Wright Brothers First Fatal Airplane Crash

It had only been five years since Orville and Wilbur Wright made their famous flight at Kitty Hawk. By 1908, the Wright brothers were traveling across the United States and Europe in order to demonstrate their flying machine. Everything went well until that fateful day, September 17, 1908, which began with a cheering crowd of 2,000 and ended with pilot Orville Wright severely injured and passenger Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge dead. A Flight Exhibition Orville Wright had done this before. He had taken his first official passenger, Lt. Frank P. Lahm, into the air on September 10, 1908, at Fort Myer, Virginia. Two days later, Orville took another passenger, Major George O. Squier, up in the Flyer for nine minutes. These flights were part of an exhibition for the United States Army. The U.S. Army was considering purchasing the Wrights aircraft for a new military airplane. To get this contract, Orville had to prove that the airplane could successfully carry passengers. Though the first two trials had been successful, the third was to prove a catastrophe. Lift Off! Twenty-six-year-old Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge volunteered to be a passenger. A member of the Aerial Experiment Association (an organization headed by Alexander Graham Bell and in direct competition with the Wrights), Lt. Selfridge was also on the Army board that was assessing the Wrights Flyer at Fort Myers, Virginia. It was just after 5 p.m. on September 17, 1908, when Orville and Lt. Selfridge got into the airplane. Lt. Selfridge was the Wrights heaviest passenger thus far, weighing 175 pounds. Once the propellers were turned, Lt. Selfridge waved to the crowd. For this demonstration, approximately 2,000 people were present. The weights were dropped and the airplane was off. Out of Control The Flyer was up in the air. Orville was keeping it very simple and had successfully flown three laps over the parade ground at an altitude of approximately 150 feet. Then Orville heard light tapping. He turned and quickly looked behind him, but he didnt see anything wrong. Just to be safe, Orville thought he should turn off the engine and glide to the ground. But before Orville could shut off the engine, he heard two big thumps, which gave the machine a terrible shaking. The machine would not respond to the steering and lateral balancing levers, which produced a most peculiar feeling of helplessness. Something flew off the airplane. (It was later discovered to be a propeller.) Then the airplane suddenly veered right. Orville couldnt get the machine to respond. He shut off the engine. He kept trying to regain control of the airplane. . . . I continued to push the levers, when the machine suddenly turned to the left. I reversed the levers to stop the turning and to bring the wings on a level. Quick as a flash, the machine turned down in front and started straight for the ground. Throughout the flight, Lt. Selfridge had remained silent. A few times Lt. Selfridge had glanced at Orville to see Orvilles reaction to the situation. The airplane was about 75 feet in the air when it started a nose-dive to the ground. Lt. Selfridge let out a nearly inaudible Oh! Oh! The Crash Heading straight for the ground, Orville was not able to regain control. The Flyer hit the ground hard. The crowd was at first in silent shock. Then everyone ran over to the wreckage. The crash created a cloud of dust. Orville and Lt. Selfridge were both pinned in the wreckage. They were able to disentangle Orville first. He was bloody but conscious. It was harder to get Selfridge out. He too was bloody and had an injury to his head. Lt. Selfridge was unconscious. The two men were taken by stretcher to the nearby post hospital. Doctors operated on Lt. Selfridge, but at 8:10 p.m., Lt. Selfridge died from a fractured skull, without ever regaining consciousness. Orville suffered a broken left leg, several broken ribs, cuts on his head, and many bruises. Lt. Thomas Selfridge was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. He was the first man to die in an airplane. Orville Wright was released from the Army hospital on October 31. Though he would walk and fly again, Orville continued to suffer from fractures in his hip that had gone unnoticed at the time. Orville later determined that the crash was caused by a stress crack in the propeller. The Wrights soon redesigned the Flyer to eliminate the flaws that led to this accident. Sources Howard, Fred. Wilbur and Orville: A Biography of the Wright Brothers.  Alfred A. Knopf, 1987, New York.Prendergast, Curtis. The First Aviators. Time-Life Books, 1980, Alexandria, VA.Whitehouse, Arch. The Early Birds: The Wonders and Heroics of the First Decades of Flight. Doubleday Company, 1965, Garden City, NY.

Thesis Tourism and Rizal Park - 7777 Words

CHAPTER 1 The Problem and Its Setting Introduction Rizal Park as everybody seen it today is the product of years of painstaking work by thousands of unknown citizens who gave of their time and their labors to create something of beauty where there was nothing but yawning wilderness in the very heart of the premier city. Its continued cleanliness and order is a tribute to the people who use it more than to those who tend to it. Here is a park that is used, loved and nurtured by the people who saw it shape up from nothing (http://rizalpark.nationalparks.ph/main.htm, October 9, 2013). Tourist attractions can be natural or man-made. The history and culture of a place are also very important attractions that enhance the natural†¦show more content†¦The researchers will identify the factors that influenced tourists to visit the destination. The result of this study will help promote the Rizal Park as the Face of the Philippine Ecotourism. This will give them knowledge on how to preserve and improve the destination to attract more local and foreign tourists. It will also give them accurate insights about the effects of the development of the park to tourists. This would be a big help in knowing the evaluation regarding the location, facilities, amenities, safety, security, and affordability, so that the people responsible on governing Rizal Park will be able to know the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threat of the particular site. Paradigm of the Study The paradigm illustrates the conceptual framework of the study, which illustrates how the specific objectives will be answered. This study will tend to find out about the Development of the new Rizal Park and its effects on the local and foreign tourists’ arrivals. Statement of the Problem This study aimed to determine the development of the new Rizal Park and its effects on the local and foreign tourist’s arrivals. Specifically, it sought answers to the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents

Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) Essay - 2622 Words

Sex and relationship education (SRE) is supporting children through their moral, physical and psychological aspects of growing up to be an adult, and making sure they have knowledge on relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health (Sex Education Forum, 2010). There are three main elements in SRE, the first element is attitudes and values, which is about developing positive values and be able to consider moral issues before they make their decisions on having intercourse (Kirby, 2007). The second element is personal and social skills, which is about teaching children to have the confidence to value themselves and others to become respectful for individual conscience and the skills to judge the kind of relationship they want; the†¦show more content†¦There is lots of evidences support that effective SRE is beneficial, however this essay will mainly focus on seven of them. The first evidence proved that after giving effective SRE to the teenagers, nearly half of the tee nage participants delayed sexual initiation and reduced the number of sexual partners, which means decrease the chances of getting STDs and unwanted pregnancy (Oringanje et al, 2009; Kirby, 2007; Trenholm et al.2007). The second evidence shows that thirty per cent of the participant reduced the regularity of sex, including a return to abstinence, one of the reasons is becuase they can access to the appropriate information rather than learning it from peers or watching pornography (Kirby, 2007). Moreover, disease prevention methods were also taught to teenagers i.e. condoms, which can also protect them from infection of STDs and unwanted pregnancy. The third evidence shows that more than a half of the participants reduced frequency of having unprotected sex which proven that they are aware of STDs and the risk of being pregnant after having sexual intercourse (Kirby, 2007). The fourth evidence shows that children from fifteen to sixteen years old who have been exposed to SRE are less likely to be sexually experienced which may be because they did not have sex because of curiosity (Furstenberg et al, 1985). The fifth evidence found that young people are less likely to regret their first sexual intercourse in their life or having intimateShow MoreRelatedThe Services That Promote Sex And Relationship Education1604 Words   |  7 Pagesservices that promote sex and relationship education. It will identify the current health issues on promoting and teaching children about sex and relationship education in schools at a young age. Sex and relationships education has been a highlighted topic for over time which is being highly debated about whether it should taught to young children. There are mixed views on how sex and relationship education is taught, statistics show ‘Most parents (65%) believe that sex education should encourage youngRead MoreThe Effects Of Sex Education On The Uk Essay731 Words   |  3 PagesSex education in the UK The role of schools in providing information about sexual matters is much debated, with some arguing that school-based sex and relationships education (SRE) may accelerate the onset of sexual activity and that parents should provide the information (giving them control over what is delivered and when) (House of Commons Education Committee, 2015) Published in the Department for Education and Employment (DFEE, 2000) biological elements of sex education; puberty, reproductionRead MorePublic Health And Social Health1983 Words   |  8 Pageshealth (Biro, 2009). Midwives play an important role within public health providing risk assessment, referring for specialized services, provision of antenatal and newborn screening including immunizations programmes, smoking cessation, parent education and promotion of breastfeeding (Department of Health, 2013, Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), 2009). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provide guidance on routine antenatal care healthy women should receive throughoutRead More Abstinence-Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education Essay2397 Words   |  10 PagesHIV/AIDS epidemic began in the U.S. in the early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-onlyRead MoreSMSC12647 Words   |  51 PagesSMSC in the primary school 27 8 Citizenship in secondary schools 34 9 The Christian ethos of the school and sex and relationships education 38 10 Resources and websites 39 1 Introduction Since the 1988 Education reform Act schools have had a statutory duty to ‘promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society’. The Education (Schools) Act 1992 underlined the importance of this duty by making the promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moralRead MoreToys Project34340 Words   |  138 Pages FIGURES Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Managing Supply Chain Risks Place of Local Decisions in International Business Operations Flow Chart for Choosing Where to Operate The Complete System of the â€Å"Diamond† Model Relationship of Strategic Alliances of Companies’ International Objectives Control Complexity Related to Collaborative Strategy v International Business Strategy of Toysâ€Å"R†Us for the Norwegian market Introduction to Thesis International business has

It Is Crucial To Have A Classroom Management Plan In Place

It is crucial to have a classroom management plan in place to have a successful classroom for the students and teacher. A classroom should never consist of teachers raising their voices constantly to get the students attention or students being in fear of teacher throughout the day. A classroom should feel like a community with active members who genuinely care about their peers. Rules of the classroom: In order to create a community, it is important to include the students in the decision of classroom rules. In order to complete this successfully it is important to establish this in the very beginning of the school year. To start off we will discuss what a community is and how we can create a respectful learning environment. Depending on†¦show more content†¦When a student is having a great day and making amazing choices I will tell them to go â€Å"choose from the treasure box†. This treasure box will be filled with small cards with different rewards the children can choose from. Some examples will be, eat lunch with the teacher, no shoes in the classroom all day, sitting at the teacher’s desk all day, teacher helper and so on. Depending on my students and the interests I will choose rewards that will motivate them. Group Rewards: I will have the student’s desks in groups of 5-7 students, I may assign each group a color or shape. Throughout the day and our transitional periods, I will assess how well the students group is performing. If their group is making smooth transitions and following our classroom rules, I will give the groups points on the board or chart. Once the group has reached 100 points they will get â€Å"breakfast with the teacher†. On this day these students can come in early and I will provide breakfast and juice for the students! Whole class rewards: I will have a â€Å"Gem Jar† for our whole class rewards. I will have an empty jar and a bag of gems sitting next to it. When the students are doing exceptionally well and are having a great day all around I will take a scoop of gems and put them in the jar. When the jar is completely full we will have a whole class ice cream party. Having these three levels of rewards will encourage each student to preform their veryShow MoreRelatedThe Foundation For Management A Classroom1580 Words   |  7 Pages The foundation for management a classroom begins creating a classroom management plan. Comprehending how to properly manage a classroom begin with understanding the rationale of having a plan. Contrast to what some people may think class management is not merely a method to have control of the environment. As stated by Newman (2013) classroom management objective is to have an effective means to generate the environments that enable learning, regardless of t he students’ age. In order to achieveRead MoreEssay On Classroom Discipline821 Words   |  4 PagesClassroom Discipline Preschool aged children can be headstrong and persistent to do what they want to do. It will be important for me as a teacher to have a plan in place for classroom discipline and management before I begin teaching. That does not mean that my plan of action might not change, however, feeling confident about my approach will help in the implementation. Different approaches will have to be taken with different students for both discipline and classroom management techniques, howeverRead MorePreventative and Corrective Strategies in the Classroom930 Words   |  4 Pages The objectives of preventative strategies are to develop an appropriate and successful classroom for all students. The classroom should be a place where students feel comfortable and a place where students are in control of the behaviours and choices they make. Educators must always offer encouragement on a regular basis as it builds a supportive classroom environment. It encourages student to focus on their effort rather than their achievement. Therefore students receive positive feedback forRead MoreClassroom Management As A Functional Class823 Words   |  4 PagesClassroom management plays an important role in a functional class, and it is a precondition that make other effective teaching actions to be successful (Cothran, Kulinna Garrahy, 2003). Meanwhile, the skills and techniques in classroom management are aim to reflect the teacher’s relationships with the learners as well as the teacher’s attitude, personality and intention (Scrivener,2005). According to Richards and Lockhart (1994), teachers’ decisions and actions constitute the classroom teachingRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Classroom Management1462 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophy of Classroom Management As a teacher, it is my responsibility to create a well-managed classroom to maximize opportunities for student learning. Having a well-articulated classroom management plan is crucial for students and teachers. This is evident when children are working, focused, cooperative and respect each other, exhibit self-discipline, and stay on task (Wong, H. and Wong R., 2009, p. 84). As I teach, I will rely on my faith and I will lead by Jesus’s examples. The strategiesRead MoreShould College Success Be A Good College Student?925 Words   |  4 Pagesneed make sure you attend every class, turning in your assignments, and have time management skills. All these things are very important and I am going to explain detailedly why. To my belief, attendance is one of many things that are crucial to becoming a good college student. First of all, attendance has many more components to it such as, being on time, getting to know your professors, and participation in the classroom. I strongly suggest getting to know all of your professors, because theyRead MoreDesigning Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Students with Special Needs Reflection647 Words   |  3 PagesAs an educator, teaching in an inclusive classroom, it is my responsibility for all students to meet high standards regardless of their learning abilities. With high standards in today’s educational system, meeting these expectations can be challenging. Throughout this course I have learned to become familiar with general characteristics of all learning disabilites along with where to locate additional information if needed, how to create, adapt and modify curriculum, instruction and assessmentsRead MoreMy Professional Practice Setting 1451 Words   |  6 Pagestraditional values are then evident in the way they conduct themselves in school. During my time at the school I have changed my job role. Firstly I was a teaching assistant for an individual child with BESD and Autism. I then had to make the transition to be the main classroom teacher. This change had implications which I needed to overcome. Aggressive and threatening behaviour isn’t something I have come across in school, without exception. Having had discussions with colleagues from different facultiesRead MoreBuilding Rapport And An Effective Teacher1540 Words   |  7 PagesRapport I believe that building rapport is essential in the classroom to be an effective teacher. Rapport is nothing more than a connection you make with your students based on their positive feelings for you. When they like and trust you, and when you in turn like and believe in them, you’ll form a bond that makes classroom management a lot easier (Linsin, 2012). To establish rapport in my classroom I will be enthusiastic about teaching them and passionate about every subject matter, show my funnyRead MoreBuilding Positive Student Teacher Relationships999 Words   |  4 Pagesaligned with the Common Core State Standards, while also creating a classroom management plan that enhances student achievement. Jones and Jones (2013) quote Woolfolk and Weinstein (2006) in their book, Comprehensive Classroom Management, stating that â€Å"What students want are teachers who establish caring relationships, set limits and create a safe environment †¦ and make learning fun† (2013, p . 59). I strive to achieve this in my classroom each day as I greet students at the door, shaking their hand and

New Religious Movements Free Essays

When studied, compared, and scrutinized, every religion – though said to be basically similar in that all believe and worship a god/gods – is actually different from each other in many respects. Before tackling diversities however, it is better to start with similarities. Many people view all adherents of any religions share at the very least certain commonalities such as historical roots, practices/rituals, and doctrines. We will write a custom essay sample on New Religious Movements or any similar topic only for you Order Now In other words, to be considered religious, one must be a follower of a certain form of ritual/practice prescribed by a founder or guru, a worshiper or believer of a god – whatever or whoever that god might be. When looked at the surface, this might be true. However, looking closely and seeking out the nuances, one can find real diversities. For example, for a Jew and a Muslim, Christianity is a religion represented by Vatican and the pope as its representative. To the eyes of these two, no differences whatsoever are detected between a devout Roman Catholic and a Protestant and a Mormon. Of course when investigated, marked differences come to the surface and the initial seemingly unified similarities are gone. Actually, differences are underscored every time there occurs along the way a deviation from the fundamentals of any religion. In the history of Christianity alone, schisms are either a deviation or a return to its roots (Adherents.com, 2007). Effects of Religious Pluralism Post your response to this question: What effect do you think religious pluralism and the interfaith movement will have on the future of organized religion? Explain your answer. Religious pluralism and interfaith movement are recently advocated by proponents from different religions with certain political aims. For instance, during Holy Week in 1971, there were many demonstrations conducted by different religious groups to voice their antiwar protests. Professor Robert McAfee Brown of Stanford University was among those arrested for blocking the way to a draft board office in Berkeley, California. He said he chose to preach his sermon â€Å"not in a church but on a pavement, not with words but with a deed† (Microsoft Encarta, 2007). Though there are certain benefits to it in terms of rights, there are also disadvantages and innumerable damages that may have paved the way for further confusion in the future. In what ways has learning about world religions influenced the way you think about religion? Why is it important to learn about other peoples’ beliefs and attitudes? How will you utilize this information in the future? Knowledge of World religions Knowledge of the different religions of the world and their adherents’ beliefs and practices is necessary for a better understanding of different peoples and cultures. Religious tolerance means differently when taken in the light of this endeavor. The ability to understand world religions and appreciate people because of their different persuasions and beliefs mean a more empathic and compassionate stance towards any group, ethnic or religious assemblage. Those who differ from us will not be seen as enemies, which oftentimes have become a common experience (Adherents.com, 2007). Reference: Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2008 ; http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html;   Microsoft Encarta. 2007. How to cite New Religious Movements, Essay examples

Native Americans and Aztecs Essay Example For Students

Native Americans and Aztecs Essay By: oscar perezTwo of the biggest and greatest civilization in the Americas were theAztecs and Incas. These two civilization were both said to be conquered bythe Spanish, but it wasnt just the Spanish who conquered them. These twocivilizations both fell from a combination of a weak government, lack oftechnology, new disease introduced by the invaders, and not being preparedfor the invaders. For many centuries the Aztec civilization revolved arounda ideological, social, and political system in which expansion was thecornerstone. Expansion was the cornerstone of their whole civilization,because their religion requested that a large number of human sacrificeswhere to be made to the gods. To get the sacrifices the Aztec went to warwith other tribes in Mexico to get these human sacrifices (Conrad ; Demmest47-49) . With each conquest more sacrifices and more land was added to theAztec kingdom. The Aztec were a strong civilization who were familiar withorganized large scale war, had special ized war chiefs, and a well organizedsystem of territorial levy in which large armies could be amassed in ashort time (Age of Reconnaissance 124-125). They may have been wellorganized for war, but they were not prepared for internal changes in therecivilization. When expansion was no longer an option there system crumbled. Without expansion they could no longer give human sacrifices in the sameamount in which they use too. Upon the arrival of the Spanish the Aztecgovernment was falling apart, and Moctezuma II programs of internalmilitary consolidation and administrative and social stabilization hadfailed (Conrad ; Demmest). When the Aztecs first met the Spanish theywere amazed by them. The Spanish used the Aztecs own legends to takeadvantage of them and gain the upper hand. Other disadvantages that theAztecs had was the need to take prisoner to sacrifice, they were not untiedwith other tribes (Spanish were able to unite with other tribes to helpfight the Aztecs), had primitive weapons, and couldnt stay on the battlefield for long, because they ran out of supplies quickly (Age ofReconnaissance 167). The Spaniards didnt destroy the Aztec civilizationall by their self another factor which helped the Spanish were the diseasethat they brought over to the Americas from Europe and Africa. Theintroduction of d iseases like syphilis, measles, smallpox, malaria, mumpsand yellow fever are just some sickness that plagued the Budhu 2 Aztecs. Also the introduction of different species of animals and plants caused aecological imbalance (Plagues and Peoples 176-199). All these are somereasons to why the Aztec civilization was destroyed. With the arrival ofthe Spanish in Mexico rumors started to reach the ears of Spaniards about agreat civilization to the south. This civilization was the Inca. The Incacivilization was inland so it made it harder on the Spanish to reach them. Unlike the Aztecs the Inca empire was held together by a tight socialdiscipline based on commercial land holding and a system of forced labor. Discipline was enjoined by an elaborate cult of ruler-worship and enforcedby a military organization which maintained fortresses and stores atstrategic points (Age of Reconnaissance 170-171). The Incas government wasmore organized then the Aztecs. One of their strengths soon became a greatweakness. The system that was set up to chose a emperor. The system triedto keep the purity of the royal families bloodline by incestuous marriage. The emperor would have to marry one of his full sisters and have a childwho would then become the emperor upon his fathers death. It was also setup to prevent civil war in the kingdom (Inca Decline 134). Huascar becameemperor just as the Inca empires problems became critical. The governmentneed reforms, and Huascar believed that the royal mummies were the centerof all the problems. Huascar decided that the royal mummies had to beremoved, because they stood in the way of his reforms and wealth. Thisdecision became a political disaster. His assault against the royal mummiescaused the high nobility of the empire to turn against him. In 1529 a civilwar broke out between the crowned emperor Huascar and his half brotherAtauhualpa. This civil war lasted for about 3 years ending in 1532 withAtauhualpa emerging as the victor. Unfortunately his reign as emperor wascut short by Francisco Pizarro and his men who fought and kill Atauhualpaand his men when they were heading back to Cuzco (Inca Dec line 134-139). The Spanish invaders of the Americas came for wealth, settlement, and tospread their faith. The storys of the wealth that could be found in theAmericas lured many men looking to get rich quick. The governments of theEuropean countries saw the Americas as two things a place to make money anda way to extend their boarders. The Catholic church came to the Americas,because they wanted to convert these savages and give them salvation. These are some of the reason to why Europeans ventured in this greatunknown called the Americas. When the Spaniards first arrived in LatinAmerica they were not well Budhu 3 organized armies. Most of the men weregroups of adventures, arming them self, or hooking up with a leader whowould provide them with weapons. While they may not have had the most welltrained men they did have unity and leadership to guide them. The Spaniardshad the upper hand over the Incas and Aztecs in both technology and unity. The Spanish had gunpowder, but couldnt use it frequently because most ofit was heavy artillery. They did have a few muskets, and steal weapons. TheIncas and the Aztecs were still using Stone age technology. They dependedon weapons made of stone and wood and leather armor. The invaders had stealswords and armor (Age of Reconnaissance). These advantages along with theinternal problems of the Aztecs and the Incas made it very easy for theSpaniards to conquer them. Two of the greatest civilization to ever live inthe Americas were destroyed in a few years. The Spanish are credited forthe destruction of these two civilization, but did they really destroythem. By looking back on all the problems that these two civilization hadon the eve of the arrival of the Spanish one would say that they destroyedthem self and the Spanish was just there to do a little work and claim thecredit for the destruction of the Aztecs and Incas. Aztec Empire HistoryThe Aztec civilization revolved around an ideological, social and political system in which expansion was the cornerstone. By Angela SalatinoThe Aztec Empire History The center of the Aztec civilization was theValley of Mexico, a huge,oval basin about 7,500 feet above sea level. TheAztecs were formed afterthe Toltec civilization occurred when hundreds ofcivilians came towards Lake Texcoco. In the swamplands there was only onepiece of land to farm on and it was totally surrounded by more marshes. TheAztec families somehow converted these disadvantages to a mighty empireknown as the Aztec Empire. People say the empire was partially formed by adeeply believed legend. As the legend went, it said that Aztec people wouldcreate an empire in a swampy place where they would see an eagle eating asnake, while perched on a cactus, which was growing out of a rock in theswamplands. This is what priests claimed they saw when entering the newland. In addition, The mother of the Aztec creation story was calledCoatlique, the Lady of the Skirt of Snakes. She was created in the imageof the unknown, decorated with skulls, sn akes, and lacerated hands. Thereare no cracks in her body and she is a perfect monolith (a totality ofintensity and self-containment, yet her features were sqaure anddecapitated). Coatlique was first impregnated by an obsidian knife and gavebirth to Coyolxanuhqui, goddess of the moon, and to a group of maleoffspring, who became the stars. Then one day Coatlique found a ball offeathers, which she tucked into her bosom. Whe she looked for it later, itwas gone, at which time she realized that she was again pregnant. Herchildren, the moon and stars did not believe her story. Ashamed of theirmother, they resolved to kill her. A goddess could only give birth once, tothe original litter of divinity and no more. During the time that they wereplotting her demise, Coatlicue gave birth to the fiery god of war,Huitzilopochtli. With the help of a fire serpent, he destroyed his brothersand sister, murdering them in a rage. He beheaded Coyolxauhqui and threwher body into a deep gorge in a mountain , where it lies dismemberedforever. By the year 1325 their capital city was finished. They called itTenochtitlan. At its height, the Aztec Empire included millions ofpeople. Even though no one knows exactly how many people there were, itseems clear that the Aztec Empire had a population equal to the largeEuropean countries at the time! Tenochtitlfin alone, which may have had asmany as 200,000 people, was larger than any European city. Along the shoresof Lake Texcoco were other cities. These cities were connected toTenochtitlfin by a system of causeways, or raised earthen roads, builtacross the lake. Bridges on the causeways allowed canoes to go from onepart of the lake to another. In the capital city, aqueducts wereconstructed, bridges were built, and chinapas were made. Chinapas werelittle islands formed by pilled up mud. On these chinapas Aztecs grew theirfood. The Aztec Empire included many cities and towns, especially in theValley of Mexico. The early settlers built log rafts, then covered themwith mud and planted seeds to create roots and develop more solid land forbuilding homes in this marshy land. Canals were also cut out through themarsh so that a typical Aztec home had its back to a canal with a canoetied at the door. In the early 1400s, Tenochtitlan joined with Texcoco andTlacopan, two other major cities in the Valley of Mexico. Good farmingpractices helped to support the large population of Tenochtitln. Forexample, the Aztecs built irrigation systems, constructed terraces onnearby hillsides, and enriched the soil with fertilizer. They developed acompletely new agricultural technique for making more farmland out of theswampy land around the city by creating artificial islands, calledchinampas, or floating gardens. The chinampas were made by piling richearth from the bottom of Lake Texcoco onto rafts made of weeds. Afterawhile, the roots of plants and trees grew down to the lake bottom,anchoring the rafts. These island gardens covered most of the so uthern partof the lake and were planted with crops that produced large amounts offood. Their crops included corn, which was their principal crop, variouskinds of vegetables (such as beans, squash, tomatoes, and peppers), andflowers. The Aztecs also planted corn and other crops in the irrigatedfields around Lake Texcoco. They raised ducks, geese and turkeys, whichwere eaten by the rich nobles and merchants. They had dogs, but did not usework animals or plows. Instead, they used pointed sticks to poke holes forplanting seeds in the soft soil Tenochtitlan became the most powerfulmember of the alliance. The Aztec Conquerors The Aztecs carried onconstant wars with neighboring peoples. They fought with wooden swords thathad sharp stone blades. They also used bows and arrows as well as spears. Evaluation of 12 Angry Men Using the Seven Step Me EssayUltimately, they believed their world would again end in disaster. TheAztecs thought that their special purpose in life was to delay thatdestruction. They sacrificed to the god of war and the sun to keep the sunin the sky and avoid destruction for as long as possible. Many other Aztecgods controlled natural forces. For example, there was a god of rain and agod of wind. These gods also required attention, although they might nothave demanded human sacrifice. Life was very insecure, since the gods couldcause all sorts of problems if they became unhappy. It was important,therefore, to know what the gods wanted. The priests supposedly had theability to interpret signs of the gods pleasure or unhappiness. Priestshad enormous power in the Aztec society.The priests also understood thegreat ceremonial calendar. It told of holy days that called for happycelebrations with song and dance. It also told of other days that weresolemn and re quired fasting. The Aztecs believed that the calendar, ifproperly understood, could foretell the future. Like all the Mexicanpeoples, the Aztecs worshipped a multitude of gods, each of whom demandedofferings and sacrifices. Above all, the Aztecs considered themselves thechosen people of HUITZILOPOCHTLI, the sun and war god, in whose name theywere destined to conquer all rival nations. Huitzilopochtli shared the maintemple at Tenochtitlan with TIaloc, the rain god, important to the farmersin a land where drought was a constant threat Another important god wasQUETZALCOATL, the feathered serpent, patron of arts and crafts and the godof self-sacrifice. The Aztec held many religious ceremonies to ensure goodcrops by winning the favor of the gods and then to thank them for theharvest. Every 52 years, the Aztec held a great celebration called theBinding up of the Years. Prior to the celebration, the people would lettheir hearth fires go out and then re-light them from the new fire of thece lebration and feast. A partial list of the Aztec gods: CENTEOTL, The corngod. COATLICUE,She of the Serpent Skirt. EHECATL, The god of wind. HUEHUETEOTL, The fire god. HUITZILOPOCHTLI, The war/sun god and specialguardian of Tenochtitlan. MICTLANTECUHTLE, The god of the dead. OMETECUHLTIand his wife OMECIHUATL, They created all life in the world. QUETZALCOATL,The god of civilization and learning. TEZCATLIPOCA, The god of Night andSorcery. TLALOC, The rain god. TONATIUH, The sun god. TONANTZIN, Thehonored grand mother. XILONEN, Young maize ear, Maize represents a chiefstaple of the Aztecs.XIPE TOTEC, The god of springtime and re-growth. Aztecdances: The Aztec Dance is known for its special way of expressingreverence and prayer to the supernatural gods of the sun, earth, sky, andwater. Originally, the resources accessible to the native Indians werelimited, yet they were able to create lively music with the howling of thesea conch, and with rhythms produced by drums and by dried seeds which wereusually tied to the feet of the dancers. Archeologists have learned aboutthe Aztec gods and religious ceremonies from the artwork fou nd in the ruinsof their cities. The images of the gods are represented in stone sculpturesand carved wall scuptures on the walls of the temples. The inside walls ofthe buildings have remains of brilliantly colored paintings showingceremonial events, such as the human sacrifices. An especially famous Aztecsculpture is the enormous calendar stone, a carved stone circle 12 ft. indiameter. The calendar represents the Aztec universe with the face of thesun god in the center. He is surrounded by designs that symbolize the daysand months and the locations of heavenly bodies at different times of theyear. The Aztec developed a writing and counting system based onpictographs in which each picture represented an object or the sound of asyllable. Their counting system was based on the number 20, in which onepicture represented 20 items, another 20 x 20 ( = 400) items and so on. Archaelogists have learned to decode some of their writings, which talkabout historical events and provide records of supplies and items fortrade. The Aztecs produced a variety of goods, some for the ruler and hisnoblemen, and some that were sold in markets. Gold ornaments, brightlycolored woven cloth and salt harvested from the lake bed were luxury itemsthat were traded with distant peoples to the south. They were traded forother luxury items, such as tropical bird feathers and jaguar skins (usedfor ceremonial garments), cotton, rubber, and cacao beans (for makingchocolate). Trading goods were carried by canoe and by long caravans ofporters, since the Aztecs had no wheeled vehicles or pack animals. Aztecwarriors traveled with the caravans and the merchants who led them toprotect them in dangerous areas. Aztec culter had a very complex structurein which there were lower class, middle class and upper class peoples. Theyhad a good system of transportation and irrigation through the use ofcanals. They had a strong warfare system, which was seen by theirconquering of many lands. They also had their own language, and their ownmathematical system. Their scholars were also very intelligent, they haddeveloped their own system of time measurement and a calendar system thatwas very accurate. The Spanish invaders of the Americas came for wealth, settlement, andto spread their faith. The storys of the wealth that could be found in theAmericas lured many men looking to get rich quick. The governments of theEuropean countries saw the Americas as two things a place to make money anda way to extend their boarders. The Catholic church came to the Americas,because they wanted to convert these savages and give them salvation. These are some of the reason to why Europeans ventured in this greatunknown called the Americas. When the Spaniards first arrived in LatinAmerica they were not well Budhu 3 organized armies. Most of the men weregroups of adventures, arming them self, or hooking up with a leader whowould provide them with weapons. While they may not have had the most welltrained men they did have unity and leadership to guide them. The Spaniardshad the upper hand over the Incas and Aztecs in both technology and unity. The Spanish had gunpowder, but couldnt use it frequently because most ofit was heavy artillery. They did have a few muskets, and steal weapons. TheIncas and the Aztecs were still using Stone age technology. They dependedon weapons made of stone and wood and leather armor. The invaders had stealswords and armor (Age of Reconnaissance). These advantages along with theinternal problems of the Aztecs and the Incas made it very easy for theSpaniards to conquer them. Two of the greatest civilization to ever live inthe Americas were destroyed in a few years. The Spanish are credited forthe destruction of these two civilization, but did they really destroythem. By looking back on all the problems that these two civilization hadon the eve of the arrival of the Spanish one would say that they destroyedthem self and the Spanish was just there to do a little work and claim thecredit for the destruction of the Aztecs and Incas. Work Cited 1) Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia Version 7.0.5 CD-ROM GrolierInc.1995 2) Microsoft Encarta 96 CD-ROM Microsoft, 1996 3) InternetAddresses: I)http://www.mexicana.com/english/community/29nf-aztec.shtmlII)http://udgftp.cencar.udg.mx/ingles/Precolombina/Azteca/mexintro.htmlIII)http://www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/wickham/topics/aztecs/aztecs.html