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Inquiries Filed Under:

Aztec

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About the inquiry

This annotated inquiry leads students through an investigation of the Aztec Empire through the study of its capital city, Tenochtitlán. Scholars debate the significance of the role of the Aztec Empire in Mesoamerican culture. While some observers see great innovation in architecture, agriculture and economic systems, others see a simplistic, militaristic, and flawed empire. Further complicating these arguments is the limited number of sources and archaeological evidence.

Compelling Question

What Do the Buried Secrets of Tenochtitlán Tell Us About the Aztecs?

Staging Question

Look at photographs of the excavation of Tenochtitlán in 2012 and use the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) to generate questions about the Aztec city.

1
Supporting Question

Where was Tenochtitlán?

Formative Tasks

List key features from a series of maps and describe how each map uniquely answers the question “Where is Tenochtitlán?”

Sources

Source A: Image bank: Maps of the Aztec Empire and Tenochtitlán

2
Supporting Question

What do three archaeological artifacts tell us about the Templo Mayor?

Formative Tasks

Write a description of three archaeological artifacts found at the Templo Mayor site.

Sources

Source A: The Coyolxauhqui Stone (temple entry stone)
Source B: Tzompantli (skull rack)
Source C: Tonamatl (Aztec calendar stone)

3
Supporting Question

How did Tenochtitlán sustain itself?

Formative Tasks

Develop a chaîne opératoire (operational sequence) for three Aztec economic innovations.

Sources

Source A: Hernán Cortés’s second letter to Charles V
Source B: Codex Mendoza
Source C: Model of chinampas

4
Supporting Question

How was Tenochtitlán buried?

Formative Tasks

Develop a claim with evidence about the demise of Tenochtitlán.

Sources

Source A: Excerpt from Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Source B: Excerpt from Daily Life of the Aztecs: People of the Sun and Earth by David Carrasco with Scott Sessions

Summative Performance Task

Argument: What do the buried secrets of Tenochtitlán tell us about the Aztecs? Construct an argument (e.g., detailed outline, poster, or essay) that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical sources while acknowledging competing views.

Extension: Create an exhibition card for an artifact from Tenochtitlán to make a classroom archaeological/museum exhibit.

Taking Informed Action

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