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'The Aztecs - Young Researcher'

These are critical reviews of commercially published teaching resources on the Aztecs, all currently available in the UK. As this section grows, we hope it will play a valuable role in pointing teachers to the pitfalls (and strong points) to be found in some of the many, often beautifully produced, books and other media now commonly found in school libraries. Please note, these are very much our own personal opinions. We take pride in the fact that we are 100% independent!

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Learn from a mistake! In Jacqueline Dineen's book (p8), in a section on 'History in pictures and words' there's an example of an 'Aztec glyph' (top of this page). She writes 'The glyphs are more like a code than the sort of writing we know. The scribes thought of pictures which described what they were trying to say. This glyph for the wind comes from the Codex Mendoza. It shows the Fire Serpent marrying a flower'.

As we put in our review (right), this scene ISN'T from the Codex Mendoza (it's from the Codex Selden), ISN'T of wind, and DOESN'T show Fire Serpent or a flower! Instead it shows the marriage between bridegroom 6 Reed 'Jaguar-Sun' on the right and bride 5 Movement 'Ornament-Incense' on the left.

Rather than dwell on the mistake, let's use it as an example of how ancient Mexicans depicted people's names and nicknames. The groom's name is 6 Reed (combination of number and sign) and his 'nickname' is Jaguar-Sun (jaguar on his back, sun underneath)

The bride's name is 5 Movement (one dot is only half visible; notice how the name is attached to the figure by a thread); her 'nickname' is Ornament-Incense (in front of her). She sits on a stool and both are presented on a reed mat (petate).

If this book is in your library, why not see if the children can work out how the naming process works? You can compare the fate signs with our downloadable versions (follow link below). Remember drawing styles varied from artist to artist and region to region.

Ask your class to interpret this picture! John Clare's attractively presented book 'Early Civilizations - Aztec Life' is full of what we would call anti-Aztec bias (of the Angry Aztecs type...) On p22 Clare captions the picture 'A Deadly Ceremony... In this Aztec painting the captives were forced to dance all night, and were burned at the stake the next morning.'

In fact the illustration is of the festival of the 10th solar month depicted in the Codex Borbonicus, and the ‘captives’ are Aztec teachers and youths from the telpochcalli school holding hands while dancing round the high pole topped with paper banners and prizes made of dough that the youths had to try and snatch! Click on the image to enlarge, and judge for yourselves... Captive warriors or dancing youths?!

Try to draw attention in the classroom to this sort of example of bias that is common in school books on the Aztecs.

Our resources page
Learn from a mistake...

Learn from a mistake...Can you read her name?

Comments (2)

F

Francesca G Dixon

17th Jan 2021

I would be interested in your review of the Core Knowledge Unit entitled “Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations”

M

Mexicolore

We’re not familiar with this unit: can you send us more details, please? We’d be happy to look at it...

T

Tecpaocelotl

9th Mar 2009

I would have to agree. I have seen many biases on books. Same with videos. Sometimes they show the wrong culture.

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'The Aztecs - Young Researcher'

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