The Aztecs were a northern Mexican tribe and ruled a huge empire. They were one of the last Native American civilisations!
They lived in Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the 16th century. In fact, the word ‘Aztec’ means ‘someone who comes from an unknown location in Mexico’. Aztecs were also called Mehika or Mexica – the original name of ‘Mexico’.
Their society thrived for over two hundred years in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Aztecs conquered rivals and encouraged trade and alliances with other tribes.
The king ruled over the entire empire and had craftsmen build towers for the gods. Farmers fed the people and warriors defended the empire from their enemies.
Learn more about this fascinating empire and more below!
Top 13 Aztecs Facts for Kids
- They were the first people to discover chocolate!
- They made a drink that’s similar to the hot chocolate we drink today.
- They believed that cacao beans were a gift from the gods. They hoped that drinking this chocolate would give them god-like wisdom.
- Before settling in Mexico, they were nomads who moved around central America.
- The Aztecs believed in many gods. One of the most important was Tlaloc – the rain god.
- To keep the gods happy, they made lots of sacrifices (including humans!)
- Their capital city, Tenochtitlán, was in the same place as Mexico City now. Mexico’s capital was built on top of this city.
- Tenochtitlán was surrounded by volcanoes and mountains.
- Like the Egyptians, they built temples and pyramids for gods and kings.
- They valued strength and ferocity in battle. In fact, every male was trained to be a warrior.
- They built huge cities and canals, but never invented the wheel!
- Art was really important for the Aztecs too. They made intricate masks, pottery and jewellery.
- The ‘Day of the Dead’ originated with the Aztecs. It’s now a popular tradition in Mexico that celebrates the dead and reminds people that we shouldn’t fear death.
Timeline
What are the Aztecs famous for?
The Aztecs were famous for their agriculture, land, art, and architecture. They developed writing skills, a calendar system and also built temples and places of worship.
They were also known for being fierce and unforgiving. To please their gods they sacrificed humans!
But they were incredibly skilled and inventive too. Their creativity helped them to grow an empire and fight off enemies.
How did the Aztecs live?
Most Aztecs lived in huts made of mud and straw. Outside, they would grow food in a garden. Inside, you’d find a sleeping area, cooking area, and somewhere to pray to the gods.
In contrast, rich people lived in palaces or homes made of stone or brick. Here, they bathed in steam rooms and saunas.
There was a big gap between rich and poor, so many people had to work hard to get by. Men were warriors and farmers, whereas the women stayed at home to cook and weave the family’s clothes. Men wore capes and women wore dresses made of cloth.
How did Aztec children live?
Just like in the UK now, all Aztec children had to go to school. It was the law! Unlike many countries at the time, girls and slaves had to go to school too.
Boys and girls learnt different things. For example, boys would learn how to hunt and farm, whereas girls would learn about cooking and the home.
How did the Aztecs build their empire?
The Aztec empire was huge and covered 80,000 square miles in central America. Millions of people served under their king.
At first, the Aztecs were nomads, meaning they travelled around a lot and didn’t settle in the same place. They lived simply and were relatively poor.
Once they settled in Tenochtitlán, they began to grow. They were in a good location, with food, water and easy access to nearby towns where they traded.
Over time, they became fierce warriors and made alliances with other people. This strengthened their political power and, through conquering other areas, they expanded the empire.
Aztec Art
Aztecs worshipped the gods through art, so it was very important to them.
They worshipped gods such as:
- Xochipilli: the god of creativity, happiness, beauty, dance and flowers. His name means “flower prince.”
- Tonatiuh: the god of the sun, sacrifice and warriors. His face is at the centre of the Aztec sunstone.
- Xiuhtecuhtli: the god of origin, time and fire.
- Quetzalcóatl: the god of death and the underworld.
What are the types of Aztec Art?
Feathers: The Aztecs used many different types of bird feathers for decorating headdresses, shields, cloaks and pictures. Feathers that were brightly coloured and usually came from tropical birds such as hummingbirds, macaw and parrots.
Pottery: The Aztecs used pottery to cook beans, hold water and soak pulses and maize overnight. They made jugs, pots, cups and plates using red clay. The Aztecs influenced the modernisation of painting pottery.
Nature: This was an important theme in Aztec art. Animals such as eagles, hummingbirds and snakes symbolised different things. This included gods, warriors, and beauty.
Stone: Carvings were popular in places of worship. Lots of details were included in these stone carvings, which told a story and were tributes to the gods.
Jewellery: Jewellery was crafted from jade, gold, copper and silver. Opal became popular with rich Aztecs.
The Aztecs Activities for the Classroom
Find ideas, resources and more to help teach your class about the Aztecs!
This Explore Aztec Society Activity is ideal to begin your KeyStage 2 teaching on the Aztecs. Delve into a brief history and complete the labelling and debate tasks.
Discover the timeline of the Aztecs and important rulers during this time period with these Aztec Timeline Cards.
Keep your pupils relaxed and entertained with Mask Colouring or design an Aztec Sunstone!
Get active with our Aztec Ball Game Activity. It’s ideal for including physical education and history into one action-packed lesson.
You can find even more resources below:
