AztecAztec

““Uic athan”Uic athan”

Contrasting views and Contrasting views and confusionconfusion

Quetzalcoatl : Feathered Serpent

SourcesSources

►Accounts of the SpanishAccounts of the Spanish ConquistadoresConquistadores PriestsPriests

►Accounts of the AztecAccounts of the Aztec Codex MendozaCodex Mendoza Codex FlorentineCodex Florentine

►ArchaeologyArchaeology

Modern reenactment.

Recent resurgence in Aztec “identity” within descendant communities.

Route taken by Cortez

Moctezuma I

Great military leader who expanded the empire. Emperor 1440-1469

Moctezuma II

Very religious and philosophical leader. Emperor 1502-1520 II

Codex Mendoza depicting different warrior classes.

Eagle Knight. Lifesize statue.

Nezahualcoyotl of the Tetzcoco

Major origin story portrayed in post conquest codex.

Capital of Aztec Empire; Tenochitlan

Virtual model of Templo Major

ReligionReligion

► Bloody by modern standards.Bloody by modern standards. Some rituals gruesomeSome rituals gruesome ( (Xoce Totec Xoce Totec ritual of ritual of

renewal)renewal)

► Sacrifice meant to exhibit power and elicit Sacrifice meant to exhibit power and elicit fear and feed the dieties.fear and feed the dieties.

► Political purposes: Fear of Aztec helped Political purposes: Fear of Aztec helped reduce resistance. reduce resistance.

Warrior Priest King

Note earplugs as signs of rank.

Priest

Water deity

►The Texcocoans erected a temple for The Texcocoans erected a temple for the one almighty god (Tloque the one almighty god (Tloque Nahuague) which did not include a Nahuague) which did not include a sacrificial altar. He is said to have sacrificial altar. He is said to have resided at the highest point of heaven resided at the highest point of heaven and did not interfere in human lives.and did not interfere in human lives.

►Mexica resolved to include pantheon Mexica resolved to include pantheon of gods.of gods.

►As with Maya, gods often had many As with Maya, gods often had many forms and responsibilities. forms and responsibilities. Quetzacoatl could be a wind god, god Quetzacoatl could be a wind god, god of life, represent Venus, a reincarnated of life, represent Venus, a reincarnated king…king…

►Everyone feared the gods and priestly Everyone feared the gods and priestly predictions affected behavior.predictions affected behavior.

SacrificeSacrifice

►Blood sacrifice was an important Blood sacrifice was an important feature of Aztec religion. feature of Aztec religion.

►Thousands were sacrificed each year.Thousands were sacrificed each year.

►Bloodletting was thought necessary to Bloodletting was thought necessary to ensure the Sun was fed, to maintain ensure the Sun was fed, to maintain the cycle of life.the cycle of life.

►Priests formed a special class.Priests formed a special class.►During 1300’s rivals within Aztec During 1300’s rivals within Aztec

religious authorities debated over religious authorities debated over pantheistic or monotheistic system.pantheistic or monotheistic system.

Flint knife with mosaic handle.

Anthropohagi in perspectiveAnthropohagi in perspective

► The word cannibal was first used by Columbus to The word cannibal was first used by Columbus to equate anthropophagi to the tribes of the Khan equate anthropophagi to the tribes of the Khan (Kublai Khan in China) based on misinterpretation (Kublai Khan in China) based on misinterpretation of Arawak accounts.of Arawak accounts.

►SurvivalSurvival►Ritual/sacrificialRitual/sacrificial►SubsistenceSubsistence

The ArtsThe Arts

Aztec flute.

Craft specializationCraft specialization

►Obsidian workersObsidian workers► feather craftersfeather crafters► stone workersstone workers►weaversweavers► architectsarchitects► physiciansphysicians► painterspainters

►Gold workersGold workers► traderstraders►merchantsmerchants► Pochteca Pochteca ►materials scientistsmaterials scientists► teachersteachers► civil servantscivil servants► pharmacistspharmacists

Musical instruments

brazier

Legal StructureLegal Structure

►Laws applied to all.Laws applied to all.►Strict laws according to class Strict laws according to class

distinctions.distinctions.►Serious offences were punishable by Serious offences were punishable by

death.death.

Excavation of mass burial. Possible Aztec resistance fighters.

Social RolesSocial Roles

►Women and men had distinct social Women and men had distinct social obligations and statusobligations and status

►Much of what we know comes from Much of what we know comes from post-conquest manuscripts of the post-conquest manuscripts of the Aztec.Aztec.

►Separate Schools for boys and girls.Separate Schools for boys and girls.

The game Patolli. Players use beans with numbers like dice to gamble on outcome. Invoke the name of Maculixochtli.

Four directions divided in 13 equal sacred 52

Midwife.

Diet. Household kitchen duties.

Insignia and heraldry.

Marriage ceremony; commoners

Farming tasks. Maize to feed the multitudes.

Eggs and insects

Invasion and ConquestInvasion and Conquest

► Cortez arrives at Vera Cruz in 1519.Cortez arrives at Vera Cruz in 1519.► Aztec population at time of invasion over 2 Aztec population at time of invasion over 2

million.million.► Three years later population reduced to Three years later population reduced to

70,000.70,000.►Many contemporary critics of Cortez.Many contemporary critics of Cortez.►His cousin Pizarro will invade Peru.His cousin Pizarro will invade Peru.