Unraveling Aztec His-story

Written by Cristina, 8th Grade Parker Middle School student of Reading, MA. Her original post can be found here.

"Don’t believe everything you are told. Our opinions and bias views often end up scrambling in with the facts, which makes it hard to determine the truth from the phoniness. This would explain the well known concept of history that it’s really just his-story, as in whoever is relaying the information’s version of the occurrence. If you have ever played the game telephone then you can relate to my point. The more people that hear and retell words, the more jumbled they become, and less trustworthy as well. The problem with compiling information for writing history is the fact that for years, the only history floating around was shared orally. When this happens, we find ourselves relaying history as what we’ve heard from others. However, that is not how true history should be reported. So, this makes us wonder; if history varies according to different sources, then what should history say about the Aztecs? After days of analyzing several primary and secondary sources, the concrete evidence and facts lead to a conclusion stating that the Aztecs were powerfully demanding controllers, a religiously devoted people and an agriculturally advanced society. 

Careful document analysis proves that regardless of personal opinion, the Aztecs were a mighty force of control. Starting on Document 1, we already sense the strength of the Aztec people. Over a time span of 93 years, the Aztec warriors were able to conquer vast numbers of territories, rightfully attaining “the reputation of fierce fighters” (Doc. 1). Taking control over these places, the Aztecs proved that they alone were mightier than their neighbors, and pure determination led them to such success. Their accomplishments were further displayed with their set of independent territories, at times “the result of a deliberate policy of leaving unoccupied lands available for future “flower wars,” (Doc. 1) providing an accessible source of sacrifice victims. Likewise in Document 2, it is emphasized how the Aztecs valued their ability to conquer and therefore subjugate their neighbors. On the Codex Mendoza, which is depicted on Document 2, “a rack of enemy skulls”, “an enemy temple tipped over and on fire,” and a “large Aztec warrior subduing the enemy” are drawn to tell the story of the Aztec’s victorious conquests. A government of men supporting the decision making of the city also added to the power of the Aztecs, for a society functions more efficiently when all are united; stronger as one. Document 4 visually expands on the idea of Aztec power, for “in 1519, the Aztec capital had an estimated population of 300,000,” (Doc. 4) and due to the efforts of such a powerful government, this grid patterned city was economically stable, with a suspected share of wealth and success. Now Document 10 relates the information regarding how the Aztecs had tributaries, which provided an ongoing wage of supplies. Remember how the Aztecs were able to conquer the surrounding territories? Well it is from this control that the Aztecs were able to demand tribute, and expect to receive it. “Tribute was payment in goods and or services rather than in currency,” (Doc. 10)meaning the Aztecs were interested in actual items of worth, rather than today’s more common form of payment; paper money with a set face value. A bill with the required submissions was presented to the different provinces, and on it “the symbols represent different items that people in the provinces needed to deliver or they could expect military repercussions” (Doc. 10). The Aztecs meant business when it came to enforcing the revenue from their conquered territories, which both ensured their constant supply income as well as kept their neighbors subjugated to them. 

Close examination shows that religious influence could be found in a variety of aspects of Aztec life. According to Document 2, priest Cuauhtlequetzqui spoke the following words regarding the beliefs the Aztecs share over the justification of their settling in Tenochtitlan. “According to the revelation of our god when he appeared to me this night, a prickly pear cactus, standing upon a rock has grown from this heart and has become so tall and luxuriant that a fine eagle has made his nest there. When we discover it we shall be fortunate, for there we shall find our rest, our comfort, and our grandeur. There our name will be praised and our Aztec nation made great …. Our god orders us to call this place Tenochtitlan.” As you can clearly decipher from the priest’s speech, the Aztecs believed they had been called by their god to inhabit the land marked with this unique indication, and name it Tenochtitlan. For the sake of pleasing their gods, the Aztecs performed ritual human sacrifice quite frequently. By comparing and contrasting Documents 5 and 6, we can generalize that sacrifices had both ceremonial importance and a sense of brutality. You have to consider that for the religious aspect, the sacrifice victim was to “change from a human into the god Tezcalipoca” and “at the end of the year, … be dismembered in public view,” (Doc. 5) a.k.a. offered to the gods, while physically the Aztecs had to “sacrifice them slicing open their chests and extracting their hearts,” (Doc. 6) in order to perform the accepted ritual. There is no sugar coating what was done, for since the Aztecs were devoted individuals, they did whatever had to be done physically to correctly attain the religious benefits. Document 7 suggests that among other possible reasons, sacrifice was viewed “as a religious act central to the Aztec’s belief that humans must sacrifice that which was most precious to them- life- to receive the sun, the rain, and other blessings of the gods that made life possible.” In addition to all of the above, the Aztecs were far along on both the cultivating as well as the distribution of crops. It all started with their ingenious creation; chinampas. On Document 8, we take into consideration the fact that with the Aztecs settled in the middle of a lake, agriculture was hardly attainable with the minimal land use provided. Chinampas were a system of irrigating agriculture that allowed the Aztecs to produce a high yield of corn crops. “These were floating islands approximately seventeen feet long and one hundred to three hundred thirty feet wide that rested in reed frames that were anchored to the bottom of the lake” (Doc. 8).With a line of willow trees bordering these manmade islands, the chinampas were securely anchored by the trees, as well as shaded from the harsh sun. Although corn, or maize, was the main staple of food the Aztecs could depend on, the chinampas also served for growing rows of squash, beans and even flowers. Footpaths and water depositing canals could be found laid across the twenty thousand acres of constructed chinampas. Document 9 combines the ideas of the Basin of Mexico being a place of agriculture as well as a place for further food production in a Diego Rivera mural. As I mentioned earlier, maize was widely used in a number of dishes and meal time cuisines. According to Document 9, the men would “plant and harvest the maize plants,” while the women would “grind and roll the product into tortillas.” Working together, the men and women of the Aztec society were able to tend to the rows and rows of chinampas stretching across the lake, and prepare the maize for consumption or further trading, which brings us to Document 11. In this Document, we learn that the great market place was full of buying and selling o f goods. With so many individuals out to barter for new items, we can infer from this document that food and produce was likewise traded or sold, showing that the Aztecs extended their agricultural techniques to the field of distribution. 

Mightily in charge, spiritually in tune, and skillful with produce. These were the Aztecs. Over almost 100 years, the Aztecs came to control miles and miles of surrounding territory which could be used to their advantage. Bills of item requests were distributed keeping tributaries loyal as well as a source of income. With constant human sacrifice, the Aztecs maintained a close relationship with their gods. The connection between the Aztecs and their gods is exemplified when the Aztecs accept the god’s command to claim Tenochtitlan and conquer the Valley of Mexico. Chinampas proved a solution to their agriculturally difficult situation and maize served as a sustainable crop. For years history has been an ongoing round of telephone. However, when it comes to my unraveling of Aztec his-story, I decide based on the facts just what history should say about the Aztecs, and this is just it."

For more examples, visit the blog of Reading English teacher, Steve Olivo who has been using blogs as his platform for student writing since the 2009-2010 academic year.