Chapter 6: Mexico  "Mexico's History"

Introduction In this chapter you have read about the land and people of Mexico. Two important pre-Columbian civilizations developed in Mexico—the Aztec and the Maya. They both demonstrated advances in architecture, the arts, and science. Destination Title: Ancient Mexico Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window. Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips. Directions Start at the Ancient Mexico Web site. Click on Map of Mesoamerica, and then click on the label Tenochtitlan. Examine the map, and then scroll down and click on the heading Tenochtitlan. Read the information. Return to the main screen and click on Historical Documents. Click on and read A Letter from Cortés to the King of Spain. Use what you have learned to answer the following questions. 1. On what lake did the Aztecs build their capital of Tenochtitlan? 2. Why could Tenochtitlan be called a "new world Venice"? 3. How did Cortés describe the Aztec king Moctezuma? 4. According to Cortés, what were meals lilke for Moctezuma? 5. On a separate piece of paper, draw a picture that Cortés might have included with his letter to the king of Spain to illustrate one of the scenes of Aztec life. You might draw a picutre of Moctezuma, or one of his banquets, or his guards—anything depicting an interesting scene from the Aztec capital.