The Sacred
Landscape
Social Studies 8
Chapter 7
The Sacred Landscape
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Our inquiry question for this section is:
How did religious beliefs affect the worldview
of the Aztecs?
The Sacred Landscape
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How important is religion in the decisions
that you make in your life?
What are some great events in history that
have been motivated by religion?
Are you surprised that the Aztecs settled in
such an inhospitable place?
The Sacred Landscape
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Aztec Gods
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The Aztecs believed that the gods controlled all
aspects of the world.
They would always look for signs that indicated
the gods’ will.
The Aztec gods were arranged in a hierarchy.
By looking at which gods they considered greater
we can learn a great deal about the Aztec
worldview.
The Sacred Landscape
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Turn to page 159.
After reading about each of the Aztec gods
what can you deduce regarding the Aztec
worldview?
The Sacred Landscape
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Measuring Time: The Aztec Calendars
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Aztec calendars emphasize their connection to
the gods.
There were two calendars:
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A Solar Calendar for regulating harvests
A Sacred Calendar for regulating holy days,
festivals and sacrifices.
The sacred calendar measured more than
months and days, it also measured history
(beginning and end of time).
The Sacred Landscape
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Human Sacrifice: Why?
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For the Aztecs, killing another person as a
sacrifice has significant religious meaning.
It was believed that the victim’s blood nourished
the gods.
If the gods did not receive blood they would die
and the world would end.
The Aztecs often waged wars on their neighbors
solely for the purpose of finding victims.