Page 37 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Aztecs The turquoise stone SEE ALSO
symbolized the
▸ ▸ Buildings p.48
breath of the gods.
▸ ▸ Crafts p.75
The Aztecs were a people who lived ▸ ▸ Farming p.98
in Central America. They had a huge ▸ ▸ Incas p.132
empire between 1400 and 1519 ce, ▸ ▸ Maya p.158

during which time they built great ▸ ▸ Religion p.208
stone cities. Farmers produced corn
and avocados, and bred turkeys.

Mask
Aztec city The Aztecs used masks in
At the center of each city stood religious ceremonies or to display
a group of temples. Most temples in temples. This wooden mask is
were set on top of enormous covered with pieces of a precious
stepped pyramids that could be Priests sacrificed blue-green stone called turquoise.
more than 197 ft (60 m) tall. animals and humans Many pyramids had
using knives of flint. twin temples on top.
Pyramids and Only priests and
palaces were those who were
made of stone.
to be sacrificed
climbed the
pyramid.

Markets
were held
once a week.

Boats were Crowds sang
used for during sacrifices.
transporting
goods. Most cities were built
beside lakes or rivers.

Merchants traveled
huge distances to
sell their goods.

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