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Unit 2 Worldview in Conflict

Explore the cultural clash and its impact on the worldviews of the Aztec and Spanish societies during their war. Discover the influence of collective beliefs on shaping unique identities.

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Unit 2 Worldview in Conflict

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  1. Unit 2 Worldview in Conflict Aztec and Spanish

  2. Aztec and Spanish in Conflict • The war that developed between the Aztec and Spanish was more than a series of battles. It was also a culture clash between societies.

  3. Big Questions • In what ways did intercultural contact between the Aztecs and the Spanish affect each society’s worldview?

  4. Where are we starting? • What do we know about the Aztecs? • What do we want to know?

  5. Chapter 7: The People of the Sun Unit 2: Worldviews in Conflict

  6. Inquiry Question • In what ways do a group’s collective beliefs and experiences contribute to shaping a unique identity?

  7. Vocabulary • Aztec • Aqueduct • Chinampa • Compulsory • Tribute • Artifact • Dike (add to handout)

  8. What’s in a word? • 19th century historians created the term Aztec. • Referring to the civilization created by the Mexica (a nomadic tribe) during the 15th century. Aztlan – the place from which the Mexica believed they set out from to find their new home

  9. Where Were the Aztecs? • In the area of present day Mexico. • Main city is where Mexico City is today.

  10. Pg. 152

  11. The Aztecs (p.151) • Originally were in the desert of northern Mexico. • A god told the people to migrate south. • Aztecs travelled for 150 years. • Eventually got to the Valley of Mexico.

  12. Question Period • What effect do you think the experience of hardship and wandering might have had on the Aztec sense of identity? • Can you name another group of people who wandered the desert before being led to a promised land?

  13. Codex Mendoza

  14. Notes Package • After reading Page 151 –work with a partner and complete the timeline of the legend of the origin of the Aztecs. (page 2 of notes)

  15. Inquiry Question - • How might a society’s worldview influence its ability to adapt to its physical geography?

  16. The Physical Landscape • Think of the Rocky Mountains • Is it a place to ski? • A place to go biking or hiking? • A place to relax? • The type of person you are (interests, attitude, knowledge) influences how you respond to geography.

  17. The Physical Landscape (con’t) • Aztec’s saw mountains as: • Sacred • Holy • Bringing people closer to the gods.

  18. The Physical Landscape (con’t) • Two landscaped: • Physical • Sacred • Connected to each other • Temples that were built for gods were pyramids in the shape of mountains.

  19. The Power of Mountains • Sense of security. • Like walls of a fort or city. • Protected them from invaders. • Allowed them to see enemies advancing.

  20. The Power of Mountains (Con’t) • Caused problems • Flash floods during rain. • Major flood in 1500 forced Aztec engineers to build a dam. • Prevented rain • Built aqueducts (brought fresh water)

  21. An Island Home • Lake Texcoco provided safety. • 3 causeways to connect to mainland. • Bridges were designed to be destroyed. • Population exploded.

  22. A Floating Island? • Chinampa – floating island. • Built new land • Drive stakes into lake to make rectangle. • Laid reed mats and piled on soil. • All done by hand – no animals to help.

  23. Changing the Geography • Determined to live on the island. • No rivers fed the lakes. • Through evaporation, natural salt was left behind • Built barrier to prevent flooding. • Fresh water available now

  24. FAST FORWARD: Mexico City is Sinking • Built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan. • Spanish rebuilt the city in 1522. • Began draining the city. • Provide water for 20 Million. • 9 meters in 100 years.

  25. Think it Through • Consulting with Aztec engineers may have helped avoid some of the problems the Spanish builders experienced. In what other areas might Aztec knowledge have helped the Spanish?

  26. Sacred Landscapes: Aztec Gods • Controlled every aspect of their world. • Told them how to live. • Many gods. • Some more important than others.

  27. Huitzilopchtli • Told Aztecs to leave the north. • Sacrificed people to give this god strength and overcome night. • Tribal and warlike.

  28. Tezcatlipoca • Most powerful god. • Name means “Smoking Mirror.” • Used a black mirror to see the future • Lord of the Night Sky. • Battled with Huitzilopochtli.

  29. Quetzalcoatl • God of wind. • Name means “feathered serpent.” • Was offered flowers, incense, and birds. • Fought Tezcatlipoca and left the valley. • Would return in “One Reed” • Cortez?

  30. Tlaloc • God of rain. • Unleashed deadly floods or prevented rain for years. • Caused drought and famine. • Feared because he controlled survival.

  31. Measuring Time • Aztec calendar had close connection to gods and humans. • Sacred and physical landscape. • 2 calendars – solar and sacred. • Sacred was 260 days • Took 52 years to “catch up” to solar.

  32. Stone Calendar • Dedicated to Huitzilopochtli. • Shows how world began. • Four eras before present • 1st destroyed by jaguars • 2nd by hurricanes • 3rd by fiery rain • 4th by flood • 5th will be destroyed by earthquake.

  33. Human Sacrifice • Deeply religious significance. • Strongest expression. • Victims blood actually fed the gods. • World would end if gods not feed. • War gave Aztecs victims. • People of the Sun

  34. Human Sacrifice • Deeply religious significance. • Strongest expression. • Victims blood actually fed the gods. • World would end if gods not feed. • War gave Aztecs victims. • People of the Sun

  35. Other Rituals • New Fire Ceremony • Most important ceremony • Occurred every 52 years, as the religious calendar made a full circle • Every fire would be extinguished, leaving only darkness • Priests would then climb Uixachtlan, a sacred mountain, and light a fire • A ritual sacrifice would be performed • Then the priests would return and light all the fires again • Done to prevent the end of the fifth world

  36. And there’s more… • Ritual Weeping • That’s right, the Aztecs saw crying as a form of purification and cleansing • They cried a lot

  37. And there’s more… • Ritual purification • Each house had a small room with a bath that would be filled with hot water resulting in steam, used to purify the soul • As well as for hygiene

  38. A Place to Worship • The Aztecs believed the gods lived in the skies and other sacred places • Temples built to simulate mountains, where the physical and spiritual worlds meet • As a means to simulate these sacred places in their city, the Aztecs built great pyramids

  39. Tenochtitlan: Center of the World • Earth was flat and round like a pie. • Divided into four sections. • Tenochtitlan was center. • Gods assigned them here.

  40. Tenochtitlan • Also divided into four. • Middle of city were numerous temples. • Hundreds around city • Brought gods closer • Tenochtitlan was a model of the world. • “Venice of the New World”.

  41. Expanding an Empire • Read page 165 • The Aztecs were the most dominant force in the world – why would they need to trade?

  42. Expanding an Empire • Conquering • Alliances • Trader and warrior were great pride.

  43. Expanding an Empire • Merchants traveled with hundreds of slaves. • Carried goods • Gone for months • Acted as spies • Maps and reports • Used to expand

  44. Expanding an Empire • “Conquer all the people in the universe” • Largest empire in North America • Society was more important than individual • Prepared to sacrifice for group.

  45. Expanding an Empire • Baby boy grew up with a bow and shield • Ready for war • Military was compulsory. • “Coward” was worst insult.

  46. Over to You • In a group of 4, discuss question 3 on page 168 • For homework, complete question 1 on page 168.

  47. Cheat Sheet • Chinampas • P.162 (Spanish) • Calendar • People of the Sun • Relationship with Huitzilopochtli • City of Tenochtitlan

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