 Around 1300 CE a wandering tribe of Indians wandered into the city of Mexico. These people were called the Aztecs. When the Aztecs arrived in the valley of Mexico, other tribes were already in residence.They had already taken the best land. The Aztecs had to make due with the swampy shores of Texacoco.

 With the help of trained engineers, builders, and traders, the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan became a great city. It had huge temples, beautiful open plazas, and a huge bustling central marketplace. By the mid-1400’s, Tenochtitlan had a population of about 300,000 people, which made it the largest city in the world at that time!  When Spanish soldiers first arrived in the Valley of Mexico, they were amazed at what they found in the capital city of Tenochtitlan. Everything was clean. There were “eating houses” and hairdressers. You could buy medicines and herbs and all kinds of food. You could buy meat and game. There were streets that sold only pottery and mats. Painters could buy the paints they needed for their art.  One soldier said, “There were soldiers among us who had been in many parts of the world, in Constantinople and Rome and all over Italy, who said that they had never before seen a market place so large and so filled with people.”

 The Rich: Homes of the nobles and wealthy were made of sun-dried brick. If you were very wealthy, you home could be made of stone. All homes were whitewashed to make them look clean and shiny. Each noble home had a separate room for steam bathing. Water was poured over heated stones. Bathing was an important part of daily life and of religion. Bathing was believed to clean both the body and soul.  The Poor: Homes of the farmers and other commoners were huts with thatched roofs. Furniture was limited. They might have mats on the floor and woven trunks to hold belongings. They had blankets and pottery for cooking. Everyone had a garden of their own, including farmers.

 Expansion : Around 1400 CE, the Aztec government began conquering neighbouring tribes. The Aztec population had grown. They needed many things to manage their growing population. They needed new cities to house their population. They needed new lands to feed their population. They needed new captives to feed their hungry gods. Schools needed to be run. Storehouses needed to be filled. Temples needed to be built. The government had its hands full trying to satisfy all these needs.  Tribute : War was the answer. When the Aztecs conquered a tribe, they demanded tribute in the form of food, clothing, precious stones, building supplies, and captives. The first four the Aztecs kept for themselves. The last they gave to their gods. Other tribes hated and feared the Aztecs. Sometimes, they simply ran away in fear rather than fight.

 Girls learnt crafting skills from their mothers  Talco was the ancient god of rain and fertility. Moctezuma believed that if the Aztecs(including himself)didn't worship the god as he wanted, the food supplies would be wiped out almost instantly.  The weather wasn't often too hot or too cold.  Aztec farming methods were a whole lot more harder to understand than the methods the Spaniards used.  Paper was made out of the bark of fig trees  When huge swarms of locusts descended onto the Aztec crops, havoc corrupted. Food supplies were wiped out almost immedietly and people starved to death.  Grinding chillies in a bowl made a fine paste.  An Aztec's home could also be a workplace for the person. Farmers who knew how to craft things like pottery could make goods for their own use or to sell in the enormous city markets.  Aztecs oftenly drank water but on special occasions, beer made from the sap of cactuses might be served. 

n.  The most famous Aztec game is a bit like basketball but your only aloud use you hips and elbows and you have to get it through a small ring.

BY EOIN DALY