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Course: World History Project - Origins to the Present > Unit 5

Lesson 3: Old World Webs | 5.2
Arts and humanities
World History Project - Origins to the Present
Era 5—The First Global Age (1200 to 1750 CE)
Old World Webs | 5.2
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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Aztec Empire

Google Classroom
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the [transcript](transcript link here) first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. What did Aztec society have in common with ancient Greece?
  2. What was the Triple Alliance, and in what context did it develop?
  3. How did the system of city-states help Hernando Cortes conquer the Aztec Empire?
  4. The author of the video describes the Aztec Empire as advanced. What evidence does the author give for this claim and is the author’s argument convincing?
  5. How did Aztec political communities differ from Maya political communities?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to this question:
  1. How does the Aztec state compare or contrast to different types of states and communities you have learned about in Afro-Eurasia?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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