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Unit 2
Worldview in Conflict
Aztec and Spanish
Aztec and Spanish in Conflict
The war that
developed between
the Aztec and
Spanish was more
than a series of
battles.
It was also a culture
clash between
societies.
Big Questions
In what ways did intercultural contact
between the Aztecs and the Spanish
affect each society’s worldview?
Where are we starting?
What do we know about the Aztecs?
What do we want to know?
Chapter 7: The People of
the Sun
Unit 2: Worldviews in Conflict
Inquiry Question
In what ways do a
group’s collective
beliefs and
experiences contribute
to shaping a unique
identity?
Vocabulary
Aztec
Aqueduct
Chinampa
Compulsory
Tribute
Artifact
Dike (add to handout)
What’s in a word?
19th century historians
created the term
Aztec.
Referring to the
civilization created by
the Mexica (a
nomadic tribe) during
the 15th century.
Aztlan – the place from which the Mexica believed
they set out from to find their new home
Where Were the Aztecs?
In the area of present
day Mexico.
Main city is where
Mexico City is today.
Pg. 152
The Aztecs (p.151)
Originally were in the
desert of northern
Mexico.
A god told the people
to migrate south.
Aztecs travelled for
150 years.
Eventually got to the
Valley of Mexico.
Question Period
What effect do you think the experience of
hardship and wandering might have had on
the Aztec sense of identity?
Can you name another group of people who
wandered the desert before being led to a
promised land?
Codex Mendoza
Notes Package
After reading Page 151 –work with a
partner and complete the timeline of the
legend of the origin of the Aztecs. (page 2 of
notes)
Inquiry Question How might a society’s worldview influence
its ability to adapt to its physical
geography?
The Physical Landscape
Think of the Rocky Mountains
– Is it a place to ski?
– A place to go biking or hiking?
– A place to relax?
The type of person you are (interests,
attitude, knowledge) influences how you
respond to geography.
The Physical Landscape (con’t)
Aztec’s saw
mountains as:
– Sacred
– Holy
– Bringing people closer
to the gods.
The Physical Landscape (con’t)
Two landscaped:
– Physical
– Sacred
Connected to each
other
Temples that were
built for gods were
pyramids in the shape
of mountains.
The Power of Mountains
Sense of security.
– Like walls of a fort or
city.
Protected them from
invaders.
Allowed them to see
enemies advancing.
The Power of Mountains (Con’t)
Caused problems
– Flash floods during
rain.
Major flood in 1500
forced Aztec engineers
to build a dam.
Prevented rain
– Built aqueducts
(brought fresh water)
An Island Home
Lake Texcoco
provided safety.
3 causeways to
connect to mainland.
Bridges were designed
to be destroyed.
Population exploded.
A Floating Island?
Chinampa – floating
island.
Built new land
– Drive stakes into lake
to make rectangle.
– Laid reed mats and
piled on soil.
All done by hand – no
animals to help.
Changing the Geography
Determined to live on
the island.
No rivers fed the
lakes.
Through evaporation,
natural salt was left
behind
Built barrier to prevent
flooding.
– Fresh water available
now
FAST FORWARD: Mexico City is
Sinking
Built on the ruins of
Tenochtitlan.
Spanish rebuilt the
city in 1522.
Began draining the
city.
Provide water for 20
Million.
9 meters in 100 years.
Think it Through
Consulting with Aztec
engineers may have
helped avoid some of
the problems the
Spanish builders
experienced. In what
other areas might
Aztec knowledge have
helped the Spanish?
Sacred Landscapes: Aztec Gods
Controlled every
aspect of their world.
Told them how to live.
Many gods.
Some more important
than others.
Huitzilopchtli
Told Aztecs to leave
the north.
Sacrificed people to
give this god strength
and overcome night.
Tribal and warlike.
Tezcatlipoca
Most powerful god.
Name means
“Smoking Mirror.”
– Used a black mirror to
see the future
Lord of the Night Sky.
Battled with
Huitzilopochtli.
Quetzalcoatl
God of wind.
Name means
“feathered serpent.”
Was offered flowers,
incense, and birds.
Fought Tezcatlipoca
and left the valley.
Would return in “One
Reed”
Cortez?
Tlaloc
God of rain.
Unleashed deadly
floods or prevented
rain for years.
– Caused drought and
famine.
Feared because he
controlled survival.
Measuring Time
Aztec calendar had
close connection to
gods and humans.
– Sacred and physical
landscape.
2 calendars – solar and
sacred.
– Sacred was 260 days
– Took 52 years to
“catch up” to solar.
Stone Calendar
Dedicated to
Huitzilopochtli.
Shows how world began.
Four eras before present
–
–
–
–
1st destroyed by jaguars
2nd by hurricanes
3rd by fiery rain
4th by flood
5th will be destroyed by
earthquake.
Human Sacrifice
Deeply religious
significance.
Strongest expression.
– Victims blood actually
fed the gods.
World would end if
gods not feed.
War gave Aztecs
victims.
People of the Sun
Human Sacrifice
Deeply religious
significance.
Strongest expression.
– Victims blood actually
fed the gods.
World would end if
gods not feed.
War gave Aztecs
victims.
People of the Sun
Other Rituals
New Fire Ceremony
– Most important ceremony
– Occurred every 52 years, as the
religious calendar made a full circle
– Every fire would be extinguished,
leaving only darkness
– Priests would then climb Uixachtlan,
a sacred mountain, and light a fire
– A ritual sacrifice would be
performed
– Then the priests would return and
light all the fires again
– Done to prevent the end of the fifth
world
And there’s more…
Ritual Weeping


That’s right, the Aztecs
saw crying as a form of
purification and
cleansing
They cried a lot
And there’s more…
Ritual purification
– Each house had a
small room with a
bath that would be
filled with hot
water resulting in
steam, used to
purify the soul
– As well as for
hygiene
A Place to Worship
- The Aztecs believed the gods lived in the
skies and other sacred places
- Temples built to simulate mountains, where
the physical and spiritual worlds meet
- As a means to simulate
these sacred places in their
city, the Aztecs built
great pyramids
Tenochtitlan: Center of the World
Earth was flat and
round like a pie.
Divided into four
sections.
Tenochtitlan was
center.
Gods assigned them
here.
Tenochtitlan
Also divided into four.
Middle of city were
numerous temples.
– Hundreds around city
– Brought gods closer
Tenochtitlan was a
model of the world.
“Venice of the New
World”.
Expanding an Empire
Read page 165
The Aztecs were the
most dominant force
in the world – why
would they need to
trade?
Expanding an Empire
Conquering
Alliances
Trader and warrior
were great pride.
Expanding an Empire
Merchants traveled
with hundreds of
slaves.
– Carried goods
Gone for months
Acted as spies
– Maps and reports
Used to expand
Expanding an Empire
“Conquer all the
people in the
universe”
Largest empire in
North America
Society was more
important than
individual
Prepared to sacrifice
for group.
Expanding an Empire
Baby boy grew up
with a bow and shield
– Ready for war
Military was
compulsory.
“Coward” was worst
insult.
Over to You
In a group of 4,
discuss question 3 on
page 168
For homework,
complete question 1
on page 168.
Cheat Sheet
Chinampas
P.162 (Spanish)
Calendar
People of the Sun
Relationship with
Huitzilopochtli
City of Tenochtitlan