Lake Tahoe Community College - World Languages Department

aztec or nahua Web Lesson

LOS AZTECAS o Los nahuas

Do you know what is on the Mexican flag and why? Why are studying the Aztecs important in light of modern-day Mexico?

Continue on with this lesson to find out.

Objectives of the Lesson

Visit Internet sites to gather information on the following:

- Aztec gods
- Aztec calendar: division and symbolism
- Geography of the Valley of Mexico
- History of the Aztec culture, 12th century to 1520's
- Emperors of the Aztec Empire

As you go through this lesson, click on the links to visit each related web site. Take notes about the questions regarding each link you visit.
After reviewing the available information, return to this assignment and submit a one to two page composition (using college level English) based on some of the questions below. You may include any extra information that you find interesting and your own personal impressions.
The questions with each link below are just guidelines to get you started. You may address all of them or just focus on something specific related to the Aztecs. What piques your interest?
Grading: Effort counts! To receive an "A" you should have two pages, typed, double spaced. Give plenty of details that you learned from visiting all of the links below about the Aztecs. As a conclusion, give your opinion of the Aztecs. If you have questions about the culture, include them in your paper. Your conclusion and questions are important part of this grade. Short conclusions will result in a lower grade. Describe your impressions of the culture.
Your paper must be written in your own words and can be written in English or Spanish. Do not copy from the Internet or other sources. Papers that are plagiarized will receive a grade of zero.

Aztec Deities

Read about the Aztec Deities. Detailed site about Aztec Deities.

· Describe the God of War. What is his name?

The Aztec Calendar

Read about the details of the Aztec calendar.

· How was the Aztec year divided?

Gather information from these sites about the Aztec capital and it's history.

Aztec History - What was it like?

Aztec History

Tenochtitlan Facts More facts here Tenochtitlan

· Describe Tenochtitlán. How did the Aztecs know where to build the city? Why was it called Tenochtitlán?

Aztec Emperors

Look at this web page with information and graphics about emperors of the Aztecs.

· How were the emperors chosen?

· Who was the Aztec emperor when Hernán Cortés arrived? What type of an emperor was he?

Why were the Spanish able to conquer the Aztecs with such ease?

· Who was the last Aztec emperor and for what will he always be remembered?

Composition

After viewing the available information from the Internet, write a one to two page composition (in college level English) based on the what you learned. You may include any extra information that you find interesting and your own personal impressions.
Grading: Effort counts! To receive an "A" you should have two pages, typed, double spaced. Give plenty of details that you learned from visiting all of the links about the Aztecs.
As a conclusion, give your opinion of the Aztecs. If you have questions about the culture, include them in your paper. Your conclusion and questions are important part of this grade. Short conclusions will result in a lower grade. Describe your impressions of the culture. What do the indigenous Aztecs have to say about themselves today? In your opinion, why is it important to investigate both sides of a historical account? Whose account do you think is portrayed in the majority of our history books? How do you think the Aztecs would have portrayed this historical account?
Modern day accounts
Aztecs today
What did the Nahua call themselves?

Please check out these modern day rappers using their indigenous languages at the top of this page.

Your paper must be written in your own words. Do not copy from the Internet or other sources. Papers that are plagiarized will receive a grade of zero.
Bibiliography

Please cite all extra sources that you use that are not included in this Web Lesson. Use the format to cite that you are most familiar with, but remain consistent.