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Common Core Writing
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Comfiroft Core Literacy &8,2,4 & 10
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p
he Aztee claimed that they originalty
wandered from Arthn, a sacred ground
somewhere in Northern Mexico. Their
nomadic lifestyle and unique languagq
Nahuatlm, kept them at arm's length from other
Mesoamerican civilizations. ln the 13th century they
attempted to settle into cefitral Mexica, but waring
among the surrounding city-states eventually
uprooted the Aztec peopte again. Seking refuge,
they fled and coloniued the small islands of lake
Texcoco. ln 1325, they bqan laying the foundation sf
their greatest cityTenochritlan upon witnessing an
ancient prophey come to life; The eagle perched on
a prickly pear eating a snake is captured for all
eternity on the Mexican flag and coat of arms. The
Artec's becarne fierce and conquered many of their
neighboring tribes, making Tenochtitlan one sf the
mightiest empires of central Mexico. This great Aztec
empire would later becorne what we modernly know
as Mexieo City.
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these Tlatohtin were considered slaves, they were
treated far kinder in the Aztec empire than typical
other Mesoamerica ernpires. ln addition to
aggression and coriguering; the Aztec appreciated the
value of trade, so theTlatohtinm or merchants also
slaves in
were respected in Aztec culture. These travelers
handed down their title and prestige through their
lineage. Towering above all these classes were the
Tc$hctin , rulers of various parts of the ernpire and
the king hirnsetf" Theirfamilies were stitl given honor
as nobles with the title sf pipiltin and enjoyed a life of
tranquility tucked into the island proper. To fufiher
complicate class structure, the Aztecs also allowed
Calpolli , or the big house, to thrive in their culture.
These massive house ccmplexes sheltered a
partieular family mixed with leaders and commoners.
Sometims but nst always, thry were related by
blood. The elite members of the compound would
offer their lower cousins better job opportunities or
provide good farming ground, or commoners could
manage their betters' land or do various other task
forthe leaders cr chiefs.
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Even as the self proclaimed 'Mexicas" acquired and
absorbed the riches and peoples surrounding their
The shallow, brackish waters of Lake Texcoco didn't
great na6on, they created an intrlcately iayered
social system which labeled every citizen into a
particular caste. Those that lived out$ide the garden
eftvironrnent, building a successful civiliration. They
used wattle and daub, wovefi boards sealed together
with mud, to box in and pile up ne$/ islands within
city of Tenochtitlan were dubbed macehual$n. These
commoners meant little to the noblemen and higher
ranking social class members. lf one managed to
impress a higher ranked citizen with skills related to
conquering or war, they were treated a: nobles and
called Cuauhipiltin, or eagle nobles. lf an Aztec
individual owed a great debt, he could chose to
enslave himself to resolve the discrepancy. Though
the lake to build upon. ln a similar fashion, they
stop the Aztecs frrorn adapting to their new
created irrigable land and intricate raised gardens
called chinampas, all with canals for cances to go
between them. These gardens were ideal fcr crop
growing, and often yielded seven growth cycles a
year. Corn, hemp, beans, avocado, squash, peppers,
and tobacco made up the majority of crops. Aztec
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Common Core titeracV 6{.2,4 & 10
farmers grew so much bounty, theyfed thernselves,
the upper classes ofthe city, and still had enough to
trade in the markets. All the islands were connected
by causeways to the mainland, and bridges were built
so that every part ofTenodtti$an were accessible by
foot and canoe. The bridges could also be pulled in as
a means of safety io the case of an attack
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The continuation of Tenochtitlan's construction
marked selreral rnore major achievements" When
Mocteruma I neigned, he finished the building of a
double 4ueduct spt€m and a lee to the East of
Lake Te:<coco, These massive improvemen8 supplied
fresh water to the lake for crops and Tenochtltlan's
growing population. At hs peak, h was estimated that
the Artec pcpulous was upwards of 2€l0rfil0 peqte,
one of the largest of its tirne" ln addition to iys status
as a dominating civilization, the Aztecs had other
significant accomplishments. A codex of larrs were
written to maintaifi order, and the laws were very
specific on how to behave in euery situation. lt was
very similarto later countries social requirements.
but one ofthe first to he recorded. School was also
required to learn the law. The laws were cornpiled in
largely pictorial books, meant to symbolize
appropriate behaviors. These book still remain
among the bet primary sources from the Aztecs.
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The Aztecs were
potgheisdc, meaning they
worshipped multiplegods. Kings were also idolized
since their people thought that these leaders could
intercede with the gcds. The main componefit of
their religion was that the Gods needed to be
nouriched with blocd. To preuent upsetting the gods
and suffering disastrous eve[ts, they sffered
sacrifices. Captives from regional conqu€str were
often sacrifisad to the fus. All such rituals were
done on an aher in a temple, the most prominent of
which was in the cer*er of TEoochtitlan. A massive
stone calendar was carved outside the t€rfide in
L479, and it deplcts the sshedule of uorship for eech
god. Every 52 years, the religious calendarand
planting calendar r,vould align and the Aztecs would
hold the lter Fire Festiral, a way to appsrse the
God's sothq/d hold back disaster.
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economy. This brute-force sirstem, would ultimately
assist in their demise. Still, there were sorne items
that Aztec farmers wanted, but could not grow. Thus,
the conquering leaders later in the Aztec's history
expanded their lands as far as the Gulf of Mexico,
where rare items were discovered. Trading with other
tribes from Central America and returning with exotic
fare offered rnetnbers ofthe merchant class prestige.
Each big house had its own market near their temple
in the heart of the complex, but the main market of
the Aztec empire was in Ttateblco, Tenochtitlan's
sister city to the north. Thoqh barter was more
somrnon, wcasionallythree items were used as
currecc$ hm money, rods of copper of a standard
weight and size, rich tasting and energizing Bcao
heam, and Quachdi, a higfrly valued bolt of cloth"
Surprisingb, children were often traded into slavery
for needed geods.
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The Afiecs adapted a ball game known as ollamaliztli
from their Mayan neighbors. Players hit a solid rubber
balt through a stone ring or across a line at the center
cf the playi:rgfield. There were ns ruls on how to
get the ball from the opposition, so many players got
injured. Great players earned their way into the elite
class. Another pastime Aztecs embraced
forfame was
called Volador, or Flying Bird. Players would dress in
elaborate bird cetumes, tie 6&90 fmt rope from the
top of a pole, grip the other end of the rope with
their thighs, and swing around the pole. Points were
given for style, dress, and speed. Whoenrer made the
best bird won the games and respet among the
people.
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The Spaniards were responsible forthe destruction of
the Aztec Empire. tlernindo Cort€z landed on the
Gulf Coast in 1519 and joined forces with the Aztecs
biggest rival aad vktims of having to pay tribute, the
Confederry of Tlaxcala- llostilities grew as they wore
out their welccme, and it brought ahut the
Mesease h the Greet T€rnde and the death of
Moctezuma ll. The Spanish fled, but unknowingly left
khind a devastating silent killer: smallpox. When,
they returned a year later the majority of the
population was either dead or ir#scted. Thef
completely destroryed the 6lty and most of the Aztec
citizens.
Tributq or payment ftrom neighboring tribes in return
for not being attacked, was the base ofthe Aztec
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Common core Writing
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Common Core Uteracy
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Complete the following questions by using the reading Histartcal Snopshot: A Moya
1.. List the section subheadlng where you can find the
Ciose Reading lnvestigation,
following key concepts for social science:
Geography:
SocialClasses:
Leadership:
Religion:
Economy:
Achievements:
2. Leodership: Write an excerpt from the reading that best represents how Aztec leaders srere treated by
their people.
3. Ecanamy: Describe three items used as currency among the Aztec people.
4. Achievements: Why did Artec Ruler Moctezuma I build a levee and aqueducts?
5. Geography: Which modern city sits on the ruins of Tenochtitlan?
6. Religion: What was the significance of the New Fire Festival and when was it held?
7. Economy: How did forcing neighboring tribes
to pay tribute contribute to the downfall of the Aztec?
8. Leodership: Describe how the big house mingled elite and commoners of Aztec society.
9. Achievenents: What did the Aztecs do to ensure travel between the islands they created and the
mainland around Texcoco Lake? What two kinds of transporatation did the Aztecs use?
LA. Vocobulary: The meaning of the word &eart in the following sentence is best deftned as:
"Each big house had its own market near their temple in the heart of the cornplex..."
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