Tanner Deniston: Creator of the Website
This website contains information regarding the Aztec people.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Interesting Facts on the Aztecs

-Aztecs homes were made of adobe.
-Daily worship was determined by a calendar that consisted of 260 days. 
-Each hour, day and week was ruled by a certain Aztec god.
-Boys attended school and studied religion, crafts, history and military training.
-The paper the Aztecs used was made from fig tree bark.
-The Aztecs used a system of hieroglyphics for their writing.
-The tools and weapons were not made of metal they were made of stone and wood.
-Most of the weapons that the Aztecs used were made of obsidian.
 -Specially selected boys and girls attended special religious schools to become priests and priestess.
-Tecnochtitlan was built on an island located in Lake Texcoco.

Aztec Society

The Aztec high end of society was divided into three main parts. This included the warrior elite, the hereditary nobility, and the high priests. The warrior elite class consisted of those of noble birth who had proved themselves in battle. The hereditary nobles were part of the ruling class. They enjoyed perks that only those of the same class recieved. The lower classes consisted of the commoners, serfs, day laborers, and at the bottom were slaves. These classes were alike in that they worked daily and did not recieve any special treatment like those of the higher classes. Some slaves were sacrificed while others were put to work for the higher classes. The punishment for many criminal asts in the Aztec society was slavery. These individuals had to work for their freedom again. 

Aztec Religion: Gods & Goddesses

Talocan
Home of the Aztec gods and goddesses.
 Coatlicue
This goddess represents the pain of life
 Tezcatlipoca
God of magic, war and death
 Xipe Totec
God of spring and new life and the god of suffering.
 Xochipilli
Prince of flowers, god of dawn, dance and love
 Huehuetecti
God of fire
 Tloque Nahuaque
Lord of everywhere, the one supreme force, both male and female.
 Quetzalcoatl
God of knowledge, creation, priesthood, and wind.

 Chantico
Goddess of the hearth.
 Tlaloc
God of rain.
 Mictlantecuhtl
God of the dead. 
 Chalchiuhtlicue
Goddess of the lakes and streams.

 Chicomecoatl
Goddess of maize (corn).
 Tezcatlipoca
God of fate and creation.
 Huitzilopochtli
God of war, sun, and the nation.
Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/

Book Report

The 1300’s Headlines in History: Book Report

The 1300’s Headlines in History, written by Stephen Currie, is a very interesting book that is chalk full of great, useful, and sometimes surprising information. Topics included in this book range from The Battle of Bannockburn to The Tughluq Dynasty in India. Just about anything that you could wish to know about the 1300’s is conveniently found somewhere in this book. The topic that I found to be most interesting was the in the section titled “The Aztec Empire”. Before I read this book I knew little to nothing about the great Aztec people. This is because of the fact that these people have been long gone from our current society. After I read this book I can tell you almost anything that you would want to know about the Aztecs among other things that took place during the 13th century. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody seeking knowledge about interesting events that took place during the 13th century. If you need information on the 13th century you should take a look at The 1300’s Headlines in History because it is accurate, reader friendly, and explains events with great detail all the while still capturing the reader’s attention.
            A part of the book that I found to be very interesting was included in the section titled “The Aztec Empire”. It read, “The Aztec practice of human sacrifice was an indispensable part of their religion. Through the terror that it generated it also helped them consolidate their power and prevent subject people from rebelling. Besides war captives the victims included convicted criminals whose offenses called for capital punishment”. I can draw comparisons from this to our modern day society but the differences are greater. Today we still punish criminals but not nearly to the extent that these Aztec people enforced on their subjects. This is just one great example that this book includes in their attempt to recreate the 13th century. I know for a fact that this book contains accurate information because I looked up a few of the topics included in the book on the internet and found similar accounts. This means that these detailed descriptions were in no way shape or form a fabrication from the true events that took place during the 13th century. As well as providing accurate information this book is very reader friendly. I found it reader friendly because the separate topics were clearly marked and easy to read. Not to mention they were very interesting.
            As I said before, I would recommend this book to anybody including students who need information on the 13th century because it is reader friendly, accurate, and captures the reader’s attention with its detailed accounts. The 1300’s Headlines in History attempts to summarize the events of the 13th century. It goes into great detail about each significantly important event that occurred during the century. Thus giving the reader a good understanding on the 13th century. This book taught me about a whole century and I didn’t even have to look at anything else to get a good idea about the events that took place.
Book Report: Tanner Deniston   12/12/11    1st Hour    World History

                                       

   Aztec Timeline
1100
 Aztecs left homeland in search of new home.
 1195
 Aztecs arrived in Valley of Mexico.
 1250
 Aztecs settled near Lake Texcoco.
 1325
 Tenochtitlan was founded. First temple built by Aztecs.
 1350
 Causeways built with canals.
 1370
Tenoch, Aztec Priest-Ruler, died.
Aztecs ruled by Tepanecs.
 1375
 Acamapichtli becomes first ruler of Aztecs.
 1400
Tepanecs were defeated.
Aztecs expand and rule whole valley.
 1428
Aztecs joined forces with Texcoco & Tlacopan formed Triple Alliance. Atzcapotzalco conquered.
 1440
 Moctezuma started rule.
 1452
 Tenochtitlan destroyed by flood. 1452-4 Famine.
 1458
 Moctezuma sent armies to conquer lands.
 1469
 Moctezuma I died.
 1486
 Ahuizotu became ruler.
 1487
Great Temple at Tenochtitlan dedicated.
Aztecs expanded southward into Mayan territories.
 1502
 Moctezuma II became ruler. Aztec Empire at height.
 1519
 Cortez comes to Mexico. Moctezuma II killed.
 1520
 Cuitlahuac elected ruler.
 1521
 Tenochtitlan destroyed.
 1522
Tenochtitlan rebuilt, named Mexico City. Declared capital of Spanish colony of New Spain.

Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/time.html