How Did the History of the Aztec Affect Their Worldview?

Reflect and Respond Page 235

Thursday, April 23,2008

1. Imagine that you are a teen-aged boy or girl traveling with the Aztecs during their long migration. What types of hardships might you have to endure? Do you think that people who experience hardships would have a different worldview than those whose lives are easier? Explain.

1. Look For• lack of fresh food and water• harsh weather conditions• need to carry heavy loads over difficult terrain• conflict with other peoples• conflict with members of own society – perhaps

living conditions were too difficult• possible deaths of friends and family members

because of hard journey• getting used to staying in one place and then

having to move on; never being considered as equals by other groups

• contact with dangerous animals, poisonous snakes, etc.

1. Continued

• A difficult life may lead to different values and beliefs. For example: belief in the need to be independent and self sufficient; need to be innovative in order to succeed; perhaps different family values and a different work ethic; belief in gods who can protect and support.

1. Continued

• People who experience hardships often develop specific skills and knowledge that allow them to change their experiences and/or situations to more positive ones.

1. Continued

• Values such as courage, strength, cunning and patience might become more important to them than to others in easier situations because they want to change the status of their existence.

• Perhaps harsh treatment they received by others would harden them to values of kindness and mercy towards others.

2. What personal qualities would the Aztecs have had to develop in order to survive their difficult journey?

2. Look For

• patience to endure and never give up• intelligence to survive the semi-nomadic lifestyle

and living among hostile neighbours• appreciation of those with good hunting skills• courage• toughness• sense of community and team as they traveled

together and helped each other• strong belief in the possibility of a permanent

home

3. Huitzilopochtli is described as a demanding god. Why do you think it was important for the Aztecs to believe that they had a patron god? Why do you think they believed he took on the role of the sun, and not that of another heavenly body?

3. Look For

• It was important to believe that a god was looking out for their wellbeing – like their guardian – the belief that Huitzilopochtli was leading them to a promised place where they would be happy would make the hardships of the migration more bearable. Huitzilopochtli was the sun god and the sun gives life and warmth and so was associated with a good life.

4. How might the Aztec destiny have been different if their belief in Huitzilopochtli had not been so unquestioning?

4. Look For

• If there was no promise of a homeland in the Valley of Mexico, the Aztec may have given up during their journey and settled elsewhere.

• Without their beliefs, they may not have had the will to endure the severe hardships and perhaps would have perished or have been assimilated into another culture.

5. The Aztecs eventually build an empire in Mexico. How might the Aztec worldview have been influenced by how they were treated by other societies? Explain.

5. Look For• They would learn that they had to rely on

themselves, not others.• Neighbouring societies made the Aztec work as

servants to meet their own greed and needs; the Aztec would do the same to those they conquered.

• They saw that power came to the societies with the most ferocious warriors and so they became ferocious themselves.

• They saw the skills needed for a society to thrive and understood that they needed to acquire the appropriate skills in order to build their city.

• They recognized that a strong society valued education and training for their children.