Here is some cultural information
that may be of interest to visitors.
Ceremonial
centers
We devote much of our time
to religious practices, and we expect visitors to show respect for our gods and
rites. Most religious activities take place within walled ceremonial centers.
Inside a center, there is a temple, gardens, living quarters for priests, sacred
pools for ceremonial cleansing, and racks for skulls from sacrifices. Many centers
also have a court for tlachtli.
Language
We speak a beautiful language
called Náhuatl. Learning some common phrases in our language may
help you on your visit. To start you off, here are words for two popular food
items: chocolatl, a drink made from cacao beans; and tomatl, a juicy
red fruit that grows on a vine.
Food
Food is rich, spicy, and
delicious in Montezuma's empire. Many dishes have sauces flavored with chili peppers.
Our principal food is a thin cornmeal pancake called tlaxcalli. We scoop
up foods with a tlaxcalli
or wrap it around food to make a taco.
Shopping
The market places of our
empire are amazing to see. Our largest market is at Tlatelolco, just outside Tenochtitlan.
As many as 60,000 people visit this market every day. There, you can trade your
goods for anything made in the empire. Popularly traded items include cacao beans,
cotton, jaguar pelts, rubber, feathers of tropical birds, and finely carved tools
made of sharp volcanic rock.
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