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HISTORY
TIMELINE
Timeline of Mesoamerica
and other world events from 300 B.C. to 1521 A.D.
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A
DAY IN THE LIFE DURING ... THE TIME OF THE AZTECS
by Jacquelin Cangro
Meet Atlaua, a young Aztec living with his family on the outskirts
of the center of the Aztec Empire in Tenochtitlán.
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LEGENDS
OF THE AZTEC PANTHEON
by Abigail Mieko Vargus
Stories about gods
and goddesses can be found in ancient Mexican artifacts and
in the writings of the early missionaries. Read about the
most famous deities in the Aztec pantheon and how the myths
associated with them explained the Aztec world.
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WHICH
IS WHICH? DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN MAYAN AND AZTEC ARTIFACTS
by Kelly Ann Butterbaugh
Imagine that you work at a museum as its curator. Your job
is to organize and set up the exhibits that will be on display
to the public. Right now your museum has several displays
featuring ancient civilizations,but the Mayan and Aztec displays
are the most popular. As the curator, you decide to set out
to find new objects to add to these ancient collections, but
the hard part is deciding to which civilization the new objects
belong. How can you distinguish Mayan artifacts from Aztec
artifacts? Find out how in this article.
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THE MAGNIFICENT
MAGUEY AND THE AZTECS
by Anne Adeney
One of the major assets of the Aztecs was the maguey agave
– a succulent type of plant similar to a cactus. Despite
dealing with a very hard and prickly plant, the Aztecs soon
discovered its multitude of uses. Maguey grew in large plantations
on the hot, dry hills surrounding their towns and it was undoubtedly
their most useful plant. Discover how versatile the magnificent
maguey was and its importance in Aztec life.
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CHOCOLATE: THE MESOAMERICAN TREAT
by Veronica Meade-Kelly
The history of chocolate is as rich as the tastiest dessert.
Since its discovery more than a thousand years ago, it has traveled
around the globe. It has become such a familiar part of our
diet that few of us give any thought to its story. If asked
where chocolate was discovered, for instance, many would guess
France or Switzerland, or even Hershey, Pennsylvania! Few know
chocolate’s true birthplace - uncover the true origins
of this delicious treat in Mesoamerica.
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AZTEC
CALENDAR: THE STONE OF THE FIFTH SUN
Christine M. Roane
Learn about the discovery of one of most fascinating Aztec
artifacts ever found - the Aztec Sun Calendar and what experts
think it means and what is was used for.
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MAYAN PYRAMIDS:
MONUMENTS OF HONOR
by Lisa Wroble
The ancient Mayan civilization stretched across the rain forests
of Mexico and Belize to the Yucatan Peninsula. Poking through
the canopy of the forest, tall Mayan pyramids served as landmarks
for farmers living outside the vast city complexes. Find out
more about these New World pyramids and the secrets inside.
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FLOWER
POWER: HELP THE AXTECS BUILD AN EMPIRE
by Corey Habbas
The year is 1427
and Itzcóatl, the new leader of the Aztecs, needs advice
on how to make his empire more powerful. Itzcóatl has
asked you personally to help him do this. He has given you
the honorable title of cihuacoatl, which roughly
translates to counselor. Your job is to make recommendations
on political, military, and religious issues. Your answers
had better be correct, or the entire path of history could
be altered!
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INTERVIEW
WITH AN AZTEC WARRIOR
by Steve Hallex
Listen in on the life story of an Aztec warrior as told to
a Spanish missionary after the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs.
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THE
MAYAN BALLGAME: A GAME OF LIFE AND DEATH
by Louise Pisano Simone
Read about the Mayan ballgame – one of the best known,
but least understood, aspects of Mesoamerican culture. The
sport, played with a rubber ball in which the stakes could
be life and death, gives us a glimpse into the culture of
the ancient people of Mexico and Central America.
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THE CHICIMECA: SAVAGES TO THE NORTH
by Lee R. Tallier, Jr.
In the years between 700 and 1500 A.D., there lived in the north
of Mexico several groups of Native Americans known as the Chichimec.
Far to the north of the great cities of the Mayans, beyond the
lands of the people known as the Toltecs lies a forbidding desert
that makes up much of the northern part of Mexico. This land
is known as the Gran Chichimeca. It is in this land where there
is little rain, the nights are cold, and the days are hot, that
the Chichimec were found. The Chichimec were the forefathers
of the people who would one day rule Mexico – the Aztecs.
Find out more about these fierce warrior who ultimately brought
down the Toltecs.
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CHINAMPAS: BUILDING YOUR OWN FLOATING
GARDEN
by Joanne Liu
Welcome to Tenochtitlán, capital of the Aztec Empire!
You and your family have chosen to settle in a land blessed
by the gods. We invite you to build a new life in this heartland.
Tenochtitlán is located on a small island in Lake Texcoco,
which is nestled in the Xochimilco-Chalco Basin in the Valley
of Mexico. You’ll enjoy the Valley of Mexico’s pleasant
climate: sunshine is constant, and frost and snow are rare.
The rainy season is short, from June to September. We’ll
give you a step-by-step plan on how to build your own chinampa
– let’s get started!
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CODICES:
THE BOOKS CREATED BY THE MAYANS AND AZTECS
by Lyn Michaud
The Mayans and Aztecs
created books by painting on paper. Instead of words they
used symbols and pictures to record the sciences and historical
events. Learn about how these books were created and what
they were used for and the legacy they leave regarding Mesoamerican
culture.
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THE EYE
ON THE SKY: THE LONG QUEST TO UNLOCK THE
RIDDLES OF EL CARACOL
by Jim Schmidt
El Caracol, a monument in the ancient Mayan city of Chichén
Itzá, illustrates the Mayan’s expertise and interest
in astronomy and architecture. Although it is more than a
thousand years old, it has taken that long to unravel its
many mysteries. The story of its discovery and exploration
includes connections to secret codes, mythical cities, powerful
gods, and modern science!
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DISCOVERY!
ANCIENT ART OF THE MAYANS
by Candace Lindemann
Because the Mayan civilization collapsed before European explorers
arrived, Mayan art and inscriptions provide some of the best
clues we have about their culture. Join us as we explore a
royal Mayan city, where we will be able to examine some prime
examples of Mayan art and architecture and analyze their importance
in Mayan urban society.
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TOLTECS: THE MASTER BUILDERS
by Jim Cort
Who were the Toltecs? Find out why they loomed large in the
imaginations of the rulers of two of the greatest empires
in the Americas and how they got the name “the master
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