JADE: Aztecs

Aztecs were a wandering Native American tribe who came to Mexico during the 13th century.

Aztec comes from the word Azteca, which is derived from Aztlán ("White Land"). Aztlán is believed to have been the northwestern region of Mexico. According to Aztec tradition, Aztlán is the land where their tribe originated. Based on the Aztec legend, the beginning of the 12th century saw the migration of the Aztec peoples to the Valley of Mexico in search for place to settle. There they built a great civilization including cities, pyramids, and temples.

By the 1400's and into the early 1500's, the Aztecs had established one of the most advanced civilizations in America. Some of their cities at that time were as large as any in Europe.

Aztec people practiced a religion that influenced every part of their lives. To honor their gods, they constructed towering temples, huge sculptures, and held ceremonies that included bloody human sacrifices.

The traditional Aztec dress included beautiful hand crafted head dresses constructed from tropical bird feathers. The flamboyant appearance and natural glow of the feathers were very desired when it came to trading them. The feathers would also be woven into beautiful designs for display purposes.

The arts were a very significant peice of the Aztec culture. Their art practices included:

Stonework - Stoneworkers created statues from rocks and would create objects made from jade green, black obsidian, and transparent crystals.

Pottery – Instead of using potter's wheel the Aztecs would shape the clay with their hands or carve it. The Aztecs would often design the inside of the pot using paint, usually using only two colours. The elaborately designed pots were for the rich or the ruler.

Scribes - The scribes drew pictograms that would record events. The scribe starts with sketching a rough outline, and the adding the details. The Aztecs would use vegetables, insects, shells, and minerals to create colors, adding oil to make colours brighter.


In 1519 Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico. They defeated the Aztecs, and in 1521, the Spaniards destroyed the Aztec Empire, but the Aztecs have made a lasting mark on Mexican culture.

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http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/dress.html
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http://www.indians.org/welker/aztec.htm
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9011557/Aztec
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec
http://archaeology.about.com/od/aterms/g/aztec.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/beliefs.html