The year 2019 marked the 500th Anniversary of the Fall of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital city. A va ...

---

The year 2019 marked the 500th Anniversary of the Fall of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital city. A vast majority of our information comes from Spanish sources about the Aztecs, which depicted them as "Cannibals, Savages, Heathens". The following learning activity will look to demystify some common misconceptions about Aztec society and culture. Directions: Write a 2-page essay (500 word count, not including the questions and directions), double-spaced paper in response to the questions below. Not sure what a college essay is? Google it LOL! Seriously though, check out OWL Perdue University Links to an external site.. There is NO need for a cover page. There is NO need for a work cited page, even though you are required by Grossmont College to use in-text citations. Basically, let me know which video clips and articles were used in your responses with in-text citations. Make sure to use all of the provided resources below and reference information from the lecture PPT, module readings, and video clips for full credit. Questions: What are some of the misconceptions about Aztec culture and society? How are these misconceptions about Mesoamericans, like the Aztec and the Maya, depicted in the film Apocalypto? How does the work of Camilla Townsend, and other historians who utilize indigenous-language sources, challenge these misconceptions? After watching Aztecs: Engineering an Empire, identify two accomplishments of Aztec society that are unrelated to war or human sacrifice. Why do you think there is so much focus on the Aztec's practice of human sacrifice and almost no discussion of European methods of torture and execution (draw and quartering, burning, etc.)? Read the article "12 Lies About The Aztecs Even History Buffs Are Guilty Of BelievingLinks to an external site." Setareh Janda | June 7, 2021 -Pay particular attention to #3 and #8 Watch the Sacrifice Scene from Apocalypto (4 minutes) Warning: The following scene depicts human sacrifice Watch the TED Ed: History of Cannibalism (0-1:23) Warning: This video contains cartoon depictions of people eating other people Read the article "We Learned About the Aztecs From Their Conquerors—But New Research Is Letting Them Speak for Themselves"Links to an external site. Camilla Townsend | November 1, 2019 Watch the History Channel Documentary Aztecs: Engineering an Empire (13:20 - 21:35) Optional: Watch Podcast with Dr. Camilla Townsend discussing her book The Fifth Sun (40 minutes)