Do Now Use your notebook to review for the quiz while Ms. Schaller stamps your agendas.

Maya Quiz Put your quiz face down on your desk when you are finished and either update your table of contents or work on your Chapter Walk (just the section on the Aztecs). Answers can go on pg 9 or a separate piece of paper that you will staple to page 9.

Watch the video Find two similarities to the Maya and difference with the Maya. (you can write them down on scrap paper or you agenda) Share with the class after the video.

Essential Question Where did the Aztecs build their empire and how did they adapt the land make it work for them?

The Legend While they were living in the swamps, the Aztec priests received a vision. In this vision, the Aztec god, Huitzilopochtli, told them to look for a place to settle where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, eating a snake. The Aztecs found this sign on a small reed-covered island in the middle of a shallow lake. There they started building their capital city, Tenochtitlan, in 1325.

Aztecs

A. Geography The Aztecs lived in the Valley of Mexico in South-Centeral Mexico. The valley is about 7 000 feet above sea level and surrounded by tall mountains on three sides. The Aztecs supply of water came from the near by mountains and collected in lakes around Tenochtitlan and close cities. It was cool in the mountains, so it was only good for limited amounts of crops. The rainy season the Aztecs experienced lasted from May to October. The rainfall amount was about 450mm in the north and up to 1 000mm in the south.

B. Tenochtitlan Main Aztec City built in 1325 Built on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. Located in modern Mexico. Where Mexico City is today. Limited space but excellent farmland city which was the largest in the world at that time.

C. Chinampas Since the Aztecs didn’t have much land, they made their own! They would take dirt from the bottom of the lake and add it to their islands. They ended up with a “floating garden”.

Homework Mesoamerica Chapter walk (section on Aztecs) answers in complete sentences on page 9 or a separate piece of paper (to be sampled in later).