Meet the Aztec
About 700 years ago, a group of people built one of the biggest cities in the whole world — right in the middle of a lake! They called their city Tenochtitlan, and they were the Aztec people. The city was so amazing that when Spanish explorers arrived in 1519, they could not believe their eyes. One explorer wrote that it looked like something out of a dream.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you will: • Know who the Aztec people were and where they lived • Learn about their incredible island city, Tenochtitlan • Discover what Aztec people ate, built, and believed • Understand what happened to the Aztec civilization
Who Were the Aztec?
The Aztec were a people who lived in what is now the country of Mexico. They started as wanderers — people who moved from place to place searching for food and a home. According to their legends, their gods told them to settle wherever they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, eating a snake. Around the year 1325, they spotted that very sign on a small island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. So they built their home right there on the island! That island home grew into the great city of Tenochtitlan. Today, Mexico City — one of the biggest cities on Earth — sits in that exact same spot.
The Aztec legend of the eagle, cactus, and snake is so important that you can see it today — it is on the flag of Mexico! Look at the Mexican flag and find the eagle in the center holding a snake in its beak while perched on a cactus. That image comes directly from the Aztec founding story, kept alive for 700 years.
Tenochtitlan: A City Built on Water
Building a city on a lake island is very tricky — but the Aztec were amazing engineers. They built long roads called causeways across the water so people and goods could travel to the island. They also invented chinampas — floating garden islands made by weaving reeds together and piling up rich mud. These gardens grew corn, tomatoes, and peppers right on the lake. At its peak, Tenochtitlan had 200,000 to 300,000 people — bigger than most European cities at that time. It had a giant marketplace, towering pyramid temples, and canals that people traveled by canoe.
Aztec Food, Beliefs, and Art
Foods the Aztec ate: Corn was the most important food. They made tortillas, tamales, and a warm drink called atole. They also grew tomatoes, avocados, and cacao beans — chocolate comes from cacao! Many foods we enjoy today were first grown by the Aztec. What they believed: The Aztec worshipped many gods. Huitzilopochtli was the sun god and god of war. The great pyramid called Templo Mayor stood at the very center of Tenochtitlan and was used for important ceremonies. Writing and calendars: The Aztec wrote using pictures called pictographs. They kept detailed records of taxes, calendars, and important events using this picture writing. Their calendar was remarkably accurate, and their records — called codices — still exist in museums today.
Match each Aztec word or place to its correct meaning.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Where did the Aztec build the city of Tenochtitlan?
Which of these foods did we get from the Aztec?
Draw Tenochtitlan From Above
1. On a large piece of paper, draw a bird's-eye view — as if you are looking straight down — of Lake Texcoco. Make the lake fill most of the page. 2. Draw the island city of Tenochtitlan in the middle of the lake. Make it roughly round. 3. Add 3 causeways (long straight roads) connecting the island to the shore in different directions. 4. Draw at least 2 chinampas (small rectangle garden islands) floating on the lake near the city. 5. In the center of the city, draw the Templo Mayor (a large pyramid shape). 6. Add a canoe with a tiny person paddling on the water. 7. Write one sentence at the bottom: 'The Aztec chose this island because ____.' 8. Color your map using blue for water and green for the gardens.
Flashcards — click each card to reveal the answer
Want to keep learning?
Sign up for free to access the full curriculum — all subjects, all ages.
Start Learning Free