Aztec
Growing up in southern California, I was surrounded by rich Mexican culture. I thought that I knew who the Mexican people were until my first trip to Mexico. I saw women and children on the streets of Tijuana who looked different from the Mexican Americans I had become accustomed to seeing in southern California. Their faces were more square and flat. I asked myself, "Who are these people?" I soon noticed in my shopping adventures that every store in Tijuana sold a similar version of the same piece of artwork. Why was this subject so important? I finally asked a Mexican merchant about this artwork. She explained to me that it was called the Sun Stone and that it was the most accurate calendar in the world. She informed me that this calendar was engineered by the Aztecs and the original Sun Stone could be seen in Mexico City. Later I found out that the women and children on the streets of Tijuana, with the square, flat faces, were Aztec descendents. Who where these Aztec people? The Aztec people ruled Mexico during the late postclassic period. The Center of the Aztec empire was the city of Tenochtitlan, known today as Mexico City. In the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan the Templo Mayor was home to famous religious
During the late postclassic time population densities in Central Mexico were extremely high by pre-industrial standards. A population boom was evident (Smith and Hodge 1994:17). What was the cause? It is possible that during the middle classic time people began to expand into new lands, leaving behind deserted land to the remaining farmers. Unfortunately, with so many moving on, few were left to cultivate the land. Thus began the practice of raising large families responsible for farm work. Agriculture intensified. Hunting became less and less popular. The commoner's diet consisted largely of that which they grew. Nobility often ate meat, but it is thought that the commoners were often malnourished due to the lack of protein and the long, strenuous hours of their workday. Irrigation and terracing were common practices of the time. Even though these systems existed prior to their time, the late Aztecs used these systems more than they ever had been used in the past. They had to, their expanded population demanded it.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2082
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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