The Aztecs

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Across
  1. 1. gardens – Artificial islands created by the Aztecs in Lake Texcoco, used for farming to increase crop production.
  2. 7. religion – A polytheistic belief system that involved the worship of many gods, often linked to natural forces and cycles.
  3. 9. – An earlier civilization in Mesoamerica (900-1150 AD) whose culture influenced the Aztecs.
  4. 10. – An Aztec city-state, often with its own ruler and local government.
  5. 11. – A region in the Americas, including parts of Mexico and Central America, inhabited by ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs.
  6. 13. – The exchange of goods such as food, textiles, and precious metals, which helped sustain the Aztec Empire's economy.
  7. 16. V – The Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain during the time of the Aztec Conquest.
  8. 19. peak – The height of the Aztec Empire, when it controlled much of central and northern Mexico (around 1481-1519 AD).
  9. 22. art – The distinctive artistic styles of the Aztecs, including sculptures, paintings, and textiles that often depicted gods or important events.
  10. 25. – The system of channels and canals used by the Aztecs to bring water to their crops, allowing for increased food production.
  11. 26. beans – The seeds of the cacao tree, used by the Aztecs as currency and in the making of chocolate drinks.
  12. 28. – A place where goods such as food, textiles, and jewelry were traded; it was an essential part of Aztec economy and society.
  13. 30. – Independent political entities in Mesoamerica, such as Tenochtitlán, that operated like small empires within the larger Aztec realm.
  14. 31. – A precious red gemstone that the Aztecs sometimes used in their artwork and jewelry.
  15. 34. – The title for the ruler or king of an Aztec city-state or empire.
  16. 40. – The practice of offering human or animal lives to gods, especially at sacred sites like temples, to ensure the gods' favor.
  17. 41. – Spanish explorers and soldiers, such as Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century.
  18. 42. – A powerful city-state and rival of Tenochtitlán in the Aztec Empire, involved in a key war with the Aztecs in 1428.
  19. 44. – A blue-green gemstone used in Aztec jewelry and art.
  20. 46. – The rocky land the Aztecs initially settled before moving to Lake Texcoco.
  21. 47. – The capital city of the Toltec civilization, which influenced the Aztecs culturally and artistically.
  22. 48. – A deadly disease brought by the Spanish, which decimated the Aztec population during the conquest.
  23. 49. – Religious rituals performed to honor the gods, including dances, sacrifices, and feasts.
Down
  1. 2. – Fabrics and clothing, often made by women in Aztec society, which were highly valued and traded.
  2. 3. Texcoco – The lake in central Mexico where the Aztecs built Tenochtitlán, their capital city.
  3. 4. – A precious green stone highly valued by the Aztecs for creating jewelry and ceremonial items.
  4. 5. sites – Places of religious significance, such as temples and pyramids, where the Aztecs conducted their ceremonies.
  5. 6. – An ancient city-state in central Mexico, whose inhabitants controlled much of Mesoamerica during the Classic period (200-700 AD).
  6. 8. – Supernatural beings worshipped by the Aztecs, each of whom controlled different aspects of nature or society.
  7. 10. – The valley in central Mexico where the Aztecs settled and established their empire.
  8. 12. -A tribal group of people who lived in central Mexico and built a powerful empire between the 14th and 16th centuries.
  9. 14. – The language spoken by the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican groups.
  10. 15. Strait – A land bridge that, during the Ice Age, allowed early humans to migrate from Asia to the Americas, potentially connecting the Aztecs to other early civilizations.
  11. 17. – The lower class in Aztec society who were mainly farmers, artisans, and laborers.
  12. 18. – A planet that had special significance in the Aztec calendar, marking times for agricultural cycles and religious ceremonies.
  13. 20. – A volcanic glass used by the Aztecs for making weapons like knives and tools.
  14. 21. – Skilled workers in the Aztec empire who created textiles, jewelry, and other crafts.
  15. 23. system – The hierarchical division of Aztec society into different classes, including nobility, commoners, and slaves.
  16. 24. – The upper class in Aztec society, including rulers, priests, and warriors who held political and religious power.
  17. 27. – A major part of Aztec society, as they often engaged in battles to expand their empire and capture prisoners for sacrifice.
  18. 29. – Goods or services paid by conquered peoples to the Aztec empire, often including food, textiles, or valuable items.
  19. 32. – A system used by the Aztecs to track time, including religious ceremonies, farming cycles, and social events.
  20. 33. – A precious metal used by the Aztecs to craft jewelry and statues, often associated with their gods.
  21. 35. Fire Ceremony– A ritual held every 52 years to ensure the survival of the world and the return of the sun, which included human sacrifice.
  22. 36. – The Aztec god of the sun and war, believed to have guided the Aztecs to their new homeland.
  23. 37. -The capital city of the Aztec Empire, located on Lake Texcoco in central Mexico.
  24. 38. II -The emperor of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish Conquest, also known as Montezuma II.
  25. 39. – The practice of cultivating crops like corn, beans, and squash, which was vital to Aztec society and economy.
  26. 43. calendar – A calendar with 365 days, used by the Aztecs to track the agricultural year and plan festivals.
  27. 45. – Political structures controlled by a powerful ruler, such as the Aztec Empire, which dominated much of Mesoamerica.