Introduction
Welcome to the Aztec Civilization WebQuest
Girgolas Yr 8 Hums
You will be reporting back to the King and Queen of Spain in relation to what you have discovered upon your arrival in Aztec territory....
You and a group of explorers (groups of 2-3) are part of an expedition whose mission is to learn about the Aztec civilization.
The king and queen of Spain want you to learn about your findings in this new world and are awaiting a complete presentation upon
your arrival back to Spain. Here’s a glance of valuable information you will need:
Tribe: Mexica (Aztec refers to all people of Central Mexico who were part of the Triple Alliance or the Aztec Empire)
Cultural Area: pre-Columbian Mesoamerica
Geography: Valley of Mexico
Linguistic Family: Uto-Aztecan (Nahuatl)
Religion: Polytheism
Capital City: Tenochtitlan
Population: City 150,000
Empire: 1430-1519
Task
Procedures
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The Aztecs were an amazingly advanced civilization. Start your expedition by answering the questions below, remember to follow the links and record your findings.
Step 1: Geography In 1519 when the Europeans arrived the Aztec Empire was at its peak. What four current countries formed the vast majority of the empire? Click here to find out: http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-empire.html
Step 2: Social Organization The Aztec culture had two main social classes. What were they and what were the Aztec names for them? Describe the everyday life of an Aztec. Click here to find out: http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-culture.html
Step 3: Government Ancient Aztec government was structured from units of society. What were the units and what roles did they play? Click here to find out: http://www.aztec-history.com/ancient-aztec-government.html
Step 4: Art The Aztecs had many forms of art. One of the most popular were religious sculptures. Describe and refer to FOUR different forms of religious art - who/what each represents, what each is made from (materials used), how the art was used in ceremony/every day life. Click here and find out: http://www.ancient.eu/Aztec_Art/
Step 5: Religion The Aztecs were polytheistic. This means they worshiped more than one god. Pick four gods and describe what type of god they were. Click here to find out: http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/index.php?one=azt&two=god
Step 6: The Aztec Sunstone The artist carved the Aztec calendar stone in 1479. Naturally, it was dedicated to the sun god. It was a massive carving, 3 feet thick, almost 12 feet across, and weighed almost 25 tons. How many rings does the sunstone have? Name all of them. Name and describe the Four Past Suns in the center ring. Whose face appears in the center ring? Click here to find out: |
Process
You and the exploration team are responsible to report back your findings to the king and queen upon your arrival back to Spain. Collect photos; take meticulous notes about religious practices, politics, material goods, architecture, location, climate and housing. You will need to put together a multimedia presentation of your findings and present it to the entire class.
Conclusion
CONGRATULATIONS EXPLORERS
Your Aztec expedition is coming to an end be prepared to report your findings in a multimedia presentation. Remember to reflect on your findings with regards to geography, social organization, government, art, religion and the sunstone. I hope your time spent researching the ancient Aztecs was interesting and added to your knowledge of this ancient empire.