A common misconception about life in the Americas before the Europeans showed up is that early societies were backwards and uncivilized compared to the great European explorers of that era. While life may have been more primitive for some native groups, many societies were very complex with intricate religious and social systems. One excellent example was the Aztecs.
The Aztecs settled in the Lake Texcoco region of Mexico and built their capital city, Tenochtitlan, in the middle of this lake. When Hernan Cortes and his men came upon the city they were astonished to see something so magnificent in the "New World". Watch this video for further explanation on the construction of this city.
In the comments section below, write about the most interesting thing from the video. Also, address what it must have been like for Europeans to assume the people they would encounter would be less civilized than them only to discover a major city like Tenochtitlan? Would they be impressed? Nervous? Jealous? Excited? Do not forget to conclude your comments with the number of words in parentheses.
Wow, I had always thought that the Aztecs were odd and uncivilized, but now I see that they really were smart. I mean these people had no education whatsoever and they created a whole city bigger than any other around the world, but yet almost no one knew about it. This is truly one of the most interesting times in the history of our world because there were no technologies to help them and they had to really think about what they were doing. For instance, using poles and reeds to expand the island was a new idea and had huge repercussions. And having the systems of canals to transport materials is ingenious. They really were a civilized people.(119)
ReplyDeleteI think the most interesting thing about this video was that the Aztecs had to build the rest of their island and how much work they had to put into it. The Europeans were probably surprised that the Aztecs had built something wonderful like the Tenochtitlan. The Europeans were probably also impressed and jealous. They were probably jealous because, the Aztecs were less civilized and had built the Tenochtitlan. Another reason why they might be jealous is that they probably would want to be the first people to build something that great. They might be impressed because, it might give them some ideas how to build a city.(108)
ReplyDeleteThe Aztecs were very smart people. The most interesting thing to me was how they were so detailed The video said that the decorating of their city was very nice and there was obviously hard work put into it. Also, I thought their idea of having to "make" their own land was very clever. Having the canals going in and out of the city was helpful too. It was a great way of transporting people and items. I am sure the Europeans were definitley jealous, yet surprised. If a group of people that you considered not as intelligent as you built something amazing like Tenochtitlan I'm sure you would be jealous and shocked. This piece of land started as a tiny island and with the Aztecs bright ideas, turned into one of the most beautiful cities in the world. (139)
ReplyDeleteI think that the most interesting thing I learned from the video was that the Aztecs reached twice the population of London or Rome. When I first read about Tenochtitlan, I never imagined the city to be so huge and advanced. I also thought it was very intelligent of the Aztecs to create over a hundred herbal remedies to help cure sicknesses and injuries. The calenders and canals they constructed were also brilliant. I think the Europeans would have been jealous and in awe of the magnificent culture the Aztecs had developed. I know I would have been. I think that it is absolutely astonishing that the Aztecs could have made a beautiful city like Tenochtitlan:) (116)
ReplyDeleteP.S. My profile pic is of my boyzzz at the closing ceremonies of the Olympics:)LUVVVV them!!!
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I think the most amazing thing about the Aztec building Texcoco was that even though they don’t have the tools and the resources that we have today, they still took advantage of the resources that they did have. Tenochtitlan was bigger than any city the Spanish had ever seen. The Spanish could have seen this city and thought that the people were absolute geniuses because Tenochtitlan was made from people that didn’t have any of the modern technology that the Europeans had. I think the Spanish were excited to find that the Aztecs weren’t idiots, but that they had complex minds and could build a complex city that homed a quarter of a million people and had an intricate river system.(121)
ReplyDeleteThe video changed my point of view on the Aztecs. From what I have read and heard I thought they were horrible people. These people were totally different, they were very intellectual and amazing sculptors. The most interesting thing I noticed about the Aztecs was how they didn't even realize how much the basic structure of wheels could have changed their daily lives. Instead they carried everything. That would most definitely be difficult since they were building a large beautiful city like theirs. After thinking about the Aztecs, I put myself in the Spanish explorers' shoes. I had to think how I would feel if I thought I was one of the people to discover the so called "new world" and to come upon a city with such great structure and sculpting to find out that there were people here before me. I think I would feel really bummed and jealous yet, I would be truly amazed by such a beautiful city.(162)
ReplyDeleteThat was a wonderful video. Tenochtitlan sounds so awesome compared to modern day cities architectural-wise! I had thought they were just a crude and barbaric civilization. The thing that really impressed me was the fact that they cleaned their streets each day AND THERE WAS NO TRASH IN THE STREETS. According to the video, they picked up the refuse each day in the city. In America we try to pick up our towns each day by throwing away our trash in the trash cans provided in the public areas, and there is still trash in the steets because not all Americans care to recycle( or they are too lazy). We ought to learn to imitate the Aztecs, and care for the sanitation of our streets and create a healthier environment in the process. The Aztec population was a quarter of a million people, which would be approximately 250 thousand people, and Chattanooga has approx. 170,136 people. We have less people yet we have more trash out there. It shouln't be that way. And we have technology for recycling, and trucks. I bet the Europeans were shocked by the Aztecs' resorcefulness and how well they functioned as a society, keeping the city clean and organized. The Europeans probably had the same intuition as me that it would be a barbaric and crude civilization. Yet the Aztecs were barbaric regarding their belief that the sacrifices of humans were enjoyed by the gods, as there were no gods but instead one God and He does not want human sacrifices:D(251)
ReplyDeleteyeah, that was long...sorry mista haston:D
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ReplyDeleteThat video was really great! When I read about them in the book I didn't really grasp how wonderful their city was, and how advanced they really were. I think the most interesting thing about the video was that they had over 100 medicines to help cure diseases. I'm sure that was really helpful to them! I also thought it was strange that they found human sacrifice really interesting; I can't imagine or stand the thought of that! I think the Europeans would be a little embarrassed because they hadn't built a city that was as advanced and wonderful like the Aztecs did with Tenochtitlan. They were probably very surprised because the Aztecs had built such a great city! :)
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ReplyDeleteThe video very clearly expresses how wonderful the Aztec city was. I never would have thought the Aztecs would have been that advanced! I have always thought that the Mayans were great and never really stopped to look at how great the Aztecs were. The people who thought their city was better got slammed in the face with the gorgeous city the Aztecs built. If it were me, I would have been very ashamed to say my city was better and then turn away and run. I think that they would be very nervous because the Aztecs were people who could make a beautiful city like that one so who knows how good they are at fighting. And that was my point of view on the Aztecs. (127)
ReplyDelete-Beeezz Kneeezz:)
I thought it was interesting how advanced a tribe from as long ago as the Aztecs. They must have had great work ethic and strong muscles to build a city in the middle of a lake without using wheels or even animals to help. I noticed the part when it said that they expanded the island using only logs, plants, and mud. I think that if they did use the water ways and the canoes to transfer the materials needed for building the city it was a good idea. I liked that even the Spanish were surprised at Tenochtitlan's size and the number of people. This was a great video. (110)
ReplyDeleteThis video gives me whole new perspective on the Aztec people. Here they have no equipment or knowledge to build a city, and they build one of the most beautiful ones. I thought the most interesting thing was how they built onto the lake and put in stakes to hold it. When the Europeans would have been speechless when they came to the city. From the neatly done painting to the hundereds of remedis they made to help people when their sick. There might have been a hint of jealously from the people, because this city was made by people who didn't have the kind of tools and knowledge they had, but yet they built a better city. This video gave me alot to think about!!!(125)
ReplyDeleteThe video made me want to find out more about the Aztec culture and how they lived. The most interesting part of the video was that they made their own land to stretch 2,500 acres to hold the population. I say the Europeans were impressed to see a city on a small island be very outstanding and very modern. I think the other thing the Europeans would feel is jealousy. I think they would feel that because they would wonder why didn’t they have that or why haven’t we thought of that. The Aztecs were brilliant people who knew how to use resources they found, or they knew how to reuse the materials they had. (115)
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ReplyDeleteThe most interesting part of the video for me was the way they worked together on the huge task of building their city. It would have taken hundreds of workers today, but just think of how many people would be needed to construct a city that stretched 2,500 acres in the middle of a lake! I believe that the Spanish would be amazed that this so called "primitive" civilization had actually accomplished this almost impossible task. Another amazing thing is that they didn't even consider using the wheel! If only they had figured out how to use it, they would have gotten their work done much faster. (107)
ReplyDeleteThe video was very captivating! The book gave the information in a fairly marginal way, but the video gave the information in an exciting and informational way. I can’t believe that the Native Americans were that civiliized back then. The facts that stuck in my head the most were: that the Aztecs expanded their island using wooden fences, mud, and stones, another fact was that when building the great city they never used wheels, and I never thought that the Aztecs would have so many different kinds of medicens. When the Spaniards saw the great city of Techtilan they would have been mixed with many different emotions, they would have been amazed, because it was such a magnifcent city, they would have felt frightened, because there were so many people, and they would have felt jealous, because who would’nt want to live in a great city like that. (149)
ReplyDeleteI think it was interesting that the Aztecs had wheels on their kids' toys, but they did not think to use wheels to make it easier for them to carry their stuff around. I do not see how they built such an amazing and beautiful city without the wheel. Wheels make life so much easier, even though most people hardly ever notice it. The Europeans probably had a mix of emotions. Some were probably angry, upset, and jealous that a bunch of "Indians" out built them, and others were most likely in disbelief at what the Aztecs had built. The Aztec were very advanced, especially for their time. They were so amazing! (112)
ReplyDeleteThat video was very interesting. I think one of the coolest things was the idea of making their own land, and adding it on to what they already had. You have to wonder, how were they so advanced to think of those things? Especially all the way back in the 1500s. I would never think of ANYTHING like that. They were geniuses. Plus, they made their own accurate calendar! How in the world did they know how to count the days and minutes and months? Who could have taught them all this? There's no doubt that the Europeans were very intimidated. The Aztecs didn't even have a fully developed language, yet they still have more intelligent creations then the Europeans! They had made machines and medicines that the Europeans never would have even tried to create. To bad their civilization fell apart. Just imagine what the Aztec's could have made with all the technology we have today! (167)
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing this video, my perspective of the Aztecs has changed drastically. I thought more like the Europeans. Meaning that the Aztecs were a corrupt and uncivilized group of people. After seeing this video, I feel the Aztecs were very intellegent. Adding on land to their small island allowed them to build more and become a larger, more advanced city. They then had more space, which they could use for agriculture. It allowed the growth of their education as well. While trying new things they would have learned how things work and how to make their ways better. When the Europeans came to Tenochtitlan I'm sure they felt very surprised at the advancement of the Aztec people, as was I. I also believe they were frightened by the growth and advancement. The Europeans were very confident in their education and ways of living. I'm sure when they saw this amazing city, they were humbled and even started to doubt their strength. They could have thought the Aztecs had the ability to overtake the Europeans. It's amazing what the Aztecs accomplished by hard work. (183)
ReplyDeleteTenochtitlanan is a modern marvel. the fact that the Europeans called them savages marvels me. These people had no education or anything and built one of the most spectacular cites ever. The way the built the city is amazing.The order there lives had made the city a peaceful one. The way they made a calendar for when to plant the crops is incredible. This calendar is what helped the city to thrive. The lack of diseases in the city probably had to do with things the way the city was kept clean and there many remedies for various ailments. The Europeans were probably jealous that these so called savages had built a civilization that rivaled there own.
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After seeing this video I have really become interested in the Aztec culture. Before this I always thought they were just another tribe, but now I see just how civilized the actually were. They way they were able to add land to an island to make more room for their population just blows my mind. They also did it without any of the tools we have today. They used mud and rocks to pack it down. I thought it was interesting how many medicines and cures they found out just by testing them and trying them themselves. I would really like to learn more about them.
ReplyDeleteIt was cool to see the science involved in their life. They made different medicines and all sorts of things. The Aztec were smart enough to build an empire made of mud and rocks. I'm interested in learning more about their culture and their religion. They sacrificed people and being so smart, they were so unaware of Jesus and what he did for them. It's sad to think of the people that were sacrificed going to Hell. I like the calender they made to tell what time it was and when to plant or harvest crops. The story of the Aztec is really interesting to me. (106)
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