Aztec+2

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Tessa Brass, Rachel Samson, Megan Kinna, Karma Thon =**Geography **= Aztec was located in central Mexico. In Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. Once they settled in 1250 their capital city was Tenochtitlan. Aztec was located East to the gulf of Mexico and South of Guatemala. When the Aztec's were searching for a place to settle one of the gods that they believed in told them to settle in a place where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth. They settled in Tenochtitlan, which means place of the cactus. The ancient civilization Aztec is now known as Mexico because it is located in Mexico Valley. Tenochtitlan is now known as Mexico City. Chapultepec is now a beautiful park in Mexico. The land that the Aztecs lived on had every resource they needed. They had valley rivers with lots of fish, insects, shrimp, tadpoles, and a natural pasta grew called ahuatle. Around the ocean they ate, and fished for crabs, oysters, fish and turtles. There were wild animals such as rabbits, snakes, armadillos, deer, pumas, coyotes and wild turkey. They grew many different crops including cocoa, vanilla, bananas, squash, pumpkin, beans, chili, tobacco, onions, red tomatoes, green tomatoes, sweet potatoes, jicama, huautli and maize. The Aztecs climate was hot and humid. The Aztecs got lots of rain which helped them grow many crops. Their land was fertile and difficult to attack which helped them survive. The ancient civilization of Aztec had plenty of food which they could live off of. To their nei ghbours, the Aztecs were fierce and annoying nomads. The Aztecs didn't have many neighbours but some of their neighbours were Tlaxcala and Huejotzingo (eastern kingdoms). The Aztecs appeared to be isolated.

Time Period
 The Aztecs emerged as a civilization in 1250. They left searching for a new home in 1100 Then arrived in the Valley of Mexico in 1195 then in 1250 they had finally settled by Lake Texicoco. The Aztecs were at their peak about 100 years after they settled, which was in the mid 1300's. When they were at their peak they became a vast and powerful city. Aztecs came from the remote North, around the 13th century. They were migratory (traveled from place to place) at first, exploring across the Mexican Valley struggling to survive. Aztec stopped their migratory pattern on the south west of Lake Texcochttpo as they beheld an eagle sitting on the stem of a prickly pear. He was hold a serpent in thi s talons and his wings were open to the sun. The Aztecs saw this as an omen, announcing the location of their future city and apital, Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs fell at the Year of 1519. The Aztec ancient civilization started to fall because the Spanish explorers attacked there city with 508 explorers while they came to search for gold. After two years the Spandardians Which left the people of Aztec with diseases and a destroyed city which then all the people of Aztec were left with nothing so they all died off by the year of 1521.

**Government**

In Aztec, people could not vote on who they wanted to be emperor, the emperors were only family related and only men could rule. There were no Queens in this Ancient civilization, but the emperor would have many wives so he could have kids and choose the next emperor. Some of the Ancient Aztec people had more power over others. The emperor had power over everyone in Aztec of everyone, following were the nobles, then the priests, the career warriors, the administrators (such as tax collectors), soldiers, common farmers, and slaves were at the bottom of the list. The Aztecs had many laws and they also had some strange laws. One of the Aztecs laws was about slavery. On the way to the slave market, where the slave was about to be sold, if the slave managed to get away and was able to run the palace without being caught then that slave was free. The only person who was allowed to chase the slave, was the master's son. If anyone else interfered with the race then that person became a slave. One of the other strange laws was that y ou could confess that you did something bad to one of the priests, named Tlazolteotl, and you would be forgiven. Once and only once could you do this. One of the worse crimes was drunkenness. The punishment for drunkenness was death. Another law with the punishment of death was thievery. All of the laws were written down and kept safely. Aztec did have courts, there would be 4 judges and assistants behind them. A court session as an Aztec would be like this, the judge would record the case. Then they studied the complaints, and when they studied their truth they sought out and inquired of informers and witnesses who could size up the plaintiffs, [who knew] what had been stolen and what was charged. The slaves had few rights but still had some. They had the rights to marry, buy property, and any children they had were born free. Before a master can sell his slave he must punish him 3 times in front of witnesses. If a slave has been sold at least three times by 3 different masters, he could then be sold for sacrifice.

Rise and Fall
The ancient Aztecs rose because they had fertile land for growing many crops. They also lived on an island so no one could invade them. They fell because the Spaniards attacked, leading the Aztecs to a downfall in there civilization. The Aztecs wanted to control the Valley of Mexico. The Aztecs waged war on any tribes that resisted their rule. The Spaniards conquered the Aztec empire. The ancient civilization of Aztec was only conquered once. Yes, their golden age was when they were forced to move an d then found an area that had an abundant of food, strategic sight and waterways for transportation. ==

 ==Socials Classes/Slavery - By Rachel ==

The Aztec society was divided into 3 classes: slaves, commoners, and nobility. The nobles and the co mmoners had lots of power as well as the craftsmen and merchants. The craftsmen and merchants had a higher social status in society. The merchants were a privilege class. There was a number of different positions that worked like sub- classes. Almost all the levels of government could be shared with the commoners as well as the noble. The common people were called macehualli. Many of the macehualli worked the land. In a land where war was common, a soldier had a good chance of rising on the ranks. A warrior who captured many prisoners could be knighted. If you are knighted you move up higher. Th e Aztec society was divided into 3 classes: slaves, commoners, and nobility. Slavery was a big part of Aztec. The slaves wore a wooden collar around their neck so that it was harder to run away. Lots of nobles had slaves. Once you bought a slave it was hard to get rid of one. Slaves were called tlacotin in Aztec. The life of a slave in Aztec was pretty much like the life of a freeman. They could own their own property and they could marry another slave or any freewoman. If your parent was a slave that didn't mean that you were a slave. You could not be born into slavery. Slaves could also buy their freedom, but they had to fine the money that the owner paid to buy them. Which is usually a lot of money. The Aztecs had one very interesting law about slavery. On the way to the slave market, where the slave was about to be sold or resold, if a slave got away and managed to run to the palace without being stopped, that slave was immediately free. The only person who could chase the slave was the master's son. If anyone else interfered with the race, that person became a slave. The slaves were forced to work or be sacrificed. The Aztecs don't really know who built some of their temples and building. No slavery wasn't based on race because there were only two ways that you could become a slave. You could be voluntary sold into slavery. You could become a slave as punishment for a crime you had committed.



Religion- By Tessa
 They were based in their perception of nature, its time space, and cycles. The Aztecs did not like to destroy nature, but embrace it and find harmony within it. The Aztecs believed the Sun fought the darkness and rose to save mankind. The Aztecs were polytheistic and had 1000 gods. The Aztecs believed one of the most important Gods was the Sun and another important god was Lightning. However, the main God was Hopochtliduizil. It was linked by trade, custom, religion. Yes, the Aztecs believed in 13 heavens and 9 hells. The Aztecs respected there gods so much, they build temples Teocalli. They would push a dead body, down the stairs of a temple. Women who died giving birth also enjoyed this privilege.



Technology - By Megan
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Many innovations were made by the Aztec civilization including drills, popcorn, wheel (these were only used in toys), Axe blades, atlatl (a stick with a handle on one end and a hook or socket that engages a light spear or "dart" on the other. The flipping motion of the atlatl propels a light spear much faster and farther than it could be thrown by hand), macuahuitl (a wooden club containing sharp pieces of volcanic glass, bows and arrows.) They developed dugout canoes with which they transported themselves and their goods throughout the many canals, lakes, and waterways that were found in the Valley of Mexico. Chinampas (were small, rectangle-shaped areas of fertile land to grow crops on the shallow lake beds) They had two calendars Calendar 1 - The Xiuhpohualli and Calendar 2 Tonalpohualli. The Xiuhpohualli had a 365 day year, (was very helpful for planning your farming and predicting the weather.) There were 18 months, each 20 days long, or 4 to 5 day weeks. Then to bring the year up to 365 days there were 5 "unlucky" days added. Like our calendar each year was divided into 4 seasons. The Tonalpohualli calendar had rituals that were all divided up among the gods. The gods will get all out of balance. There were 20 signs, and 13 numbers. 13x20=260, the total number of days in the "sacred year". The 13 day period is a kind of Aztec week. Not only was every day ruled by a god, each of the weeks were also ruled by a god. They used many methods included irrigation, fertilizing, and even building terraces on hills that were previously not able to be farmed on. The Aztecs had one idea that was different from any other civilization was the chinampas. Chinampas were floating gardens built on swamp. They grew corn. They also grew various vegetables (such as avocados, beans, chili peppers, squash, and tomatoes), and sometimes even flowers. Unfortunately, the Ancient Aztecs had no animals or machines to help them work the land. They didn't even have plows because all they needed was a canoe. There only roads were designed to travel on foot. There houses were made of wood and loam, roofs were made of reeds. They had pyramids, temples and palaces that were generally made of stone. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 123.2%;">



<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 160%;">Economy- By Tessa, Rachel, Karma, and Megan
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> It was important because that way they would have different things rather than everyone being a farmer or something. The Aztecs didn't have any medal money so they used cacao beans /chocolate to buy clothes, tools, and for a heavy price jewelry. Merchants traded rare items like jewelry, cotton, rubber, and products made from animals like feathers. The Ancient Aztecs had no metal money to trade with so they traded basic goods like Cacao beans (were popular with the people, who used them to make chocolate), tools, clothes, and jewelry (which had a very high price).This currency was most often used in local markets. Another use of this currency was by caravans of merchants that traveled south towards the region that is now Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. These merchants traded rare items such as jewelry for other rare items such as rubber, cotton, and products made from animals (like feathers of tropical birds and jaguar skins). The Aztecs transported their merchandise by canoe or by slaves who carried large amounts of goods on their backs. Since they lived in the middle of a lake it was easier to use a canoe to trade goods.