Oxford University Is Older Than the Aztec Empire
History often surprises us by showing that events we think are far apart in time actually overlapped.
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A Different View of Time
We often think of history as a straight line. We imagine that ancient things happened a long time ago and modern things happened recently. But sometimes, history is not what we expect. For example, did you know that Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire? It sounds impossible, but it is true.
The Age of Oxford
Oxford University in England started teaching students as early as 1096. By the year 1249, it was already a well-established place of learning. It has been a center for books and ideas for almost a thousand years. It is one of the oldest universities in the world, and it has survived many wars and changes.
We imagine that ancient things happened a long time ago and modern things happened recently.
The Aztec Empire
Now, think about the Aztec Empire in Mexico. Many people think the Aztecs were a very ancient civilization, like the Egyptians. But the Aztec Empire actually began much later. The city of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the empire, was founded in 1325. This means that students were already studying at Oxford for over 200 years before the Aztec Empire even began.
Why We Get Confused
Why do we think the Aztecs are older? Perhaps it is because we learn about them in different ways. We often see pictures of pyramids and think 'ancient.' We see pictures of old English buildings and think 'medieval.' Our brains like to put things into simple boxes. But history is much more complex and interesting than our simple boxes.
Learning from History
This fact is a great reminder to look closer at the timeline of the world. When we learn about history, we should ask: 'What else was happening at the same time?' It helps us see the world as a connected place. History is not just a list of dates; it is a story of many different people living their lives at the same time.
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What other historical events happened at the same time but seem unrelated?
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Take It With You
A few useful things you picked up
From “Oxford University Is Older Than the Aztec Empire”.
Useful Expressions
civilization
B1 · noun
a society with its own culture and government
“The Aztec civilization was very advanced.”
Key term for history and social studies.
misconception
B2 · noun
a wrong idea or belief
“It is a common misconception that the Aztecs were older than Oxford.”
Useful for discussing errors in thinking.
timeline
B1 · noun
a list of events in the order they happened
“Look at the timeline to see what happened first.”
Essential for organizing historical information.
Your English
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