7818+cr+Ancient+Civ

 The Songs and Dancing of the Aztecs Cassidy Reyda Reading/Language Arts, Semester 4, Class 7/8 Professor K. Schoch June 7, 2012

Music comes from all over the world. A lot of music and dances come from the Aztec culture. The name “Aztec” means “people of the land of the heron” ( [|__http://tinyurl.com/77zwloy__] ). The Aztecs were spread out across some of the world. Most Aztec villages were located in Mexico and some situated on an island in Lake Texcoco ( [|__http://tinyurl.com/7v2du7k__] ).The Aztecs lived in the early 1200 and late 1500 (Zeman and Kelly, 57). The Aztecs made and used a lot of fascinating items. We remember the Aztecs by their art and architecture ( [|__http://tinyurl.com/cmupt3l__] ).  An equally important and fascinating part Aztec culture, however, was its music and movement. Music and movement was important to the Aztecs because it entertained people at ceremonies and festivals, it woke people up, passed down stories, and helped people understand the religion (Wood, 29). We can learn more about this cultural aspect by looking at the Aztec’s music types, dances, and instruments. Aztec music differs greatly from American music!

If you think about it, there are a lot of different types of music all over the world. One kind of music is a Sacred Hymn. These hymns usually commemorated, or recall and show respect for, the deeds of great rulers, or the gods. The sacred hymns often told stories about what the gods have done. Sacred hymns would also be used to talk to the gods. This means that through the hymns, the Aztecs would be thanking that gods or asking for something. These songs could usually be sung during special occasions and accompanied with special dancing. ( [|__http://tinyurl.com/78pzcjl__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Another type of music in the Aztec culture was cantares. Linguist John Bierhorst called these songs, “ghost songs”. They often recounted the great deeds of the past. However, they had more of a mystical purpose than most of the sacred songs. Cantares were specifically sung at times of battle. In this ritual ceremony, specially trained singers, dancers, and actors took part in this. Cantares were mostly for religious rituals, but lighthearted songs were played for love. Lighthearted songs were also for energy and excitement. ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://tinyurl.com/78pzcjl__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Aztecs didn’t only play music, but they danced to it. Aztec dances were very different. They weren’t like the pop dances we have today.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Most of the Aztec dances were on beat and not very elegant. It was nothing like ballet. The Aztec clothing was very colorfu

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">l. The Aztecs loved feathers. They wore them on their head while dancing. The feathers were used as a sign of accomplishment for warriors. ( <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.mexican-clothing-co.com/aztec-clothing.html__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The outfits were leather and made from animals. ( <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.aztecfiredance.com/index_files/Page825.htm_]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|_] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). Dance come from a while back and is a big part of history. If you were an Aztec, you would learn how to dance and sing when you are young. You would learn from people in your family.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once you learn how to dance, you can then marry or become a priestess, or a women who presides over religious rites. Then it is the first time you can dance in public. (Coulter, 76) Everyone danced, even peasants, slaves. The reason why everybody dances is because they were dancing for the gods. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dancing for the gods made the gods happier send down bad things to harm anyone. That’s why the Aztecs wanted to entertain them. Aztec children between the ages of 12 and 15 were taught to dance, sing, and play instruments. ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://tinyurl.com/ctzzr__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Even though the Aztecs loved music and played it all the time, they had to work a lot. They <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">needed to have a good army. It turns out their army wasn’t the best because the Aztecs got <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">conquered. The invasion began in February 1519 and ended August 13, 1521. They were <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To play music, you need instruments. The Aztecs made their own type of drum called a huehuetl.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A huehuetl is a type of drum. This kind of drum is made from a hollow log. This instruments out of their resources. One of the instruments the Aztecs made was called instrument made a good, strong bass sound. Another type of instrument they made were wooden gongs. Sometimes they used gongs to alert them, but usually they used them for a “ringing” sound. That is what the gong did. It was low and it was like someone was hitting two pots together. We do still use this instrument today, especially in Tokyo. The Aztecs also used a lot of rattles, bells, and other objects that jangled. They used a lot of objects like bones, dried seeds, and nuts. They used these objects to get higher sounds in their music (Wood, 28). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Even though the Aztecs loved music and played it all the time, they had to work a lot. They needed to have a good army. It turns out <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">their army wasn’t the best because the Aztecs got conquered. The invasion began in February 1519 and ended August 13, 1521. They were conquered by an army of Spanish conquistadors. This army was led by Hernan Cortez ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://tinyurl.com/2w4nkzn__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). The Aztecs didn’t change their identity. They couldn’t change their identity because they got conquered. When they got conquered it turned out that all of the Aztecs died and so did their culture ( <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.aztec-history.com/__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). Even though people aren’t fully Mexicana, 1.5 million people still speak Nahuatl language. Spanish and other languages have borrowed some Aztecs words, such as chocolate and tomato. The Aztec’s cuisine has become a popular cuisine in the United States and some other countries! ( <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Works Cited <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec Clothing." Aztec Clothing. 07 June 2012. <http://www.mexican-clothing-co.com/aztec-clothing.html>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec Dancing." Aztec Dancing. 07 June 2012. <http://www.aztecfiredance.com/index_files/Page825.htm>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec History." Aztec History. 07 June 2012. <http://www.aztec-history.com/>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec Music." Aztec Music.. 07 June 2012. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-music.html>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec Music." Aztec Music. 07 June 2012. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-music.html>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 May 2012. 07 June 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 May 2012. 07 June 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"The Aztec World | Conclusion." The Aztec World | Conclusion. 07 June 2012. <http://archive.fieldmuseum.org/aztecs/conclusion_2.asp>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Music and Dance." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation. 07 June 2012. <http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/musdan.html>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Music and Dance." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation. 18 May 2012. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">< <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/musdan.html>.__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pedelty, Mark. Musical Ritual in Mexico City: From the Aztec to NAFTA. Austin: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">University of Texas, 2004. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 June 2012. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">07 June 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_conquest_of_the_Aztec_Empire>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What Is the Meaning of the Word Aztlan?" What Is the Meaning of the Word Aztlan? 07 June 2012. <http://www.mexica.net/aztlan.php>.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Glossary

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Aztec- People of the land of the heron

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">commemorated- Recall and show respect for

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">peasants- Slave

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">huehuetl- An Aztec drum made out of a log <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Priestess- A woman that presides over religious rites

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Image sources

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/307/3/e/native_aztec_dancers_by_mastersphotography-d324ema.jpg__]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://lizgallego.com/Aztec_group.JPG__]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/images-ans/ans_29_01_2.jpg__]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 63pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> The Songs and Dancing of the Aztecs

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> Cassidy Reyda

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> Reading/Language Arts, Semester 4, Class 7/8 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> Professor K. Schoch <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> June 7, 2012 <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Music comes from all over the world. A lot of music and dances come from the Aztec culture. The name “ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Aztec** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">” means “people of the land of the heron” ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__**http://tinyurl.com/77zwloy**__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). The Aztecs were spread out across some of the world. Most Aztec villages were located in Mexico and some situated on an island in Lake Texcoco ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__**http://tinyurl.com/7v2du7k**__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).The Aztecs lived in the early 1200 and late 1500 (Zeman and Kelly, 57). The Aztecs made and used a lot of fascinating items. We remember the Aztecs by their art and architecture ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__**http://tinyurl.com/cmupt3l**__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> An equally important and fascinating part Aztec culture, however, was its music and movement. Music and movement was important to the Aztecs because it entertained people at ceremonies and festivals, it woke people up, passed down stories, and helped people understand the religion (Wood, 29). We can learn more about this cultural aspect by looking at the Aztec’s music types, dances, and instruments. Aztec music differs greatly from American music!

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> If you think about it, there are a lot of different types of music all over the world. One kind of music is a Sacred Hymn. These hymns usually <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**commemorated** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, or recall and show respect for, the deeds of great rulers, or the gods. The sacred hymns often told stories about what the gods have done. Sacred hymns would also be used to talk to the gods. This means that through the hymns, the Aztecs would be thanking that gods or asking for something. These songs could usually be sung during special occasions and accompanied with special dancing. ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__**http://tinyurl.com/78pzcjl**__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Another type of music in the Aztec culture was cantares. Linguist John Bierhorst called these songs, “ghost songs”. They often recounted the great deeds of the past. However, they had more of a mystical purpose than most of the sacred songs. Cantares were specifically sung at times of battle. In this ritual ceremony, specially trained singers, dancers, and actors took part in this. Cantares were mostly for religious rituals, but lighthearted songs were played for love. Lighthearted songs were also for energy and excitement. ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__**http://tinyurl.com/78pzcjl**__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Aztecs didn’t only play music, but they danced to it. Aztec dances were very different. They weren’t like the pop dances we have today. Most of the Aztec dances were on beat and not very elegant. It was nothing like ballet. The Aztec clothing was very colorful. The Aztecs loved feathers. They wore them on their head while dancing. The feathers were used as a sign of accomplishment for warriors. ( <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.mexican-clothing-co.com/aztec-clothing.html__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The outfits were leather and made from animals. ( <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.aztecfiredance.com/index_files/Page825.htm__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). Dance come from a while back and is a big part of history. If you were an Aztec, you would learn how to dance and sing when you are young. You would learn from people in your family.

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Once you learn how to dance, you can then marry or become a <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**priestess** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, or a women who presides over religious rites. Then it is the first time you can dance in public. (Coulter, 76) Everyone danced, even <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**peasants** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, slaves. The reason why everybody dances is because they were dancing for the gods. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Dancing for the gods made the gods happier send down bad things to harm anyone. That’s why the Aztecs wanted to entertain them. Aztec children between the ages of 12 and 15 were taught to dance, sing, and play instruments. ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__**http://tinyurl.com/ctzzr**__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> Even though the Aztecs loved music and played it all the time, they had to work a lot. They <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> needed to have a good army. It turns out their army wasn’t the best because the Aztecs got <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> conquered. The invasion began in February 1519 and ended August 13, 1521. They were <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> To play music, you need instruments. The Aztecs made their own type of drum called a huehuetl. A <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**huehuetl** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">is a type of drum. This kind of drum is made from a hollow log. This instruments out of their resources. One of the instruments the Aztecs made was called instrument made a good, strong bass sound. Another type of instrument they made were wooden gongs. Sometimes they used gongs to alert them, but usually they used them for a “ringing” sound. That is what the gong did. It was low and it was like someone was hitting two pots together. We do still use this instrument today, especially in Tokyo. The Aztecs also used a lot of rattles, bells, and other objects that jangled. They used a lot of objects like bones, dried seeds, and nuts. They used these objects to get higher sounds in their music (Wood, 28).

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Even though the Aztecs loved music and played it all the time, they had to work a lot. They needed to have a good army. It turns out their army wasn’t the best because the Aztecs got conquered. The invasion began in February 1519 and ended August 13, 1521. They were conquered by an army of Spanish conquistadors. This army was led by Hernan Cortez ( <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__**http://tinyurl.com/2w4nkzn**__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). The Aztecs didn’t change their identity. They couldn’t change their identity because they got conquered. When they got conquered it turned out that all of the Aztecs died and so did their culture ( <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.aztec-history.com/__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">). Even though people aren’t fully Mexicana, 1.5 million people still speak Nahuatl language. Spanish and other languages have borrowed some Aztecs words, such as <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//chocolate// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">and <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//tomato// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. The Aztec’s cuisine has become a popular cuisine in the United States and some other countries! ( <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">).

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> Works Cited <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec Clothing." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Aztec Clothing// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. 07 June 2012. <http://www.mexican-clothing-co.com/aztec-clothing.html>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec Dancing." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Aztec Dancing// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. 07 June 2012. <http://www.aztecfiredance.com/index_files/Page825.htm>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec History." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Aztec History// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. 07 June 2012. <http://www.aztec-history.com/>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec Music." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Aztec Music// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.. 07 June 2012. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-music.html>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec Music." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Aztec Music// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. 07 June 2012. <http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-music.html>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Wikipedia// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 May 2012. 07 June 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Aztec." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Wikipedia// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 May 2012. 07 June 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"The Aztec World | Conclusion." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//The Aztec World | Conclusion// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. 07 June 2012. <http://archive.fieldmuseum.org/aztecs/conclusion_2.asp>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Music and Dance." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//ThinkQuest// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Oracle Foundation. 07 June 2012. <http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/musdan.html>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Music and Dance." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//ThinkQuest// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Oracle Foundation. 18 May 2012. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: 36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">< <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/musdan.html>.__ <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pedelty, Mark. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Musical Ritual in Mexico City: From the Aztec to NAFTA// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Austin: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> University of Texas, 2004. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Wikipedia// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 June 2012. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> 07 June 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_conquest_of_the_Aztec_Empire>. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -36pt; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What Is the Meaning of the Word Aztlan?" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//What Is the Meaning of the Word Aztlan?// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 07 June 2012. <http://www.mexica.net/aztlan.php>.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> Glossary

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Aztec** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- People of the land of the heron

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**commemorated** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Recall and show respect for

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**peasants** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Slave

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**huehuetl** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- An Aztec drum made out of a log <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; width: 1px;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Priestess** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- A woman that presides over religious rites

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> Image sources

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> [|__http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/307/3/e/native_aztec_dancers_by_mastersphotography-d324ema.jpg__]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> [|__http://lizgallego.com/Aztec_group.JPG__]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1552px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;"> [|__http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/images-ans/ans_29_01_2.jpg__]