Aztecs

Over the centuries civilizations rise and fall. Before European explorers reached the shores of North and Central Americ... (more)

Over the centuries civilizations rise and fall. Before European explorers reached the shores of North and Central America, a great empire arosethe Aztecs. Leaving their original home in the north, the Aztecs came south, looking for the right place to build their dream city. They chose the most unlikely of places to settlea snakefilled, barren island in the middle of a swamp. But with their energy, imagination, and determination, they not only built their city but conquered all those surrounding them to spread an empire more than 80,000 square miles (130,000 sq. km). Meet the Aztec gods, and learn what the Aztecs did to keep them happy. Discover what its like to walk in the footsteps of an Aztec warrior, a noblewoman, a priest, or a slave. Find out what they wore, what they ateand who their enemies turned out to be. Key Icons to look for have been placed throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich no nfiction books. Key Icons are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are then used in the prose throughout that chapter, and are emboldened, so that the reader is able to reference back to the definitions building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos allows the reader to view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. (less)

AZTECS introduces the last great civilisation of central Mexico, which flourished from the mid-14th century to its destr... (more)

AZTECS introduces the last great civilisation of central Mexico, which flourished from the mid-14th century to its destruction by the invading Spanish in 1521. Presented by sculptor Antony Gormley, the film complements the astonishing 2002-3 exhibition of Aztec culture at London's Royal Academy. Many of the extraordinary and splendid works loaned to this show are illustrated, along with sculptures and other objects filmed on location in Mexico City and at important Aztec sites such as Tenochtitlan and Teotihucan. With contributions from British and Mexican curators and academics, the film explores how the nomadic tribe of the Aztecs drew inspiration from earlier cultures. It looks at the Aztec understanding of the natural world, at their complex system of gods, and at the importance to their religion of human sacrifice and ritual blood-letting. (less)