Aztec Mythology and the Origins of Humanity | Fate & Fabled

If the word “Nahua” sounds unfamiliar to you, it’s probably because you’re more used to hearing them referred to as the Aztec. The history is complicated, but the name Aztec was popularized by a German explorer in the 1800s to describe the powerful Mesoamerican empire. Nahua culture is richly complex, with stories that reflect and explain the sometimes confusing duality of nature. Beyond mythology, the Nahua had an interesting political structure, impressive agricultural system, and TWO CALENDARS! Yet most people these days don’t even know them by their real name.

About the Author:

Mary Kate Lonergan teaches 8th grade Social Studies at Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District in New York. She empowers students to critically engage with media and information by making media literacy the heartbeat of her Social Studies curriculum. Mary Kate has developed and implemented media and digital literacy professional development courses and has presented at conferences from the national to local levels. She is a KQED Media Literacy Innovator, serves as a Teacher Collaborator with Ithaca College’s Project Look Sharp, and is a faculty member of the Media Education Lab’s Summer Institute in Digital Literacy.