The Secret World of the Aztecs

Aztec culture flourished for only 200 years, but even in that short time these ancient Americans, or "Mexicas" as they call themselves, produced countless extraordinary works of art that tell us much about the way they lived and worshipped. This introduction to Aztec culture seeks to provide young readers with a wealth of background about the establishment of Aztec civilization around 1300 AD at Tenochtitlan, where they built magnificent pyramids and temples. It explains their rules of governing; their calendar and other technological achievements; their systems of trade and agriculture; and how they fought, prayed, and were eventually vanquished by the Spanish conquistadors. There are illustrations of their artistry - including clothing, jewellery, pottery, religious idols, weapons, hieroglyphs and sculpture - along with facts for those interested in this people and their significant contributions to modern civilization.