Journey from AztlánJourney from Aztlán

1. Territory of Alta 1. Territory of Alta CaliforniaCalifornia

2. Sonora and Sinaloa2. Sonora and Sinaloa

4. Territory of Nuevo Mexico4. Territory of Nuevo Mexico

5. Chihuahua 5. Chihuahua

6. Coahuila and Texas6. Coahuila and Texas

Around 800 A.D., or Around 800 A.D., or perhaps even as late as perhaps even as late as the 1200s, a group of the 1200s, a group of

people immigrated to the people immigrated to the Valley of México from Valley of México from the legendary land of the legendary land of

Aztlán—thought to be in Aztlán—thought to be in northern México or the northern México or the American Southwest, American Southwest,

perhaps in the four perhaps in the four corners area. corners area.

The Aztec language, Nahuátl, The Aztec language, Nahuátl, and the language spoken by the and the language spoken by the

Pueblo Indians are related. Pueblo Indians are related.

A million people, mostly in A million people, mostly in México, still speak Nahuátl, but México, still speak Nahuátl, but

that number is dropping. that number is dropping.

The Aztécs and the Pueblo may The Aztécs and the Pueblo may have a common ancestor in the have a common ancestor in the

Anasazi, a people who Anasazi, a people who disappeared 7000 years ago.disappeared 7000 years ago.

FYI...

But back to our wandering But back to our wandering tribe….They were not tribe….They were not usually welcomed wherever usually welcomed wherever they went, and were they went, and were derisively referred to as derisively referred to as Chichimecs. Chichimecs. At one time At one time they were enslaved by they were enslaved by another tribe. They called another tribe. They called themselves Méxica. We themselves Méxica. We know them as the Aztecsknow them as the Aztecs. They developed a They developed a reputation as fierce fighters. reputation as fierce fighters.

Their religion developed, too, with a pantheon of gods Their religion developed, too, with a pantheon of gods led by the sun god, led by the sun god, Huitzilipochtli,Huitzilipochtli, a warrior god Who a warrior god Who

required human sacrifice. Aztéc legend has it that required human sacrifice. Aztéc legend has it that Huitzilipochtli Huitzilipochtli is the god who urged them on to the place is the god who urged them on to the place

where they would build Tenochtitlán.where they would build Tenochtitlán.

The religion emphasized the dark side of human The religion emphasized the dark side of human experience. One early celebration, which has developed experience. One early celebration, which has developed into the current celebration of into the current celebration of Día de los MuertosDía de los Muertos can be can be traced to the festivities held during the traced to the festivities held during the Aztéc month of Miccailhuitontli, ritually presided over by the goddess, ritually presided over by the goddess MictecacihuatlMictecacihuatl ("Lady of the Dead"), and dedicated to ("Lady of the Dead"), and dedicated to

children and the dead.children and the dead.

Aztéc prophecies told them that they Aztéc prophecies told them that they would find a new home and that there would find a new home and that there would be signs. Those signs includedwould be signs. Those signs included——

•an eaglean eagle•a snakea snake•a cactusa cactus

An Aztéc Calendar

On their journey they On their journey they discovered an eagle, discovered an eagle,

clutching a snake, perched clutching a snake, perched upon a cactus on an island upon a cactus on an island

in a shallow lake in the in a shallow lake in the Valley of MéxicoValley of México.

It was a swampy mess, and they had to build their city

by driving logs into the swamp to create

foundations.

Their produce gardens floated on masses of reeds

and mud called chinampas.

There they built the city of Tenochtitlán, which is There they built the city of Tenochtitlán, which is now called México City.now called México City.

Wall of Skulls: The Catédral Wall of Skulls: The Catédral Metropolitana was built by the Spaniards Metropolitana was built by the Spaniards

in the 1520's on top of the site of the in the 1520's on top of the site of the Aztecs' Wall of Skulls, which was like an Aztecs' Wall of Skulls, which was like an alter they put skulls of the sacrificed on.alter they put skulls of the sacrificed on.

The image of eagle, cactus, and snake serves as Mexico’s Great Seal, The image of eagle, cactus, and snake serves as Mexico’s Great Seal, which is displayed in the center of the Mexican flag.which is displayed in the center of the Mexican flag.

The Aztéc Empire disappeared -- but not the people. This current map shows modern-day México. The hearth of the

Aztécs is now in the United States.