6.3.3 Mythology and religion Religion was very important to the Aztecs, who worshipped many gods — hundreds in total. They believed the Earth was flat and that the Sun fought darkness each night. The Aztecs expressed their devotion through art and by building huge temples for their gods, who controlled nature and human life. Central to their beliefs was human sacrifice, with up to 20 000 people sacrificed yearly at a special temple. They thought dying this way helped victims reach heaven quickly. The Aztecs also believed in an afterlife: people who died peacefully had to pass through the underworld, unlike warriors or mothers who went straight to heaven.
SOURCE4 A gold pendant representing Mictlantecuhtli
SOURCE3 Some of the most important Aztec gods
A
B
E
C
D
A. Mictlantecuhtli — god of the dead B. Quetzalcoatl — god of knowledge, creation, priesthood and wind C. Tlaloc — god of rain
D. Huitzilopochtli — god of war, sun and the nation E. Xipe Totec — god of spring, new life and suffering
6.3.4 Agriculture Tenochtitlan was built in the middle of a lake, so the Aztecs had to find special ways to grow crops. They used chinampas , often called ‘floating gardens’. Chinampas were small, man-made islands created for farming. The Aztecs would fence off a shallow area of the lake and fill it with mud, sediment and decaying plants until it rose above the water. This made a very fertile spot to grow different crops. This method is still used today in some parts of Mexico.
TOPIC6 The Spanish and the Americas 129
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