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Who were the Aztecs? Nomadic people from the
northwestern United States known as Aztlan, the Aztecs ventured to Mexico because of a vision
“Eagle on perched on a cactus, eating a snake”
A small island in Lake Texcoco will become the site of the Aztecs capital city Tenochtitlan in 1325
Surrounded by water, good soil and protective bridges
A Policy of Conquest 1st ruler Acamapichtli, “Handful of Arrows” 1376-1396 guided
early building of Tenochtitlan and launched first conquest of the region
Conquests sought to obtain natural resources needed for building materials, tools and prisoners for labor and sacrifices
“Policy of Conquest” after conquering a region Aztecs allow local leaders to stay in power but expect heavy tribute payments
Aztecs enter into a “Triple Alliance” with two powerful city-states, Texcoco and Tlacopan to expand into wealthy farmlands outside of the Valley of Mexico
Aztec empire will expand over an area of 78,000 miles
A Policy of Conquest “Policy of Conquest” led to
constant threat of rebellion from concqueroed people
5th ruler, Montezuma I, “Angry Lord, Archer of The Sky”, 1440-1469
Expanded the Aztec empire more than any other emperor through aggressive military expansion for economic gains
Increased trade in cocoa, rubber, cotton, fruits, feathers, and seashells
Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan, was an island
city covering an area of 5 miles surrounded by Lake Texcoco
Canals were used as streets and people traveled by canoe
Aqueducts brought fresh water and sewage was carried out in barges
Palaces, a royal zoo, gardens, city fountains, and open market greeted vistors
Tenochtitlan Chinampas were man made
islands of plants, trees and compacted lake mud
Served as floating agricultural gardens that provided food and a place to live for commoners
Possessed a 365 day calendar used to keep track of seasonal events and a 260 day religious calendar that used names for dates
Aztec Religion and Human Sacrifice Believed in over 1,6000
gods who controlled every aspect of Aztec life
Gods had to be pleased to make sure that crops grew, rain came and sun would rise
Believed gods had created the world through sacrifice and their blood
Aztec Religion and Human Sacrifice
Aztecs believed Huitzilopochtli, god of war demanded blood and human hearts for protection and aid
Warriors taken on battlefields were treated as gods then sacrificed
Hearts were removed and held high for approval and bodies were then thrown down steps
Aztec Society
Clothing determined social rank Nobles wore sandals and clothes of cotton Commoners wore clothes of coarse cloth Jewelry also was regulated to show social rank Education was highly valued but, wealthy received better than
the common Aztec Diet consisted of beans, sweet potatoes, avocados, onions,
tomatoes, turkey and dog Wealthy drank chocolatl and smoked tobacco During periods of poor harvest commoners turned to eating,
worms, tadpoles, slugs, and other insects to survive
Montezuma II
9th ruler, Montezuma II, “Angry Lord, The Younger”, 1502-1520 successful military ruler but religiously superstitious
Prophecies stated that Quetzalcoatl would return to rule over Aztecs
Lived a life of luxury with a 100 wives in a palace considered an architectural marvel
No one was allowed to look at him or touch
The Last Rulers of Tenochtitlan 10th ruler, Cuitlahuac
ruled after Montezuma II and died 80 days later of smallpox
11th ruler, Cuauhtemoc 1520-1525 Aztec empire ends with destruction of Tenochtitlan, and hanging of Cuauhtemoc by Spanish
Aztec Family Life Land was farmed by a family
groups Additional land was granted as
families grew or if father was a great warrior
Lazy families had land taken from them
Parents and elders expected to be respected
Children were punished by being pricked with a spine, beaten with a stick or forced to inhale burning chili peppers
Aztec Warriors Military training began at age
12 After killing or capturing four
opponents a warrior was given land and allowed to wear ceremonial clothes
Best became professional soldiers called Eagle or Jaguar warriors who became part of nobility
Warfare was based on taking prisoners and increasing land
Cortes and the Spanish Conquest
Hernan Cortes, Spanish conquistador who ventures to Mexico because of the gold and silver
1519 leads a military expedition to conqueror Aztec empire
Cortes conquerors the Tlaxcalan army of 50,000 with 400 Spaniards
Spanish steel, amour, and the horse win the day
Cortes and the Spanish Conquest
Aztec enemies join Cortes because it provides them the opportunity to defeat the Aztecs
Spaniards make it clear that they are there for gold and seize Montezuma as a prisoner
During negotiations for Montezuma’s freedom Aztec warriors stone the Spanish causing the death of Montezuma (strangled by Spanish?)
Cortes and the Spanish Conquest La Noche Triste, “Night of Sorrow” for Spanish when
they escaped Tenochtitlan but lost thousands of men 1519 smallpox and measles arrive with Spaniards and
spreads reducing Aztec population December 1920 Cortes returns to attack Tenochtitlan with
a navy and is victorious after 3 months Cortes used 13 warships and 200,000 canoes to attack the
Aztecs 500,000 people die during this battle due to disease,
polluted water or starvation The Aztec empire is no more