The invaluable advice of the Prophet Mohammad (SM)

The beloved Prophet (PBUH) often advised his companions. He gave valuable advice. These pieces of advice are very important for the life of every person. Whoever remembers these advices and admonitions of the beloved Prophet, they will be a guide for him on the path of life. Narrated by Hazrat Amr ibn Maymun (RA). He said, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) advised a person, "Consider doing five things before five things come as a great blessing."

Five things that's are-  

                1. Youth before old age comes, 

                2. Health before illness, 

                3. Freedom from want before need, 

                4. Leisure and leisure before busyness, and 

                5. Life or lifespan before death (Tirmidhi).

That is, one should be careful about these five things. Youth should be valued. Worship and worship should be done more at this age. One should consider a healthy state as a blessing of Allah. Before getting sick, one should spend one's life, property and time in worship of Allah. In a prosperous state, one should spend one's money on good deeds. Because it may be that one wants to spend one's wealth in the path of Allah, but then one may not have the ability. Therefore, while one is able, one should spend one's wealth and property on good deeds according to one's ability. Similarly, one should utilize one's free time. There may come a time when one may want to spend one's time on good deeds. But then one's busyness will increase a lot. Even if one wants to, one will not be able to spend time on the path of Allah. Therefore, the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) has given importance to utilizing one's free time. Then the Messenger (peace be upon him) has instructed one to spend one's life and time in good deeds before death comes. Because the one who died today did not know that his life was ending today. He has to leave this world today. If he had known, he might have repented to Allah and asked for forgiveness from the Almighty Allah for his mistakes.

 

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA). He said, The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Will you accept these rules from me and act upon them? Or will you teach someone who will act upon them?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I will accept them." Then he held my hand and made me count five numbers. He said, "1. Refrain from what Allah has forbidden. By doing so, you will be a good worshipper. 2. Be happy with what Allah has given you. By doing so, you will be the richest of people. 3. Be kind to your neighbor. By doing so, you will be a complete believer. 4. Love for others what you love for yourself. By doing so, you will be a true Muslim. 5. Do not laugh too much. Because laughing too much kills the heart." (Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi).

 

Hazrat Ibn Masud (RA) narrated from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that he said, “On the Day of Resurrection, a person’s two feet will not grow so much until he is asked about five things. 1. Regarding his age, how he spent his age? 2. Regarding his youth, how he spent his youth? 3. Regarding his wealth, how he acquired his wealth? 4. Regarding his wealth, where he spent his wealth? 5. And regarding his knowledge, what he did with the knowledge he acquired? (Tirmidhi). Narrated Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (RA). He said, The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Most people are in error regarding the use of two valuable assets: health and leisure.” (Bukhari) That is, these are two such valuable assets that people realize their value only after they are lost. Narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA). He said, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, The first question that will be asked of a servant on the Day of Judgment regarding blessings is, Did I not give you health and well-being? Did I not satisfy you with cool water? (Tirmidhi). 

 

 

 

In search of an unknown world!!...

 

In search of an unknown world...

The vault that holds the largest gold reserves in the world

 

The most secure vault in the world is in the United States. It is decorated with gold bars. There is such a tough and impenetrable system to keep the gold reserves safe - in other words, no one except the designated person can ever go inside. It is like an unknown world on earth. There is no opportunity for ordinary people to enter this vault. The place is located at Fort Knox Army Post in the US state of Kentucky. The name of this place is Fort Knox Vault. According to a 2018 estimate, this vault contains more than 147 million ounces of gold. The market value of which is 261 billion US dollars. Not only gold, but many important documents of history are also stored in this vault. Here, important papers like the US Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta, and Bill of Rights during World War II are stored. In 1935, the US government built this vault to store gold. At that time, it cost 560 thousand US dollars to build it. The country's Mint Police Force and the army are engaged in the security of this vault. The vault is surrounded by high barbed wire and electrified barbed wire. There are alarms, video cameras, and minefields. The walls of this building are made of four-foot-thick granite and 750 tons of steel.

 

There is an unknown island

The various islands are said to be the wealth of life that is alive in the ocean. There is no end to the mysteries about islands. As time goes by, new islands are emerging. The biodiversity on these islands is so high that zoologists are constantly coming forward to conduct various studies on these islands. Most of the life on these islands is quite different from other species on the earth we know. That is why everyone is so interested in them. There is still news of many unknown islands to people. These islands are completely unknown to people. News of these islands is available in images taken by artificial satellites.

 

Their existence can be seen in satellite images. They suddenly rise and then suddenly sink into the depths of the sea. There is no end to the mysteries surrounding such islands. To unravel this mystery, experts are focusing on conducting more and more expeditions. The mystery of islands has always been with people. Unknown islands remain at the top of the list of interests.

Surprise point in the sea. The secluded Point Nemo, a dangerous ocean current, no one has ever been there

The deserted island of Point Nemo. There are no human settlements anywhere near it. So far, no one has passed through the exact coordinates of Point Nemo. The coordinates of Point Nemo fall into the South Pacific Gyre. It is a huge rotating current. Even giant ships sink when they fall into this terrible current. People avoid the place, there is no source of fresh water here. Survival in this part of the ocean is almost impossible. However, scientists have documented several bacteria and small crabs living near the vents of the ocean floor at Point Nemo. The place has become known as Nemo. Scientists named the place ‘Nemo’ in Latin, which means ‘no one’. The man who first calculated the exact location of Point Nemo never visited it either. In 1992, Croatian survey engineer Hrvoje Lukatela set out to find the exact point in the Pacific Ocean using a computer program. Suddenly, he found the place called Nemo, the farthest from land. Motu Nui in Easter Island is the closest land to Point Nemo.

Burning volcano!

Among the wonders of the world, a burning volcano is both terrifying and beautiful. The eruption of volcanic lava is considered by painters to be the best picture of their lives. A terrifying volcano is actually a special type of mountain. The hot and molten rock, ash, and gas inside it erupts, and the fire of molten rock explodes. A volcano is basically a geographical process. However, a living volcano can destroy a bustling city in an instant. A civilization can be lost forever. History says so. What modern geologists know about these volcanoes is only a bunch of theories of scientific logic. Still, no one really knows 100% about any volcano. Although efforts are being made to find a possible way out by combining all the unknown information. But since it is not possible to actually reach the inside of a living volcano, it is not possible to know the real truths. These mysteries are as if kept by the volcano itself. There are several unique features behind this terrifying form of the volcano. Hot air, water vapor, molten rock, mud, ash, and gas from the underground come out at a high speed through some cracks or holes in this special type of mountain. These released substances come into contact with the cold air of the surface and cool quickly and become solid, some of which gradually accumulates around the cracks and becomes cone-shaped. This is why volcanoes can take on a special shape. Behind the eruption of volcanoes is the excess heat and excess pressure of the gases that accumulate inside the earth. The temperature of the molten lava of the volcano is 700-1200 degrees Celsius. So far, about 1510 active volcanoes have been discovered around the world. Of these, 80 or more are under the sea. There is no end to knowing about these. One is estimated to be 145 million years old!

 

Wonderful life at the two poles!

The best attractions are the ice-covered regions. There is very little human traffic in these regions. The largest part of the ice-covered regions is spread over the North and South Poles. Both the South and North Poles are frozen. However, there are differences between them. The South Pole is comparatively colder. In winter, the temperature at the South Pole reaches minus 70 degrees Celsius. In summer, minus 25 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is minus 51 degrees Celsius. The temperature at the North Pole is higher than this. There, minus 43 degrees Celsius in winter and minus 26 degrees Celsius in summer. The main reason for this difference is that the ice layer at the South Pole is much higher than at the North Pole. Therefore, very little of the sun's heat reaches the ground of the Antarctic continent at the South Pole or can retain that heat. About 80 percent of the sun's heat is reflected back into the thick ice layer. As a result, it is colder there. Among all the geographical regions on the surface of the earth, there is no place as mysterious and thrilling as the polar regions - especially Greenland and the Antarctic continents. Here are the high peaks of the young mountains, always covered with snow. The warm border of the polar region or the ice sheet begins with the ice-covered region. The ice sheet begins when the borders of the continents in the north and south end. For half of the year, the sun is always visible north and south of these two polar lines, that is, it is always day. And for the other half of the year, it is always night. When it is day at the North Pole, it is night in the south. The North and South Poles are located at the two ends of the earth, one is a sea surrounded by a continent, the other is a continent surrounded by a sea. There is a strange similarity between the shape of the sea and the continent, and both are almost equal in size. The average depth of the North Pole sea and the average height of the South Pole continent are almost the same.

 

Unknown forest Amazon

 

The Amazon forest, which stretches over millions of miles, is called the lungs of the world. As time goes by, more and more things are being discovered about this largest rainforest in the world. Experts have admitted that the plants and biodiversity of this forest are second to none in the world. The Amazon is so vast that many places inside it have not been seen yet. Just thinking about the terrain, it can be said that if you look at the river course, that amount will be so small. It seems that we know almost nothing about the Amazon. Many tourists go there every year. However, the zoologists and botanists who go there to find out the secrets of the Amazon, they find completely new species. Adventures are made in places where no one has ever been before. That is why the Amazon can be said to be a treasure trove of unknowns and unknowns between the known and the known. The Amazon, a vast forest located in the Amazon river basin of South America, covers 7 million square kilometers. The 5.5 million square kilometer area is mainly humid. 60% of the Amazon forest is in Brazil, 13% in Peru, and the rest is in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. This forest itself accounts for half of the world's rainforest. The Amazon is a habitat for various species. The world's second largest river, the Amazon, which flows through the forest, with water bodies scattered throughout the vast Amazon forest, is home to at least 3,000 species of fish and other aquatic animals. The Amazon forest is famous for its giant pythons, anacondas, sloths, jaguars, etc. The Amazon forest, which recently won first place in the selection of the seven natural wonders of the world, is no less ecologically important as it converts a large amount of carbon dioxide into oxygen every day. Oxygen is an essential element for the survival of living things. There are also places in the depths of the Amazon where humans have not set foot even once.

Adventurous explorer in a remote canyon

It is said that there is no human footfall in the remote canyons. Human expeditions are constantly going on in the canyons where the pulse of life has been found. The system of reaching various canyons is so pitiful that the research work is very slow. People do not stop to know the unknown world. But the communication system in remote canyons is not at all promising. There are some roads in the world where anyone will be surprised if they go. It is natural to be surprised by the unusual events that happen on these roads every day. The roads to reach the canyons are like that. In some places, the explorers are deceived by mirages. The information that is found in the known canyons shows that the diversity of newly discovered canyons is much greater. This diversity of canyons in the world always catches the attention of explorers and researchers. Various international expedition teams have already achieved considerable success in searching for these canyons.

 

Garden of Paradise destroyed by earthquake!

Atlantis is one of the best mysteries. It seems that there is another unknown world deep in the sea. Experts say that millions of years ago, Atlantis suddenly experienced an earthquake. As a result, the entire country went underwater. Atlantis had valuable minerals and crystals. Especially the red ones are very valuable. At that time, it was said that it was a garden of paradise. There were mountains, fertile plains, rivers, lakes. But the lost Atlantis is now a vast ocean. The environment in the deep sea is very strange. The bottom of the sea is incredibly cold. The water pressure there is also excessive. The deeper you go, the more the pressure increases. Sunlight does not reach the deep bottom of the sea. So naturally, this bottom is dark and mysterious. About 71 percent of the earth's surface is ocean. The depth of the sea varies in different places. The average depth of the sea is four thousand meters. Although the ocean is very large compared to other natural environments in terms of size, this part of nature has been relatively less exposed. The productivity of the deep sea is very low. Since photosynthesis is not possible without light, algae or aquatic plants do not survive in the deep sea. Fish that live at a depth of 200 meters are deep-sea fish. The water pressure in that part is high, so the animals living in that part also have the same pressure inside their bodies. There is no end to knowing about the ocean, which is full of endless mysteries. The pace of this knowledge is increasing as the days go by.

 

 
 

The beloved Prophet (Sm) was more beautiful than the moon. Allah Almighty created him with incredible beauty. Every Muslim in the world dreams - if only he could see the Prophet Muhammad (Sm) in his lifetime, even if it meant everything!

The beloved Prophet (Sm) was more beautiful than the moon. The beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sm) was the most beautiful creation on earth. Allah Almighty created him with incredible beauty. Every Muslim in the world dreams - if only he could see the Prophet Muhammad (Sm) in his lifetime, even if it meant everything!

There are many narrations from the companions about how the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sm) was, what his body shape was like. Whenever Hazrat Ali (RA) used to describe the body shape of the Prophet Muhammad (Sm), he would say that the Prophet (Sm) was neither extremely tall nor extremely short. Rather, he was of average height among people. His hair was neither completely curly nor completely straight. Rather, it was moderately curly. He was not very fat and his face was not completely round. Rather, it was long and round.

The skin color was a mixture of red and white. The color of the eyes was black and the eyelashes were long. The joints of the bones were thick. The whole body was hairless, although a thin line of hair ran from the chest to the navel. The palms of the hands and feet were full of flesh. When he walked, he would raise his feet fully and place them on the ground, as if he were descending from a high place.

When he looked in any direction, he would turn his neck completely. Between his two shoulders was a miraculous sign of prophet hood. In fact, he was the Khatamun Nabiyyin (the final one of the prophets). He was the most generous of people, the most truthful. He was the most gentle in nature and of noble lineage. Anyone who suddenly saw him would be afraid. On the other hand, anyone who got to know him and mixed with him would love him very much. The companion who described the qualities of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was compelled to say that I have never seen anyone as beautiful as him before or after him. (Tirmidhi Sharif). 

In another hadith, Hazrat Jabir (RA) said, “Whenever the Prophet (Sm) used to walk, anyone who followed that path would easily know that he had walked that path. This was because of the fragrance of his body or, as the narrator says, because of the scent of his sweat.” Darimi. Regarding the appearance of the Holy Prophet (SAW), Hazrat Jabir ibn Samurah (RA) said, “Once I saw the Prophet (SAW) on a moonlit night. Then I looked at the Messenger of Allah (Sm) once and at the moon. He was wearing a red garment. I thought he was more beautiful than the moon.” Tirmidhi and Darimi. Hazrat Ka’b ibn Malik (RA) said, “When the Messenger of Allah (Sm) was happy about something, his face would shine brightly. It seemed as if his face was a piece of the moon. In fact, we could all feel it.” Bukhari and Muslim. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) said, "The Messenger of Allah (Sm) had a gap between his two front teeth. When he spoke, it seemed as if light was radiating from between them." (Darimi)

 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) said, "I have never seen anyone more beautiful than the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (Sm). It seemed as if the sun was shining on his face. And I have never seen anyone faster in walking than the Prophet (Sm). When he walked, it seemed as if the ground had become narrower for him. We tried our best to keep up with him. However, he walked normally. Tirmidhi. Hazrat Jabir ibn Samurah (RA) said, "The feet of the Messenger of Allah (Sm) were light and thin. He did not laugh loudly except with a soft smile. And whenever I looked at him, I would say to myself, 'He has applied antimony to his eyes.' However, he did not use antimony at that time." Tirmidhi. In short, the beloved Prophet (Sm) was the most beautiful person on earth. He had the best character. He showed the people of the dark ages of Arabia the path of light. He illuminated them with the light of guidance. He taught humanity. He taught politeness. He freed us from the days of ignorance. May Allah Almighty grant us the good fortune to see the Prophet Muhammad (Sm) once in our lives, even in our dreams.  

Amin!

 

 

 

The unknown story of the Aztec civilization. One of the most well-known civilizations of Mesoamerica was the Aztec civilization. It lasted from about 1325 AD to 1521 AD.

One of the most well-known civilizations of Mesoamerica was the Aztec civilization. It lasted from about 1325 AD to 1521 AD. A large part of modern-day central and southern Mexico was under the control of the Aztecs. The Aztec Empire used a combination of military conquest and diplomatic alliances to control this vast region. The Aztecs are still discussed today as the greatest empire to rule Mexico for many reasons. Today's story is about that unknown story.

 

Having many wives is a symbol of social status

The Aztecs practiced polygamy. Although the first marriage was socially celebrated, having more wives meant more income and work power. This served as a central feature of Aztec culture and governance, which was part of a series of new systems and institutions.

 

Men of any social class were allowed to marry as many wives as they wanted. Wives could be of any social class and could be free or slaves. In fact, the number of wives an Aztec man could have depended on his wealth and success. However, the number of wives was not limited solely by financial considerations. Aztec women performed domestic chores and made cloth. Making cloth was considered a prestigious occupation. Successful Aztec warriors could have a free wife as well as a slave wife. However, Aztec nobles typically had hundreds of wives. Chiefs and kings usually collected wives from their subordinate villages.

 

In many cases, the marriage system was used to establish diplomatic relations, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Among these, the first wife had the highest status. Although all other wives were legally equal in status, in practice they were ranked based on love and respect for their husbands.

The largest ancient city in the world

 

The year is 1450. Two pyramids painted red and blue, each about 9 stories high, stand tall on a large platform in the center of the city of Tenochtitlan.

 

Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, is home to a bustling zoo, botanical gardens, and markets. Nearby, farmers work in canoes on floating plantations where tamarind, tomatoes, peas, and other crops are grown. About 300,000 people call this city home, which was one of the largest cities in the world at the time. The Aztec Empire lasted about 200 years and was the last major civilization in Mesoamerica (the region from present-day northwestern Mexico to the Central American country of El Salvador) until Europeans arrived and conquered the region. Today, 500 years later, when the Aztec civilization fell, the ruins of Tenochtitlan lie beneath modern Mexico City. The people who formed the Aztec Empire called themselves the Mexica (Me-shi-kah). They believed that they actually came from the legendary place of Aztlan, and so historians later called them Aztecs.

The brutal practice of human sacrifice and barbarity

 

he Aztecs are most notorious for their bloodshed and brutality. Human sacrifice was an important religious practice in the Aztec civilization. It was performed to appease the gods and maintain the balance of nature. In particular, human blood and life were sacrificed to empower the sun god Huitzilopochtli. Prisoners of war or slaves were usually selected for sacrifice and their hearts were removed and offered to the gods. They believed that if the gods were not properly sacrificed, the sun would stop rising and destruction would descend upon the earth.

 

It was a way to demonstrate political power in addition to religious beliefs. The Aztecs sacrificed about 20,000 people each year, and this number increased fourfold when new temples were built. Removing the heart while alive, flaying, and dismembering the limbs were all part of their religious rituals. Not only that, but at one time human sacrifice was also included in taxes. Sometimes women and children were sacrificed. However, most of the victims were prisoners of war collected from neighboring kingdoms.

 

These captives were often sacrificed on the top of the Templo Mayor (Great Temple) in the heart of Tenochtitlan. However, modern scholars now see this as more than just barbaric behavior. It was part of a religious belief and social structure that influenced the economic and political systems of their civilization.

 

In search of an eagle sitting on a cactus

 From the Aztecs to the Conquistadors The Toltec civilization collapsed in the early 1200s. The Toltec civilization was a highly developed civilization located in central Mexico just before the rise of the Aztecs. It was a magnificent urban center. It had pyramids, temples, tall buildings, and many statues. When it fell, hunter-gatherers and various other tribes took advantage of it. Among them was a group called the Chichimeca, led by Soltl. They moved from the arid plateau of northern Mexico to the fertile, densely populated areas of the central region. Soltl's Chichimeca intermarried with the surviving Toltecs. This led to a period of peace and cultural progress in the Valley of Mexico. It was during this time that the Aztecs, who according to legend were wandering to settle in a new place, built a temporary settlement near the ruins. There they improved their approach to agriculture and acquired other technological knowledge. However, their stay was temporary. According to Aztec tradition, the god Huitzilopochtli ordered them to leave again in search of a permanent home.

 

The location of which would be marked by an eagle. The eagle would sit on a cactus and hold a snake in its mouth (it is depicted on the Mexican national flag). A long pilgrimage began, which ended in 1325 on a small island in Lake Texcoco. Where the older members of the group saw the eagle, the cactus, and the snake. There they built a temple and around it, on the islands of Lake Texcoco, they built the first settlements of the city of Tenochtitlan, which later became a powerful city.

 

Agriculture is the main traditional way of life

Tenochtitlan was on an island in a lake. So the Aztecs created a floating agricultural system from the swamps, which is still used in Mexico City today. These were called chinampas. They first built square fences with bamboo fronds in the swamps. When water flowed through the fronds, the mud and debris would be trapped, forming a wall. They would also plant willow trees between the branches to make the wall stronger. They would then fill the wall with soil until it floated above the water. Farmers would row their canoes to cultivate the land. The Aztecs used long stone channels called archaducts to bring water into the city. From there, water was supplied to flower gardens, private homes, and city fountains. Young Aztec children were educated at home, but as teenagers, all boys went to school. Where they were trained in philosophy, nature, music, military science, and one of several other professions. Women were usually engaged in child-rearing and household chores. However, some women could also become doctors or teachers. Men worked in agriculture. However, some people were also engaged in pottery, woodworking, or metalworking.

 

All adult males were required to serve in the military, and the elite members of Aztec society were the main warriors. But life for conquered peoples under Aztec rule was extremely difficult. They were forced to work in the military; were made slaves; or were sacrificed to Aztec gods. The Aztecs built temples and pyramids throughout their empire. These structures were places of worship for the gods, sacrifices, and sometimes the resting places of the emperors.

 

A 200-year journey

The Aztec Empire lasted from 1325 to 1521. This powerful empire in the Valley of Mexico grew and flourished for over 200 years. During this period of history, they expanded their influence in various regions and established a strong organizational structure. The Aztec Empire was based on their capital city of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. This city was home to three million people. The city's advanced waterways and technology made it an important commercial and cultural center.

 

The Aztec Empire can be described as a military regime, where new territories were conquered through war and conquest. The Aztecs followed a system known as 'mochtum'.

 

The Aztecs created a strong administrative structure, where the emperor or Tlatoctini (ruler of the world) held supreme power. He performed both religious and military duties. Under him was a well-organized government. Where the administration was divided into various departments and provincial governors implemented the emperor's orders. In addition, the Aztecs were also skilled in science, mathematics, and agriculture. They used advanced technologies for farming. Such as irrigation systems and the establishment of farms on the ground. Their religious beliefs were very strong and they played a huge role in religious festivals and worship, the most famous of which was their practice of human sacrifice.

 

Smallpox and the decline of Spanish influence   
 

The fall of the Aztec civilization was not an isolated event. The process took place between 1519 and 1521. Several factors were at play in this decline, including external invasions, disease outbreaks, and internal political unrest.

 

First, Spanish troops led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés launched an attack against the Aztecs.In 1519, Cortés arrived on the coast of Mexico and headed for the city of Tenochtitlan. The Aztec emperor Montezuma II initially welcomed him because he believed that Cortés might be the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl, an ancient Aztec god. However, Cortés's troops were extremely powerful. In particular, they used firearms, rifles, and horses, which were unfamiliar to the Aztecs. At that time, in 1521, Cortés and his army besieged the city of Tenochtitlan and defeated the Aztecs.

 

Second, disease outbreaks were crucial to the Aztecs' downfall. The Spanish brought diseases from Europe, such as chicken pox, pneumonia, and flu. These spread quickly among the Aztecs. The Aztecs had no natural immunity, and these diseases killed millions of Aztecs. Disease greatly reduced their population and weakened their ability to wage war.

 

Internal conflict was also a factor in the decline. There were some indigenous groups within Aztec society that rebelled against Aztec exploitation. These groups allied with the Spanish and fought against the Aztecs. In addition, there was some internal unrest during the reign of the Aztec emperor Montezuma II, which led to growing discontent among the people. The Spanish considered the Aztec religious and social practices to be barbaric, which gave them the moral basis for their destruction. And from there, the path of Spanish colonization was paved and a new chapter in the history of the Mexican region began.

 

Aztec in pieces   

This 12-foot-wide calendar stone helped the Aztecs keep track of the year.

 

♦ The Aztecs used cocoa beans (coffee seeds) as currency.

♦ The Aztec capital was located on the site of present-day Mexico City. Tenochtitlan was once one of the most populous cities in the world, home to around 200,000 people.

♦ On the busiest market days in Tenochtitlan, 50,000 people would come.

♦ The Aztecs used to build artificial islands called chinampas, which were the mainstay of their agricultural production.

The main weapon of the Aztecs was the macuahuitl, which was a wooden sword with a sharp stone blade.

 

♦ The Aztecs played a game called Ullamaliztli, which was played with a 16-pound rubber ball. The heavy rubber ball was played using only the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees; the use of hands or feet was prohibited. It was played on a rectangular field with a circular ring on the wall, and a goal was scored if the ball was passed through the ring. The game was not only for entertainment, but also carried religious and symbolic significance, reflecting the conflict between light and darkness, or good and evil. In many cases, the losing team was sacrificed as a human sacrifice, which added to the mystery of the game.

 

♦ The Aztecs used two calendars: a 365-day calendar and a 260-day cycle. These two calendars coincided every 52 years.

 

♦ The Aztecs spoke the Nahuatl language, which is still used among many communities in Mexico today. 

 

Several words from the Aztec language, Nahuatl, are used in our daily lives, such as ‘chocolate’, ‘tomato’, ‘avocado’ and ‘chili’. Many of the foods we eat today – such as corn tortillas, hot chocolate and popcorn – were also eaten by the Aztecs. 

 

♦ The Aztecs had advanced medical science. They treated diseases with various herbs and natural ingredients.

♦ The Aztecs knew the technique of making chocolate from cocoa and it was considered the food of the gods.

♦ The Aztecs worshipped over 200 gods, each with its own festivals. 

♦ Many of the gods had human-like qualities, and their life stories were fascinating and complex. 

♦ The Aztecs had a highly organized tax system. Conquered kingdoms paid them tribute, which could be food, gold, or other resources. 

♦ Their main temple, the Templo Mayor, was the center of Aztec religious life. Human sacrifice was most common here. 

♦ Women played important roles in trade, medicine, and family responsibilities. 

♦ The Aztecs placed great importance on beauty. They wore jewelry, bright clothing, and carved stones. ♦ The Aztecs recorded their history and religious stories in hieroglyphics, known as codexes. 

♦ The last emperor of the Aztec Empire was Cuauhtémoc, who was captured and killed by the Spanish.