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Example research essay topic: Chili Peppers National Geographic - 2,499 words

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... d squash were the principal crops in Tenochtitlan. Corn, the crop in the most demand was crown in many varieties, sizes, and colors. A strange and mystical relationship existed between the Aztecs and corn. Several gods were associated with corn, and corn was demanded as a sacrifice by many of the gods.

Corn was honored in all its various forms, as seeds, small plants and as mature plants. Aztec farmers also grew fruits of many kinds as well as tomatoes, avocados, chili peppers, and herbs. Chilies were very popular and were the basic seasoning for almost all foods. Many flowers also were grown on the chinaman. The Aztecs loved flowers, that they used in religious rituals, decorations, and in temples. They were also made into bouquets to be carried around and enjoyed for their beauty as well as their aroma.

Aztec farmers live with their families in mud-walled thatch-roofed huts on their plots of land. These houses only consisted of one room with a dirt floor covered with reeds for sleeping. The family rose with the sun to begin work and the day ended when darkness fell. The main meal, eaten in the middle of the day, consisted of tortillas and beans, seasoned with salt and chilies.

Meat was in very short supply so the Aztecs rarely ate it. Farmers did, however, raise turkeys, ducks and small dogs that were reserved for only the very wealthy. Usually the only meat the farmers ever ate was collected in the lake. Things such as fish, turtles, frogs, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, grubs, and salamanders that were gathered on the lake were eaten only during special occasions. The lake also provided an interesting source of protein. Green lake scum that tasted like cheese was dried into small bricks.

This high-protein food was often carried by warriors into battle. Times were not easy for the farmers. Farmers worked very hard and gained very little. Farmers could, however be guaranteed a place to live and work for their lifetime in a well organized, structured society. Aztec cooking would be considered rich and spicy by our standards. Most dishes had sauces flavored with chili peppers and little else.

Hunting provided most of the meat in the typical Aztec meal. The chief game animals were deer, rabbits and game birds. The typical midday meal consisted of a meat item, some potatoes or beans, tortillas, tomatoes, and an alcoholic beverage called oct. For dessert, honey and tortillas were popular, along with a rich chocolate drink. ART In Aztec culture, art and religion were not easily separated. Art was used to tell others the concepts of religion.

In Tenochtitlan huge stone sculptures of the gods were created and placed in the temples and public plazas of the city. The symbols of each god were always show the same so they could be recognized by worshipers. Although most art was religious in nature, some sculptures had no religious meaning. Aztec also portrayed many different animals and people. The sculptors only used simple wood and stone tools, bird bones, fiber cords, water and sand to carve the hard volcanic stone.

These artists were some of the finest in all of the Americas. Unfortunately, little Aztec art has been preserved. Since most of the art was religious oriented it was destroyed, along with almost everything else, when the Catholic Spaniards took over in 1521. Art was also used in war.

Artisans would paint spears, masks and shields with images of fierce animals and gods of war and strength. Skulls were also a very popular form of Aztec art. The skulls would be made of stone, gold, or crystal. This fascination with skulls is even carried over to modern day Mexico where El Dia De Los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead is celebrated.

CHILDREN - GIFTS FROM THE GODS Children were a much desired, gift from the gods. They were brought into the work by a midwife who cut the umbilical cord. The midwife bathed the new baby and welcomed him or her with words or affection and warnings about the nature of the world. Once the baby was welcomed into the family by relatives and neighbors, an astrologer selected a day for the naming ceremony. After the child was given a name, small boys ran through the neighborhood streets, announcing the babys name at every door. A banquet followed the announcements, during which guests were given flowers, and pipes or tobacco to smoke.

Friends, neighbors and relatives would feast and celebrate all night during the ceremony. Among noble and wealthy families, the celebration was on a larger scale, rich with food and gifts. Celebrations of the poor were more modest. Throughout childhood, girls and boys were taught their responsibilities by their mothers and fathers. From an early age, mothers taught daughters how to spin thread on a spindle, how to weave cloth on a loom, how to grind corn on a stone and help prepare the family's meal.

All women in Aztec society were expected to be accomplished weavers and cooks. From an early age, fathers taught their sons to carry water and firewood, to collect and bring home whatever people dropped at the local market, and how to fish with a net from a canoe. All children were expected to conform to the rules of Aztec society and to work and contribute to the needs of the household. The disobedient child was SEVERELY punished. A disobedient child was punished by being held over the smoke of a fire in which red chili peppers were burning. This was extremely painful to the eyes and burns could become severe.

Parents and grandparents were always giving advice on proper conduct. Warfare Warfare was very important to Aztec society because it was considered a religious duty. Aztecs fought not only to enlarge their powerful empire, but to gain prisoners to sacrifice to the gods as well. The highest goal for a young man was to become a successful warrior.

All able men were trained to be warriors, but only members of the nobility made up the prestigious Eagle and Jaguar Warriors. Men who took many captives in battle were rewarded. They gained land, high social rank and important government offices. Aztec methods of combat were designed to capture the enemy rather than kill him. The chief weapon was a wooden club with sharp pieces of obsidian.

This weapon was effective for disabling an opponent without killing him. The Aztecs also used bows and arrows and spears. For protection, warriors carried wooden shields and wore padded cotton armor. MONTEZUMA II AND THE SPANISH CONQUEST Montezuma was the ruler of the Aztec Empire when Hernan Cortes of Spain landed on Mexico.

Emperor Montezuma was born about 1480 and is perhaps the cause of his great empires collapse in 1521. Unlike previous Aztec rulers, who were great warriors and thinkers, Montezuma II was weak and incompetent. When the Spaniards arrived in 1519, Montezuma was unsure if these strange newcomers were men or powerful gods. Because of this, instead of fighting the Spaniards he tried to get rid of them by trickery, magic, and offering gifts. When this failed, Montezuma allowed Cortes to enter Tenochtitlan without a battle and received him in his court. This turned out to be a grave error.

Montezuma was taken prisoner without resistance, but the brutal conduct of the invaders angered the inhabitants of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs were revolted at this treatment by the Spaniards. They managed to drive out the foreigners out of the city for a while, but when the Spanish did take over the city once again the inhabitants revolted. Cortes called on Montezuma to stop the revolt, but the Aztec ruler was stoned while addressing his subjects.

After the stoning, there was a large battle. The furious Aztecs ousted the Spaniards from their city once and for all; or so they thought. Three days later Montezuma died of massive head injuries. The Aztecs thought their enemies had departed for good and would never return.

The city returned to its normal daily and ceremonial routine. Unfortunately, things were not very normal for long. A plague of smallpox spread rapidly through the city. The inhabitants of the Americas had no immunity to this new disease brought on by the Spanish. The disease killed thousand of people, including the new Aztec ruler. On April 18, 1521, much to the Aztecs surprise, the Spanish marched back to Tenochtitlan with large forces of Indian allies and 900 soldiers.

The soldiers constructed large boats to hold men and canons. On May 31, 1521, Cortes began his final siege of the great city. The boats sailed off the mainland and arrived at the island where horsemen and cavalry could be brought into the city. With this final task accomplished, the soldiers poured into the city.

The siege of the capital lasted 75 days, causing great suffering to the people of Tenochtitlan. The final battle for Tenochtitlan was fought in the great marketplace. Nobles, warriors, and women alike made their last dying effort to capture the city. Unfortunately, this was too little, too late. Of the 300, 000 Aztec defenders, only about 60, 000 survived.

The city was in a shambles. The great streets were lined with the bodies of the dead. Entire areas of the city were demolished, leaving only piles of rock behind. Within two years the city was totally leveled, homes were destroyed, temples burned, almost nothing was left standing. The Aztec capital had fallen. Very soon after this tragedy Spanish adventurers, priests, and soldiers rushed to the new land to look for fame and fortune, and to convert souls.

A few came to make their homes, others came to convert the Indians to Catholicism. Most, however, came to just gather up the wealth of this new land. The great reign of the Aztecs had come to a close. CONCLUSION Aztec artifacts were almost completely wiped out with entrance of the Spaniards.

Many things the Aztecs created are gone and little Aztec architecture remains. The Spaniards considered it their duty as Christians to wipe out the temples and all other traces of Aztec Religion. Unfortunately, this means we do not know as much about the Aztecs as we could. However, archaeologists have found the site of the Great Temple in downtown Mexico City where Tenochtitlan was once located. Archaeologists have uncovered all four sides of the building and recovered about 6, 000 objects, including jewelry, pottery, statues, wall carving, and remains of human and animal sacrifices. They have also restored some other Aztec buildings.

After the Spanish arrival, Aztec culture came to an abrupt end. Art, literature, customs, religious figures, and almost every trace of the Aztecs were destroyed. However, some Aztec heritage still survives in the midst of modern day Mexico. They are the largest aboriginal group in Mexico and retain their ancient Aztec language. Their religion is also a combination of Roman Catholicism and Aztec tribal religion. Thousands of people in Mexico have Aztec ancestors, and many of them speak a modern form of the language of ancient Tenochtitlan, Nahuatl.

Many Mexican place names come from nahuatl. Foods that come from the Aztec include chili, chocolate, and tacos. They have become popular in many countries. Descendants of the Aztec live many places including the United States. The Aztec civilization may be gone, but it will never be forgotten. END NOTES Aztec.

Information Finder 1994 ed. McDowell, Bart. The Aztecs. National Geographic, December 1980.

p. 47 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 5 Aztec. Information Finder 1994 ed. Reed, Alma M. The Ancient Past of Mexico. (New York: Crown Publishers, 1966) p. 7 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 6 Montes, Augusto F, Molina.

The Building of Tenochtitlan. (National Geographic, December 1980) p. 49 Aztec. Information Finder 1994 ed. Heyden, Doris, and Luis Francisco Villasenor. The Great Temple and the Aztec Gods. (Mexico City: Minutiae, Mexicana, 1984) p. 36 Heyden, Doris, and Luis Francisco Villasenor. The Great Temple and the Aztec Gods. (Mexico City: Minutiae, Mexicana, 1984) p. 36 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 17 Day, Jane.

Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 17 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 17 Aztec. Information Finder 1994 ed. McDowell, Bart.

The Aztecs. National Geographic, December 1980. p. 51 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 21 Aztec.

Information Finder 1994 ed. Heyden, Doris, and Luis Francisco Villasenor. The Great Temple and the Aztec Gods. (Mexico City: Minutiae, Mexicana, 1984) p. 41 Heyden, Doris, and Luis Francisco Villasenor. The Great Temple and the Aztec Gods. (Mexico City: Minutiae, Mexicana, 1984) p. 41 Heyden, Doris, and Luis Francisco Villasenor.

The Great Temple and the Aztec Gods. (Mexico City: Minutiae, Mexicana, 1984) p. 42 Brown, Dale M. , ed. Aztecs: Reign of Blood and Splendor (Alexandria: Time-Life Books, 1992) pp. 21 - 22 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 32 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 32 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 53 Reed, Alma M. The Ancient Past of Mexico. (New York: Crown Publishers, 1966) p. 23 Aztec.

Information Finder 1994 ed. Brown, Dale M. , ed. Aztecs: Reign of Blood and Splendor (Alexandria: Time-Life Books, 1992) pp. 26 Aztec. Information Finder 1994 ed. Aztec. Information Finder 1994 ed.

Reed, Alma M. The Ancient Past of Mexico. (New York: Crown Publishers, 1966) p. 17 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 46 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 47 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 47 Day, Jane. Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 47 Day, Jane.

Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 47 Aztec. Information Finder 1994 ed. Nicholson, H. H.

Art of Aztec Mexico. (Washington D. C. : National Gallery of Art, 1983) pp. 17 - 18 Nicholson, H. H. Art of Aztec Mexico. (Washington D.

C. : National Gallery of Art, 1983) pp. 19 McDowell, Bart. The Aztecs. National Geographic, December 1980. p. 42 Day, Jane.

Aztec: The World of Moctezuma. (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1992) p. 62 Innes, Hammond D. The Conquistadors. (London: Alfred A. Knopf, 1969) pp. 49 Aztec. Information Finder 1994 ed. Innes, Hammond D. The Conquistadors. (London: Alfred A.

Knopf, 1969) pp. 62 Innes, Hammond D. The Conquistadors. (London: Alfred A. Knopf, 1969) pp. 62 Innes, Hammond D. The Conquistadors. (London: Alfred A.

Knopf, 1969) pp. 64 Innes, Hammond D. The Conquistadors. (London: Alfred A. Knopf, 1969) pp. 65 Brown, Dale M. , ed. Aztecs: Reign of Blood and Splendor (Alexandria: Time-Life Books, 1992) pp. 52


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