The Aztecs

Discover fearsome warriors and children's lives in this bold new illustrated book about the astonishing Aztec civilization. When the migrating Aztec people saw an eagle on a cactus in Lake Tenochtitl?n, they knew it was a sign from the god of sun and war, Huitzilopochtli. They founded a great city on the lake, which became the heart of a warlike empire in central Mexico. Combining lush new illustrations with stunning Aztec artifacts, this book examines all aspects of life on the lake, from the pantheon of awe-inspiring, shape-shifting gods and the warrior ranks who served them to the cultivation of corn and beans on "floating islands." Get to know what childhood was like for Aztec girls and boys--making tortillas, fishing, and weaving from an early age, before training in a special school for priests or learning crafts such as feather work. Understand the Aztec calendars and learn about the myriad festivals celebrating gods of the earth, water, and sky. Find out how this rich society was disrupted by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, drawing on the accounts of the Nahua people to tell their own story.