Introduction
The early Aztec people were a tribe of wandering hunters, known as the Mexica, who lived in the northern region of present-day Mexico. In the 12th century, these warlike people moved south to the Valley of Mexico. According to a prophecy, their chief god, Huitzilopochtli, told them to look for a special sign, an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth, and to settle in the location when they found it. Around 1325, the tribe found the sign on a marshy island in Lake Texcoco. They settled and made a new village called Tenochtitlan that grew into a large, important city.
The Aztecs created a large and powerful empire that lasted until 1519...nearly two centuries! Although the Aztecs took many of their ideas about religion, agriculture and the calendar from earlier people in Mesoamerica, such as the Mayas, they developed their own unique culture. In 1519 the Aztecs first encountered Hernan Cortez and his small army of Spaniards, who eventually defeated them in 1521. After his first encounters with the Aztecs, Hernan Cortez had much to learn before deciding how he was going to interact with them. First contact between these two cultures is the focus of this WebQuest.
Task
You are to imagine that you are "advanced scouts" for Hernan Cortez and his army of Spaniards. The year is 1519. Your mission is to find out as much as you can about specific aspects of the Aztecs to take back to Commander Cortez. This is important because Cortez needs to decide if he wants to peacefully coexist with the Aztecs and trade with them, or if he wants to conquer them for "treasure."
For this Webquest, your group will keep an information log of your findings. Each entry will focus on one specific topic at a time. Write down-- in your own words -- the most important information about each day/entry's topic. Be sure to explain WHY this information would be important for Commander Cortez to know. How could Cortez use the information you gathered? For example, "If Cortez is coming to conquer, he could use this information to...". Why is this information important for him to know?
Each entry should explain what you've learned about a particular aspect of the Aztec civilization. Use the answers you have written down and summarize them for each entry.
Process
**DIRECTIONS: To collect the information for your report to Commander Cortez, you will follow the directions below and use the websites provided. On a loose leaf piece of paper, write down the answers to each question. Once you have answered the questions, summarize that information by writing it in paragraph form to be placed in your group's information log. There should be one entry for each topic, 6 entries total.
Entry #1
Social Structure
- What were the 2 major classes of Aztec Society?
- Explain how the clothing was differnt between the 2 classes.
- Which class had the largest number of people? The smallest?
- Describe the life of an Aztec citizen. (Ex: homes, marriage and the matchmaker, poetry.)
Entry #2
Agriculture
- What were the major crops?
- How were fields prepared for growing crops?
- Briefly describe a "floating" garden.
Entry #3
Education and Writing
- What were the three kinds of Aztec schools?
- What was studied in each type of school?
- Describe the Aztec system of writing.
- Name 3 Aztec achievements/inventions.
Entry #4
Religious Beliefs
- What religious rituals did the Aztecs perform and why?
- Pick 4 gods and/or goddesses and describe what type of god they were.
Entry #5
What Happened to the Aztecs?
- Who was Quetzalcoatl (ket-zahl-co-AHT-ul)?
- What were the Spanish conquistadors looking for when they arrived on this new land?
- What predictions were made about the end of the Aztec Empire?
Entry #6
Art
- Name the four materials that the Aztecs used when creating sculptures and other artwork.
- Briefly describe the ball game the Aztecs play.
- What does it remind you of?
Other helpful websites:
Evaluation
Your scouting expedition has concluded. Make a cover for your information log which includes all your group member names. Compile all six entries into your log and staple it, along with the cover.