Upon the direction of Huitzilopochtli, the god of the Aztec people, the 150 year trek through mountainous ranges and river valleys, began in 1168. Arriving at the Valley of Mexico in 1325, where there was an eagle perched on a cactus, indicating this was to be the location of their new city. This fertile land, that was part of a mild climate and contained lots of water, was already occupied by thousands of people; leaving the Aztecs with a swampy island and the end of a large lake. The new home was called Tenochtitlan (Teh-noch-TEE-tlahn).
The Aztecs thought of the geography as a connection between themselves and their god, thus giving them the idea that their world consisted of two landscapes:
physical
sacred
Mountains were viewed as holy sites, as the height brought the people physically closer to the gods. As these people created their temples, they built them in the shape of pyramids that were shaped like mountains.
Believing Huitzilopochtli, their god, led them to this location gave the Aztecs the determination to survive in this swampy island within a salty water lake.
Although the Aztecs felt security and protection were provided by the steep mountains, there were problems that arose from being surrounded by these mountains.
Problems
Flash floods occurred after large rainfalls. Over time, the engineers of Tenochtitlan developed earthen dams across the lake.
No rain for long periods of time because the mountains sheltered the people from the clouds. Aqueducts were developed to bring fresh water from underground springs.
Read Exploring Sources (page 153) and discuss
The large lake, Lake Texcoco protected the people. Causeways were built linking the island on which the Aztecs lived to the mainland. The bridges that joined the causeways were able to be destroyed should there be an invasion, thus reducing the risk of attack.
Over the 200 year period, the inhabitants of Tenochtitlan grew from a few thousand to several hundred thousand. Working in cooperation, their ingenuity and hard work helped them to be the most productive plant cultivators of their time.
If you lived in an area that was swampy, and infertile,
what would you do to fix the problem.
Knowing the Aztecs were motivated to become a strong nation, what do you think they may have done to become one of the most productive agricultural societies of its time?
Read page 154 "Zoom In" and page 155 "Changing the Geography". Respond to this question: How might a society's worldview influence its ability to adapt to its physical geography?
7.2: The Sacred Landscape