Handbook to life in the Aztec world

Guide to pronunciation and spelling of Nahuatl terms 1. Mesoamerican civilizations and Aztec archaeology The area of Mesoamerica The people of Mesoamerica Brief history of Aztec archaeology Main historical primary sources about the Aztec Reading 2. Evolution of Aztec civilization Origins and the great migration Mexica-Aztec history Reading 3. Geography of the Aztec world The concept of sacred landscape The Valley of Mexico : the land, the lake and natural resources The island city of Tenochtitlan City-states and neighboring peoples Linguistic history and distribution of Nahua peoples Reading 4. Society and government Social structure and class hierarchy Tlatoani Cihuacoatl Priests Tecuhtli Calpulli Household Reading 5. Warfare Training Military ranks and orders Military intelligence Women and war Uniforms and weapons Battle tactics and strategies Principal Aztec military campaigns Tribute Flower wars Reading 6. Religion, cosmology, and mythology Structure of the universe Main myths The Aztec gods Rituals Ritual human sacrifice Reading 7. Funerary beliefs and customs Creation myths and concepts about death Funerary places of destination Burials and creation Souls Human sacrifice Reading

8. Aztec art

Aztec artists and craftsmen

Monumental stone sculpture

Terra-cotta sculpture

Ceramics

Wood art

Feather work

Lapidary arts

Gold work

Reading

9. Aztec architecture

Symbolism

Types of architecture

Building materials and techniques

The precinct of Tenochtitlan

Other cities

Reading

10. Nahuatl literature

Tlacuilos and their techniques

Codices

Pictographic-phonetic writing

Poetry and narrative

Reading

11. The calendar, astronomy, and mathematics

The calendar system

Conception of the universe

Astronomy

Mathematics

Reading

12. Economy, industry, and trade

Modes of production

Agriculture and Chinampas

Use of water in the Valley of Mexico

Food sources

Laborers and artisans

The marketplace

Transportation

Long-distance trade

The Pochtecah

Tribute

Reading

13. Daily life

Family

Women

Education

Shamanism and medicine

Games

Personal appearance and attire

Royal court life

Food and drink

Music and dance

Reading

14. The Aztec after the conquest and today

The conquest of Mexico

Colonial Mexico : the process of transculturation

Tequitqui art

Mexico and its Mestizo identity

The Indians of Central Mexico today

Reading

Main museums containing Aztec collections

Aztec poems.