1. Elements of Civilization
Celebrating the Aztec

2. What elements of Aztec civilization do you see in these pictures?
The Amazing Aztec
NEWS
Date 1100 AD – 1500 AD
Education
The tepochcalli school was for the children of regular families and there was one in each neighborhood. Children learned history, myths, religion and Aztec songs. Boys received difficult military training and also learned about agriculture and the trades. Girls were educated to form a family, and were trained in the arts and trades like spinning and cooking.
The calmécac school was for the children of the nobility, and its purpose was to form new military and religious leaders. Aztec people were very prepared for war.
What elements of Aztec civilization do you see in these pictures?

3. Quetzacoatl was the god of knowledge, creation, priesthood, and wind.
Aztec Religion
Important to the Aztec
The Aztec were very religious people. They had many gods who represented natural events and human life. They thought that the balance of the world and the fate of people depended on the will of the gods.
The Aztec thought that the power of the gods should be recognized and given thanks so the gods would remain happy. They were afraid that disasters would strike if the gods became angry. For this reason, very large ritual centers were built. The Aztec offered human lives to the gods so they would remain kind. This was how human sacrifice began.
The codexes were writing and drawings on strips of deer skin or on paper made from tree bark. Once finished, these strips were folded like a fan.
It was important to know how to read and write in the Aztec culture. The Aztec created codexes, or writings. They also used calendars, since both activities were key to religion and community life.
Quetzacoatl was the god of knowledge, creation, priesthood, and wind.
The Aztec sun calendar is a circular stone with pictures representing how the Aztec measured days, months, and cosmic cycles.

4. The Aztec had two different games: Patolli and Tlachtli.
Government
Recreation
The Aztec had two different games: Patolli and Tlachtli.
Patolli was a gambling game that was played with pebbles and dried beans.
Tlachtli was a ball game that was played with two teams using rubber balls. One person on each team would try to shoot the ball with their knees into a vertical hoop high over their head. The team that made the first basket won the game. Sometimes it took hours to finish a game!
The Tlatoani, or Great Speaker, was the head of the law courts, priesthood, and the army. He would also speak to the Aztec gods.
The Aztec had harsh punishments. Criminals were taken to court and if they were found guilty a group of judges would decide their punishment. For example, if someone was guilty of cutting down a living tree, the punishment was death.
An important part of life was warfare. To fight in a battle was considered a duty and an honor. All boys and men were trained to be warriors. A boy became a man after he captured his first prisoner.