Tune in For over three hundred years before the Spanish arrived, the Aztecs dominated central and southern Mexico. Their civilisation was complex and well-organised, featuring impressive buildings and advanced farming techniques.
SOURCE1 A modern artist’s impression of the city of Tenochtitlan
A
C
B
D
A The Aztec step pyramids were tall and impressive in Tenochtitlan. When they needed a larger pyramid for their gods, they built on top of the old one. B Tenochtitlan’s streets had no vehicles. While they knew about wheels, they mainly used them for toys. There were no pack animals to pull carts or wagons, so wheels were not necessary. C Canals in Tenochtitlan acted like highways, and boats were the main way to get around. D Chinampas , or floating islands, were used to grow crops. 1. What impression do you get from SOURCE 1 about the Aztec civilization? 2. What type of transport appears to have been important to the Aztec people? 3. Use three words to describe your thoughts about the city of Tenochtitlan. Discuss your ideas and give reasons for your thoughts. School The Aztecs were a well-organised society. Young boys went to school to learn important skills, while girls were usually taught at home. At 15, boys could attend two types of school: noble boys went to the calmecac for advanced learning, while commoners attended the telpochcalli , a military school. All boys learned some fighting skills.
TOPIC6 The Spanish and the Americas 127
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator