Herbert H. Lehman High School

Ms. McAuliffe

Global Studies II

Aztec Civilization Webquest

Introduction

The center of the Aztec Empire was Tenochtitlàn. The Aztecs built this large city in about 1325 on one of the swampy islands in Lake Texcoco. By the late 1400s, more than 100,000 people lived in Tenochtitlàn.

The Aztecs worshiped many gods, including Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent that originated with the Olmecs. They believed that this god and the gods of the sun, the rain, the wind, and war required human blood to keep the world alive. To obtain sacrificial victims, the Aztecs constantly fought wars with other Indian peoples. On certain days of the year, the priests laid the prisoners on a temple altar. Then they used a sharp stone knife to cut out the heart of each living victim. The Aztecs believed that the person whose heart they offered to the gods became a messenger to the gods. The expected the victims to plead with the gods for the well being of the Aztecs.

In February 1519, Hernando Cortés sailed to Mexico with only 600 soldiers, 16 horses, and a few cannons. Within two years Cortés had defeated the entire Aztec army and destroyed Tenochtitlàn. Cortés and his men had a number of advantages over the Aztecs. The Spanish fought with guns and steel swords and wore metal armor. The Aztecs had only spears, swords with stone blades and armor made of padded cloth. The Spanish had arrived in Mexico just at the time when, according to an ancient legend, the god Quetzalcoatl would return from his long exile across the eastern sea. Quetzalcoatl was supposed to take the form of a pale-skinned, bearded man. When the Aztecs saw the pale, bearded Spaniards on horseback, they were stricken with fear and awe. The Aztec emperor, Moctezuma sent Cortés gifts of gold and silver and invited the supposed god into Tenochtitlàn.

In spite of these advantages, the Spaniards might still have lost. But they cleverly enlisted the aid of other Indian groups. The Spaniards found it easy to make allies. Neighboring Indian groups hated the Aztecs, who took their people as slaves and sacrificed victims to the Aztec gods. When the Spaniards attacked Tenochtitlàn, their Indian allies helped them block all entrances to the city. Because of this help, the siege was a success.

TASK

Your task for this Web Quest is to use the Internet to complete the PPA worksheets found at: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppa/intro.html

Upon completion of the worksheet you will use your research to prepare a three to five page paper to hand in which you will specify the following:

a. What are the social problems facing the Aztec rulers at the time the Spanish came?

b. What is the evidence that the problem existed in the Aztec Empire?

c. What were the causes of the problems?

d. What were some policies of Moctezuma that contributed directly to problem?

e. Describe the policies that you can recommend that would have prevented other Indian tribes from allying with the Spanish.

f. What alternatives to surrender did Moctezuma have?

g. How did Moctezuma's policies ultimately contribute to his downfall and the destruction of the Aztec Empire?

Process

Use the Internet to do the research using the PPA worksheets of the Tips Program to first identify the social problems caused by the Spanish conquest and gather evidence to prove that they existed in the Aztec Empire. Then use the worksheets to describe the causes of the problem and to evaluate how the policies enacted by the Aztec emperor Montezuma contributed to their cause. Finally, suggest a policy of your own that you feel would better address the problem. After completing the worksheets, you will use your research to prepare a three to five page research report to hand in. The report should have a cover and a bibliography. It should be three to five typewritten pages; double- spaced and neatly presented. Use the Public Policy Analyst steps to begin your research as follows:

1. Identify the Problem

Go to http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppae/step1a.html

2. Gather Evidence

Go to http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppae/step2a.html

3. Determine Causes

Go to http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppae/step3a.html

4. Evaluate the Policy

Go to http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppae/step4a.html

RESOURCES

Once you have completed your research you are ready to begin to write your paper. Use the following resources to complete the worksheets and to research material for your paper.

http://www.floridahistory.com/

http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/mayan/aztec.html

http://emuseum.mnsu.edu/prehistory/latinamerica/topics/spanish_conquest.html

http://www2.worldbook.com/features/features.asp?feature=cinco&page=html/spanish.htm&direct=yes

http://www.isourcecom.com/maya/conquest/conquesttimeline.htm

IN ADDITION—Complete the following

After completing this ~~webquest~~web quest, you will have identified how the actions of one man can change history. From your study of other individuals of global history this semester, prepare a brief ~~powerpoint~~PowerPoint biography of an individual of your choice whose actions you feel have changed the course of history. Be sure to include how the individual made changes during his/her lifetime, and how those changes affect the world today. The ~~powerpoint~~PowerPoint presentation should be a minimum of six slides.

EVALUATION

Your report will be graded based on the following criteria:

Objective	Unsatisfactory	Satisfactory	Excellent	Earned Points
Identify the Problem	0 points • Does not accurately identify a social problem that existed in • No worksheet	5 points • Identifies a social problem experienced in • Partially completed worksheet.	10 points • Accurate description of specific social problem • Completed worksheet.
Gather the Evidence	0 points • Does not provide evidence of a social problem • No worksheet	5 points • Vague or inaccurate evidence to support the existence of a social problem • Partially completed worksheet.	10 points • Accurate and complete examples to support the existence of a specific social • Completed worksheet.
Describe the Causes of the Problem	0 points Does not accurately describe the cause of a social problem • No worksheet	5 points • Vague or inaccurate description of the causes of a social problem • Partially completed worksheet.	10 points • Accurate description of the causes of a specific social problem • Completed worksheet.
Evaluate the Policy	0 points Does not identify or evaluate a policy that attempted to address the social problem; does not offer alternative policy • No worksheet	5 points • Identifies a policy that attempted to address the social problem • Does not evaluate the policy and/or does not offer alternative policy • Partially completed worksheet.	10 points • Identifies and evaluates a policy that attempted to address the specific social problem • Offers an alternative policy • Completed worksheet.
			Score:

Your PowerPoint presentation will graded according to the following rubric:

Excellent

Satisfactory

Minimal Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

Grade

Organization

Student’s presentation is logical, clear and fully captivates audience interest.

Organization

A student presentation is logical, clear ad somehow captivates audience interest.

Organization

Student’s presentation is logical and somehow clear but not captivating.

Organization

Student’s presentation is illogical and distorted.

subject knowledge

Students demonstrate full subject matter and beyond.

subject knowledge

Students demonstrate knowledge of subject matter.

subject knowledge

Students demonstrate a little knowledge of subject matter.

subject knowledge

Students do not know subject matter.

accuracy

No grammatical errors.

accuracy

Very few grammatical errors.

accuracy

Some grammatical errors.

accuracy

Too many grammatical errors that distorts the meaning of the words.

Conclusion

By the end of this report you will have identified a social problem that existed in history. You will have examined how decisions made by individuals who lived during that time contributed to the nature of the problem. Using the resources given and any other outside knowledge of social studies you possess, you will detail a plan of your own that you would have implemented had you ruled the Aztec Empire at that time. Your objectives are to keep your people happy and to maintain the loyalty of surrounding areas.

Upon completion of this project, you will have become familiar with some problems faced by rulers in the past, and the means available to them to propose solutions. You will become aware of internal dissent can cause the overthrow of an existing government and its replacement with a far harsher rule.

Students completing this project will meet the following New York State Standards:

Social Studies Standard 2

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in world history and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives.

Key Idea 1: The study of world history requires an understanding of world cultures and civilizations, including an analysis of important ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs, and traditions. This study also examines the human condition and the connections and interactions of people across time and space and the ways different people view the same event or issue from a variety of perspectives.

Key Idea 3: Study of the major social, political, cultural, and religious developments in world history involves learning about the important roles and contributions of individuals and groups.

English Language Arts Standard 1

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

Key Idea: Listening & Reading to acquire information and understanding involves collecting data, facts, and ideas; discovering relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and using knowledge from oral, written, and electronic sources.