Aztecs Facts for Kids

The Aztecs made masks with intricate detail. The wooden base was decorated with a mosaic pattern of small turquoise stones, mother-of-pearl and conch shells.

The Sun Stone is an enormous Aztec sculpture. It may have been used as an interactive calendar, or perhaps the altar for sacrifices.

They also had a complex calendar system, which was based on a cycle of 365 days and had 18 months of 20 days each.

The Aztecs built impressive cities, including the capital city of Tenochtitlan, which was located on an island in the middle of a lake. The city was known for its impressive pyramids, palaces and temples, as well as its complex system of canals and causeways.

The Aztecs were conquered by the Spanish in 1521, led by Hernán Cortés. The Spanish, with the help of native allies, brought an end to Aztec civilisation.

The Aztecs had a writing system called Nahuatl, which was used for recording historical events, religious texts and poetry.

The Aztecs practised human sacrifice as a part of their religious rituals, because they believed that the gods needed human blood to survive. These sacrifices were usually performed on top of pyramids or other religious temples and were typically conducted by priests.

The Aztecs believed in multiple gods and goddesses, the most important being the sun god, Huitzilopochtli. They also believed that the gods required human sacrifice to sustain the universe, which was performed in their religious rituals.

The Aztecs were skilled metalworkers. They had knowledge of gold and silver smithing, they created featherworks which were highly valued, as well as using turquoise, shell and stone to create intricate works of art.