Aztec

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/aztec

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the capital of Aztec?Tenochtitlan, founded c. 1325 CE on Lake Texcoco
2. What is the primary ethnic group?Mexica
3. What is the imperial structure?A tribute empire based on the Triple Alliance (Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, Tlacopan)
4. Where did the Aztecs build their capital city?The Aztecs built their capital, Tenochtitlan, on an island in Lake Texcoco. It was a beautiful city surrounded by water.
5. How did the Aztecs grow so much food on the lake?They created chinampas, which are small artificial islands made of mud and vegetation. These chinampas were very productive and helped feed the city.

Pipiltin: The noble class in Aztec society, holding positions of power and privilege.
Macehualtin: The commoner class in Aztec society, forming the bulk of the population and labor force.
Templo Mayor: The main temple in Tenochtitlan's sacred precinct, dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc.
Nahuatl: The language spoken by the Aztecs and still spoken by many indigenous people in Mexico today.