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CONTENT
CULTURAL HERITAGE RECIPES
ECONOMIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A
CULTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B
ART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C
LANDMARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D
INVENTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E
Aztec economy
Ingredients
Trade
Agriculture
Agriculture
Even though Aztec society became more urban, their economy was based mainly on agriculture and trade, which was provided by the citizens in outlying lands.
Agriculture
Many inhabitants of the Aztec cities were involved in planting, cultivating and harvesting the empire's food. Three crops formed the staples of the Aztec diet : maize/corn, beans and squash. A farming method used was called : Chinampas (or floating garden).
Chinampas weren’t just used for the capital city but throughout the Valley of Mexico around the lake bed. And as the empire grew, more sources of food were required. At that time this meant conquering more land and other times it meant expanding the Chinampas system. Most of the Chinampas have been abandoned and filled in - they weren’t used much after the conquest. Remnants of the canal system can be seen in Xochimilco - it is a popular weekend outing for Mexicans and tourists.
Trade
In the market, farmers and craftsmen presented their goods to about 60,000 village and city residents a day. Goods were bartered, as there was no known currency. The main item used for money was the cocoa bean. The Aztec people also used vegetables and fruits, animals, quachtli, and tajaderas as money when bartering. They traded with other Meso-american cultures. And merchants traveled via rivers and the Pacific to the lands of other tribes.
Of course the Aztecs valued the cacao beans and even demanded it to be part of tribute. They created something called xocolatl (meaning : bitter water) which was a spicy hot chocolate drink popular among the upper class. When the Spanish came, they introduced sugar - and this evolved into the hot chocolates and mochachinos we know today.
Agriculture
Many inhabitants of the Aztec cities were involved in planting, cultivating and harvesting the empire's food. Three crops formed the staples of the Aztec diet : maize/corn, beans and squash. A farming method used was called : Chinampas (or floating garden).
Chinampas weren’t just used for the capital city but throughout the Valley of Mexico around the lake bed. And as the empire grew, more sources of food were required. At that time this meant conquering more land and other times it meant expanding the Chinampas system. Most of the Chinampas have been abandoned and filled in - they weren’t used much after the conquest. Remnants of the canal system can be seen in Xochimilco - it is a popular weekend outing for Mexicans and tourists.
Trade
In the market, farmers and craftsmen presented their goods to about 60,000 village and city residents a day. Goods were bartered, as there was no known currency. The main item used for money was the cocoa bean. The Aztec people also used vegetables and fruits, animals, quachtli, and tajaderas as money when bartering. They traded with other Meso-american cultures. And merchants traveled via rivers and the Pacific to the lands of other tribes.
Of course the Aztecs valued the cacao beans and even demanded it to be part of tribute. They created something called xocolatl (meaning : bitter water) which was a spicy hot chocolate drink popular among the upper class. When the Spanish came, they introduced sugar - and this evolved into the hot chocolates and mochachinos we know today.
(Chinampas : Man-made islands, raised bed garden)
THEN
NOW
(Xocolatl : spicy hot chocolate drink)
(Mochaccino & hot chocolate)
Cultural heritage
Ingredients
Equal voices
Aztec games
Nahua people
Aztec games
Nahua people
Equal voices
The Aztecs taught us that even in a warrior culture such as their world, women have an equal voice. Women were not afraid to speak up. Women ran the markets. Women participated in telling stories and telling poetry. Women were strong. Even Today women are finding their voices and speaking up for equal rights as men.
Nahua people
Are the descendants of the Aztec. More than one-and a half million Nanna live in small communities dotted across large areas of rural Mexico earning a living as farmers. Like the Aztec the Nahua people are known for their agricultural pursuits. Through their cultural establishment and heritage of growing food, the Nahua furthered the agrarian societies upon which great empires would be built.
Ancient Aztec clothing
Ancient Aztec clothing, that is the clothing worn by tribes of the Aztec empire, was rich in variety. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztec were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant colours still seen today in Mexico.Today the trend is to use their colours tie dyeing our clothes.
Ancient Aztec games
As any culture, the Aztec had many games and sports. There were games for children, adults, nobles and commoners. Being deeply religious people, their games would often have religious significance.
The Aztec ball game
Ullamaliztli, the famous Aztec ball game was played on the Tlachtli ball court. It was a very difficult game played with a large rubber ball. The game was not just important for entertainment but also political and religion. A form of the Aztec ball game is played today, known as ulama.
The Aztecs taught us that even in a warrior culture such as their world, women have an equal voice. Women were not afraid to speak up. Women ran the markets. Women participated in telling stories and telling poetry. Women were strong. Even Today women are finding their voices and speaking up for equal rights as men.
Nahua people
Are the descendants of the Aztec. More than one-and a half million Nanna live in small communities dotted across large areas of rural Mexico earning a living as farmers. Like the Aztec the Nahua people are known for their agricultural pursuits. Through their cultural establishment and heritage of growing food, the Nahua furthered the agrarian societies upon which great empires would be built.
Ancient Aztec clothing
Ancient Aztec clothing, that is the clothing worn by tribes of the Aztec empire, was rich in variety. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztec were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant colours still seen today in Mexico.Today the trend is to use their colours tie dyeing our clothes.
Ancient Aztec games
As any culture, the Aztec had many games and sports. There were games for children, adults, nobles and commoners. Being deeply religious people, their games would often have religious significance.
The Aztec ball game
Ullamaliztli, the famous Aztec ball game was played on the Tlachtli ball court. It was a very difficult game played with a large rubber ball. The game was not just important for entertainment but also political and religion. A form of the Aztec ball game is played today, known as ulama.
