the aztecs
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The Aztecs
World History - Libertyville HS
Rise of the Aztecs• Migrated around
1200 AD from northern Mexican deserts
• Hired out as mercenaries, for Toltecs
• Achieved independence by 1300
Tenochtitlan• In 1325, they
founded a town on an island in Lake Texcoco, at the site of modern Mexico City
• City grew quickly– By 1500,
population was 3-400,000
– Larger than any except cities in China
– Ringed by suburban cities
Political Development• Warrior based
elite
• Elite soldiers were called Eagle Warriors
• Priests were just below Emperor in social status
Systematic Slavery• Aztec warfare
was directed towards capture, not killing
• Prisoners of war were sacrificed to gods
• But if captive had useful trade or skill, they were spared
Aztec Religion• Practiced
human sacrifice• Justification
– Gods gave things to humans only if humans nourished the Gods
– Aztecs practiced bloodletting and human sacrifice (bloodletting)
Aztec Religion• Priests taught
that gods were best nourished by living hearts of sacrificed captives
• The braver the captive, the more nourishing the sacrifice for the Gods
Aztec Religion• Why the need for
human sacrifice?– Aztecs believed that
gods were in constant conflict, opposition with each other
– Aztec gods needed blood to fight against each other
– Belief led to widespread wars• Search for sacrificial
victims• Tribute paid in both
food and victims
Aztec Religion• Wars led to
widespread resentment!
• Process– Some sacrifices
were minimal (1-2 POWs)
– Some were spectacular in scope (1000s at a time, for hours or days)
Aztec Religion• Victim held down by
four priests on an altar at top of pyramid
• Priest made incision below rib cage w/ razor sharp obsidian knife, pull out living heart
• Heart then burned in brazier, corpse pushed down steps
• Very noble carried down
Aztec Religion• Aztecs believed
they absorbed gods of conquered people into their own pantheon
• More gods on your side, the better!
• Led to need for more sacrifices for more gods
Aztec Culture• Aztec Law
– Simple, harsh, effective
– Most punishments resulted in death or mutilation
• Social hierarchy• Only boys were
educated– Depended on social
class– Parent’s profession
generally dictated kid’s training
– Women were subordinate to men
Emperor-God
Generals, priests
Merchants / Craftsmen
Landowning farmers
Slaves
Aztec Technology
• Stone and bone technology
• Sophisticated writing system that has been translated
Decline of Aztecs• Montezuma II (r.
1502-1522)– Ruled huge empire,
but empire filled with revolts by subject people
– Demanded more tribute and sacrifices
– Subject people of Aztec Empire HATED Aztecs
– Some tribes allied with Spaniards
Decline and Fall of Aztecs• Aztecs had
legend involving white skinned Gods who would return from the East
• Spaniards were initially regarded as Gods, by Aztecs
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