The Aztecs

When the migrating Aztec people saw an eagle on a cactus in Lake Tenochtitlán, 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 warrior-like empire in central Mexico. Combining stunning new illustrations with original Aztec artefacts, 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 maize 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 featherwork. 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 conquistadores in the 16th century, drawing on the accounts of indigenous Nahua people to tell their own story.