name: ______________________________
False The Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico in ~ 1100 CE.
The Aztecs arrived in 1200 – 1250 CE__________________________________________________________
False The Aztecs came to MesoAmerica after the Maya and Inca.
The Aztecs came after Maya, before Inca, but they all lived there at the same time in different parts
PART C: BELIEFS
5. Beliefs: Visual analysis.
Choose one (1) out of the two Aztec Gods on the Promethean board and answer the questions below.
(1 God Analysis x 10 = 10 marks)
Why are religious beliefs for Aztecs important? (2 marks)
Religious beliefs affected their worldview and they believed that all things in their world had spiritual power,
and should be honoured as gods
Were Aztecs were a monotheistic or polytheistic religion? (1 marks)
Aztecs were a polytheistic religion.
Describe how the Aztecs to give honour to their gods and at least two reasons why they honour them? (3 marks)
The Aztecs would give honour by building monuments, temples and statues and performing sacrifices as gifts to
the gods. They honoured their gods: 1 – to acknowledge them, 2 – give thanks to them 3 - to avoid the
catastrophes that their rage could cause
What is the name of the Aztec God you chose? What is she/he/it the God of? (1 EASY mark)
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Quetzalcoatl: (Feathered Serpent) He is the wind god and also the god of knowledge.
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Tlaloc: (“he who makes things sprout”) He is the rain god.
Describe the image of the God – what are different aspects of the visual representation of the God and how do
they relate to the power of the God or to the Aztec people. (3 marks)
Quetzalcotl
 He is usually a friend to the people. He has
taught them many skills, such as picture
writing, art and science.\
 He taught men the calendar and devised
ceremonies.
 He is shown with a beard to represent age or
an old man.
 He wears the mask of a serpent and a hat
decorated with the feathers of a quetzal bird.
Tlaloc
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The rain he brings allow crops to grow.
Tlaloc also controls storms, thunder and
lightening.
He is shown holding lightening in the form of
a snake in one hand.
In the other hand he holds an axe which
makes thunder-bolts.
The jaguar he sometimes has coming from
his mouth is the roar of thunder.
Tlaloc is always shown with goggle eyes and
long teeth
BONUS QUESTION: HOW DO THE AZTECS THINK THE SUN WAS CREATED?
Name: ______________________________
A man jumped into fire.