BOOKS
Aguilar-Moreno, Manuel, Handbook to Life in the Aztec World (New York, Facts On File, 2005)
This well-illustrated book gathers together the results from recent archaeological discoveries and historical documents. It is organized around central themes, such as the geography of the Aztec world, society and government, religion and mythology, art, architecture, Nahuatl literature, the calendar, industry and trade, daily life, and more.
Carrasco, David, and Scott Sessions, Daily Life of the Aztecs: People of the Sun and Earth (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2008, reprint)
Two experts on the Aztecs offer a detailed look at Aztec life, including religion, food, arts, and games. The book also examines the conflict between Aztec and European cultures during and after the Spanish conquest and the influence Aztec culture continues to have on modern Mexican society. Many illustrations complement the text.
Diaz del Castillo, Bernal, The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico (Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press, 2004)
This book was written by one of the conquistadors. It gives an eyewitness view of what the Spanish saw and thought when they first encountered the Aztecs and other cultures of Mexico.
Coulter, Laurie, Ballplayers and Bone Setters: 100 Ancient Aztec and Maya Jobs You Might Have Adored or Abhorred (Toronto, Canada: Annick Press, 2008)
The ancient Aztecs, Maya, and other Meso-americans believed that the gods created a world where everyone had a role to play. Some people were born to rule, others to serve. Find out in this book what it was like to be a tax collector, a porter, a pyramid builder, a beekeeper, and a royal cook.
Hall, Eleanor J., life Among the Aztecs (Chicago: Lucent Books, 2004)
This is a very thorough review of how the Aztecs lived, from the how they wore their hair to how they viewed the world. There are also boxes on specific topics, such as how to pronounce Nahuatl, the construction of the chinampa gardens that made it possible for the cities to feed themselves, and the works of particular scholars. Well illustrated with drawings and photographs.
Pohl, John, Aztec, Mixtec and Zapotec Armies (Oxford, U. K.: Osprey Publishing, 1991)
The Aztec Empire became the most powerful and feared civilization in the Americas. The Mixtec and Zapotec peoples both formed alliances with and fought many wars against the Aztecs. This work investigates the history, uniforms, and weaponry of the Aztec, Mixtec and Zapotec armies. Original artwork makes it easy to visualize these warriors.
Steele, Philip, Norma Rosso, and Penny Bateman, The Aztec News (New York: Walker Books, 2009) The lively, unusual format of this book is both factual and entertaining. The Aztec News imagines what a news magazine would be like during the Aztec Empire. Feature articles discuss major historical events. Local news talks about festivals and daily life, and there are even advertisements. Special interest coverage includes articles on hunting, marriage, and medicine.
Tucker, Mary, Mayans and Aztecs: Exploring Ancient Civilizations (Carthage, 111.: Teaching & Learning Company, 2002)
Ancient history will come to life as students design a battle uniform based on Aztec thinking, and learn about the diet, work, entertainment, worship, and warfare of these ancient cultures.
DVDS
The Aztec Empire (The History Channel, 2005) Historians trace the rise of the Aztecs from small group of nomads to the dominant culture of Mesoamerica. The program tours the Great Temple in Tenochtitlan, where ongoing archaeological digs are unraveling some of the mysteries of the Aztecs. It also discusses the continued Aztec influence in Mexico today.
Secrets of the Dead: Aztec Massacre (PBS, 2008) There was a time when historians believed that the Aztecs viewed the Spanish conquistadors as gods and barely resisted their takeover. But new research has proven that the Aztecs fiercely resisted the Spanish invaders. Aztec Massacre looks at this new information and presents a new view of the Aztec response to the Spanish.
WEB SITES
Aztec Ancient Scripts
Www. ancientscripts. com/aztec. html
This site looks at the writing system the Aztecs used, including how they wrote numbers. There are many examples of specific glyphs, calendar signs, and place names.
Aztec Calendar
Www. azteccalendar. com/azteccalendar. html
This site offers an introduction to the calendars the Aztecs used and how they were used together. Links lead to more information on the Aztec gods. Click on “Calculator,” which converts a date in the modern calendar to a date in the Aztec calendar.
Aztec Empire
Www. mnsu. edu/emuseum/prehistory/latinamerica/
Meso/cultures/aztec_empire. html
This is an exhibit in the E-Museum at Minnesota State University. Tour an exhibit that focuses on the archaeology in Mesoamerica, with additional pages on specific archaeological sites, cultures, and technology used by the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican people. Click through links on the calendar, Tenochtitlan, technology and society, and more.
Aztec Math Decoded
News. nationalgeographic. com/news/2008/04/
080403-aztec-math. html
This article from National Geographic News describes the special arithmetic the Aztecs developed to measure land and keep track of how much tax was owed.
The Aztecs and the Making of Colonial Mexico
Www. newberry. org/Aztecs/index. html
This is a virtual exhibition from the Newberry Library in Chicago that shows original manuscripts, books, and other materials about the Aztecs and their clash with the Spanish. View beautiful pages from their books, maps, pages of Spanish manuscripts, and more.
Aztecs at Mexicolore
Www. mexicolore. co. uk/index. php? one=azt&two=aaa Investigate this Aztec Web site that is designed with kids in mind. The information is fun and fascinating. There are sections on Aztec art and design, artifacts, music, the calendar, the gods, and much more.
The Aztec World
This is an introduction to an exhibition about the Aztecs at the Field Museum in Chicago. The site has a lot of photos of objects from the exhibition, along with information on farmers, artisans, merchants, warriors, rulers, and high priests.
Conquistadors: Mexico
Www. pbs. org/opb/conquistadors/mexico/mexico. htm Learn about the Aztecs and the Spanish conquerors who brought their empire to an end. The site contains information about Aztec culture and how the Spanish reacted to it. Pop-up windows and lots of links make this interesting and easy to navigate.
John Pohl's Mesoamerica
Www. famsi. org/research/pohl/index. html
John Pohl is an archaeologist and curator of the Art Museum at Princeton University. His web site features many maps, drawings, and photographs relating to the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican cultures, a history of the Aztecs, and information on many major archaeological sites.
Dr. Michael E. Smith
Www. public. asu. edu/~mesmith9/
Dr. Smith is an archaeologist specializing in the Aztecs and a professor at Arizona State University. The site has links to some of Dr. Smith's papers written for a general audience and information on his ongoing research in Mexico.
The Mexica/Aztecs
Www. wsu. edu/~dee/CIVAMRCA/AZTECS. HTM This site from Washington State University is part of a larger project called Civilizations
In America. Enjoy an overview of the ancient culture of the Aztec people, including their history, social customs and religion. Also offered is specific information on other peoples of Mesoamerica, such as the Olmecs and Toltecs. A Gallery of American Civilizations includes photographs from the archaeological digs at Tenochtitlan.
Museo Nacional de Antropologia
Www. mna. inah. gob. mx/muna/mna_ing/intro_ing.
Html
This is the site of the National Museum of Anthropology (the study of human cultures) in Mexico City. The site has a lot of information in English, including details on all periods of early Mexican history. There are also 3-D images of many items in the museum's collection.
Templo Mayor Museum
Http://archaeology. asu. edu/tm/index2.htm
This online museum showcases information on archaeological materials excavated at the Great Temple in Mexico City. The site is divided into eight sections devoted to topics such as the gods, agriculture, trade, and rituals. Click on “Supplementary Pages” and see an A-to-z guide of the museum's many images. The site also has an excellent glossary.
World History
