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24 facts about the Aztecs, the last of the great Indian civilizations
24 facts about the Aztecs, the last of the great Indian civilizations

Video: 24 facts about the Aztecs, the last of the great Indian civilizations

Video: 24 facts about the Aztecs, the last of the great Indian civilizations
Video: MARTIN SCORSESE: Goodfella with a Сamera from Little Italy - A Documentary | Life Story | Ep. 1 - YouTube 2024, May
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The Aztecs are the last great Native American civilization
The Aztecs are the last great Native American civilization

The Aztecs never used things like wheels, iron, or cavalry. But it is thanks to the Aztecs that there is chocolate in the world now. Here are 25 facts about this great, but long forgotten civilization.

1. Aztecs-Mexicans

Aztecs-Mexicans
Aztecs-Mexicans

The Europeans actually called them "Aztecs", and this people called themselves Mexicans.

2. Cemetery at home

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They usually buried the dead right under their homes.

3. The dog with the owner until the end

A dog is a friend of man
A dog is a friend of man

Sometimes a dog was killed along with the deceased so that it could direct the soul to the afterlife.

4. Living for debt

Life for debt
Life for debt

The Aztecs often sold themselves or their children into slavery to pay off debts.

5. Freedom and slavery

Freedom and slavery
Freedom and slavery

Their slavery system was more like debt bondage, although slaves could redeem their freedom.

6. Tenochtitlan = Mexico City

Tenochtitlan = Mexico City
Tenochtitlan = Mexico City

The capital of the Aztecs was called Tenochtitlan, and it was located on an island in the middle of a lake. Today the lake is drained, and in this place is Mexico City.

7. The clean city of Tenochtitlan

The clean city of Tenochtitlan
The clean city of Tenochtitlan

In Tenochtitlan, the streets were constantly cleaned by scavengers, and the city itself became famous for its cleanliness.

8. Tenochtitlan - an ancient metropolis

Tenochtitlan - an ancient metropolis
Tenochtitlan - an ancient metropolis

At the time when Europeans discovered Tenochtitlan, it was larger than most European cities.

9. A civilization that did not know the wheel

A civilization that did not know the wheel
A civilization that did not know the wheel

The Aztecs have never used the wheel during the entire existence of their civilization.

10. … and metals

Those who did not know steel
Those who did not know steel

They also had no iron or steel.

11. School education

School education
School education

The Aztecs were one of the first societies to introduce compulsory education for children.

12. Disease as the cause of the fall of civilization

Diseases as the cause of the fall of civilization
Diseases as the cause of the fall of civilization

One of the reasons for the fall of this civilization was European diseases.

13. Hieroglyphs-pictures

Hieroglyphs-pictures
Hieroglyphs-pictures

Their Nahuatl language was a hieroglyphic alphabet that looked like pictures.

14. From sacrifices to taxes

From sacrifices to taxes
From sacrifices to taxes

The Aztecs used this language to maintain an extremely advanced and detailed accounting system. Literally everything was taken into account - from sacrifices to taxes.

15. Human sacrifice

Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice

Legend has it that the Aztecs attacked their enemies specifically in order to capture prisoners who were later used in human sacrifice.

16. Tluttley

Tluttley
Tluttley

The Aztecs had a very popular ball game called "tluttley", somewhat similar to modern volleyball. The players tried to throw the ball into a very small hoop without the ball touching the ground.

17. Skull instead of a ball

Skull instead of a ball
Skull instead of a ball

Often, human sacrifice was practiced during the ball game. Often, instead of a ball, the skulls of former players were even used.

18. To become a victim is an honor ?

It is an honor to become a victim ?!
It is an honor to become a victim ?!

Since the Aztecs considered it an honor to be sacrificed, historians are not sure who was killed after the match - the losers or the winners.

19. The Discoverers of Chocolate

Discoverers of chocolate
Discoverers of chocolate

The Aztecs, along with other civilizations in Central America, were the first to show the Europeans what chocolate is.

20. Skull instead of a ball

Skull instead of a ball
Skull instead of a ball

The word "chocolate" comes from the Nahuatl word "chocolātl".

21. Cocoa as gifts of the gods

Cocoa asts of the gods
Cocoa asts of the gods

Cocoa seeds were considered a gift from the gods and were even used as currency.

22. Aztec Chocolate Recipe

Aztec chocolate recipe
Aztec chocolate recipe

Aztec chocolate was very different from modern chocolate. Then it was a bitter drink mixed with spices.

23. Hernan Cortes - conqueror of the Aztecs

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This people was conquered by the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes, who was helped by several neighboring tribes who were at war with the Aztecs. Their fall marked the end of the last great Native American civilization.

24. Victims of War and the Beginning of a New Era

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During the last battle for Tenochtitlan, almost a quarter of a million people died. Then, on the ruins of the city, Cortez began to build Mexico City.

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