This lesson aims to develop students’ understanding of life in the Aztec Empire before the arrival of the Spanish. It seeks to correct some widespread misconceptions about the apparent disorganisation, brutality and lawlessness of the empire.
It draws upon the account of Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Spanish writer whose descriptions probably helped to establish these misconceptions in the first place.
Students ‘pick apart’ Castillo’s account.
Having explicitly addressed some of the misconceptions that exist about the Aztec Empire, students are given the opportunity to respond personally to Castillo.
They are asked to write letters from the perspective of someone who lived under Aztec rule, explaining what it was really like before the Spanish arrived.
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- Lesson presentation: PowerPoint
- Lesson write-up: PDF
- Worksheet x 1: PDF
- Resource x 2: PDF
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