Aztecs

No, the Aztec civilization existed in Mesoamerica between the 14th and 16th centuries. Their descendants are part of modern-day Mexican society, but the Aztec civilization itself no longer exists.

The Aztec created floating gardens called chinampas in the swamps. These were man-made islands built by layering mud and organic material on top of rafts of reeds and sticks. The nutrient-rich mud helped crops grow, and the gardens were irrigated by canal systems.

The Aztecs used a prophecy given by their god Huitzilopochtli which described an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak as the sign to know where to build their capital city, Tenochtitlan. They found this sign on a small island in Lake Texcoco in central Mexico, where they established their capital.

Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, is credited with defeating the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. Cortés and his forces, along with indigenous allies, overthrew the Aztec ruler Montezuma II and ultimately led to the fall of the empire.

The Aztec civilization had various occupations, including farmers, artisans, warriors, priests, and nobles. Farmers played a crucial role in society, growing crops such as maize, beans, and squash. Artisans created pottery, jewelry, textiles, and other goods. Warriors defended the empire and captured prisoners for sacrifice. Priests performed religious ceremonies and rituals, while nobles held positions of power within the government and military.

Hernán Cortés was the Spanish explorer who conquered the Aztec culture in the early 16th century. Cortés led an expedition that resulted in the downfall of the Aztec Empire and the establishment of Spanish rule in Mexico.

The Aztec pyramids were built by the Aztecs, a Mesoamerican civilization that existed in present-day Mexico. They were constructed using manual labor and were used for religious and ceremonial purposes. The most famous Aztec pyramid is the Templo Mayor in the capital city of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City).

The Aztecs were instructed by their god Huitzilopochtli to look for a sign: an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak. When they came across this symbol, they took it as a sign to establish their city, Tenochtitlan, on that spot.

Patolli is a traditional Mesoamerican board game that was played by various indigenous cultures in what is now Mexico and Central America. It is a gambling game that involves strategy and luck, often played with beans or seeds as markers. Players move their pieces around a cross-shaped board to reach the central goal while trying to block their opponents.

Montezuma II, the Aztec ruler, was buried in what is now Mexico City. His tomb is believed to be located under the site of the Templo Mayor, one of the main temples of the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan. However, his exact burial site has never been discovered.

Ploughing is the initial process in which the soil is broken and turned over, exposing fresh soil and burying weeds. Harrowing follows ploughing to break up clods of soil, level the surface, and prepare a seedbed for planting. Together, ploughing and harrowing help aerate the soil, improve drainage, and create optimal conditions for seed germination and crop growth.

Yes, the Aztecs practiced dental hygiene by using a variety of tools such as twigs, cloth, and abrasive powders to clean their teeth. They did not have toothbrushes or toothpaste like we do today, but they still made efforts to maintain oral health.

Maya civilization was more advanced in technology, mathematics, and astronomy compared to the Olmec civilization. The Maya society was more hierarchical and organized, with city-states ruled by kings, while the Olmec civilization is known for their colossal stone heads and their influence on later Mesoamerican cultures. Additionally, the Maya had a fully developed writing system while the Olmec did not.

Lake Texcoco was important to the Aztecs because it provided a reliable water source for agriculture, enabling them to establish their capital city of Tenochtitlan on an island in the lake. The lake also served as a transportation route for goods and people, connecting the Aztecs to other regions in Mesoamerica. Additionally, the surrounding wetlands offered a diverse ecosystem that supported the Aztec economy through fishing and hunting.

Archaeologists refer to the basic unit in the Aztec and Maya system of writing as glyphs. These glyphs often represent sounds, words, or whole ideas in their respective writing systems.

No, the Aztec pyramids were primarily built by skilled laborers and builders who were not enslaved. Slavery did exist in Aztec society, but slaves were typically used for agricultural work, household chores, or as sacrifices in religious ceremonies.

The Aztec pyramids were used for religious and ceremonial purposes, including performing rituals and offering sacrifices to their gods. They were also used for astronomical observations and as a representation of the Aztec cosmology.

The Aztecs used a technique called "wattle and daub" to build their houses. They constructed wooden frameworks out of sticks and then filled the gaps with mud and straw. This method allowed them to build sturdy and insulated homes that could withstand the elements.

The Aztecs were known for incorporating elements of past Mesoamerican cultures into their own traditions, such as art, architecture, and religious practices. However, their society was more focused on expansion and conquest rather than preserving the past in a traditional sense.

The Aztec Indians lived in adobe houses made of mud bricks and thatched roofs. Their houses varied in size depending on the person's social status, with commoners living in smaller houses and nobles living in larger, more elaborate structures. The houses were organized in tight-knit neighborhoods with communal facilities and spaces.

Descendants of the Aztecs today are a mix of indigenous Mexicans with varying physical characteristics. Many present-day Mexicans have Aztec ancestry, but they also have genetic influences from other indigenous and European populations due to centuries of intermixing. It is important to recognize the diversity and complexity of modern Mexican society rather than simplifying it to a single visual representation.

The Aztecs still do exist today. They number up to more than a million people in Mexico today who even still speak Nahuatl (Ancient language of the Aztecs). A large proportion of the Mexican are Mestizos which means they are of mixed Spanish and Amerindian ancestry. For many the Amerindian blood is Aztec. For others they have ancestry from other Indian tribes like the Maya, Talaxcala, Apache etc.

The Aztec civilization no longer exists as they were conquered by the Spanish in the 16th century. However, their descendants continue to live in Mexico and preserve their cultural heritage through traditions, art, and language. Many Aztec archaeological sites can still be visited in Mexico today.

The Aztecs lived in homes made of adobe bricks and thatched roofs. These structures varied in size and complexity depending on the social status of the inhabitants. They had communal buildings for public and religious activities.

The Aztec called the raised fields they created "chinampas." These were man-made rectangular islands used for agriculture in the shallow lakes of the Valley of Mexico. They were used to grow crops such as maize, beans, and squash.