1. Zoom-In Inquiry Antonio de León y Gama. Descripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras.... Mexico City: F. Zuniga y Ontiveros, 1792. Rare Books and Special Collections Division (95) Library of Congress, World of Treasures of the Library of CongressDescripción histórica y cronológica de las dos piedras.... Rare Books and Special Collections Division

2. How might primary sources help us understand mathematics? Examine primary sources. Determine what you see and what questions you might ask to get the big picture.

3. What symbols do you see? What do you think you know about this primary source?

4. What additional symbols do you see? Describe any symbol you see. Classify the symbols by categories.

5. Do you see numbers? Do you see geometric shapes? Do you see letters?

6. Explain what you think this is. How do you think people used this? 1.Clothing 2.An ornament 3.A calendar 4.A painting What clues support your ideas?

7. Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. La Piedra del Sol. Calendario Azteca (Sunstone. The Aztec Calendar). México: 1992 General Collections (95.1) Library of Congress, World Treasures of the Library of CongressLa Piedra del Sol. Calendario AztecaGeneral Collections

8. Why do you think the sculptor chose to use these symbols in the design of the Aztec Calendar?

9. How do these symbols relate to the purpose of these calendars?

10. Understanding the Big Picture How are patterns applied when designing calendars?

11. Aztec Calendar Stone In 1790 workers repaving near the Cathedral in Mexico City discovered a stone eleven and one-half feet in diameter inscribed with the Aztec calendar. The stone have had bright polychrome colors and would have held sacrificed human hearts that the Aztecas believed were needed to feed the sun and keep civilization alive. This first study of the stone explained its 260-day divinatory cycle. The stone’s colossal size, elaborate patterning, and symbolic imagery have made it an unofficial emblem of Mexico. Source: Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. La Piedra del Sol. Calendario Azteca(Sunstone. The Aztec Calendar). México: 1992 General Collections (95.1), Library of Congress, World Treasures of the Library of CongressLa Piedra del Sol. Calendario AztecaGeneral Collections

12. Examine these primary sources to see how patterns were applied in calendar design. How do patterns help civilizations understand the world? Bahera HaszabBahera Haszab, (Comptus). 1902. African and Middle Eastern Division (99.1) Library of Congress, World Treasures of the Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Almanac for Hindu year 1871-1872Almanac for Hindu year 1871-1872. Rajastan, India: 1871. Fabric. Southern Asian Section, Asian Division (92), Library of Congress, World Treasures of the Library of CongressAsian Division Gen'y Yoshida. Hkan hikets shusei. Tokyo: Sshid, 1882. Japanese Section, Asian Division (97), Library of Congress, World Treasures of the Library of CongressHkan hikets shusei.Asian Division