Expanding the Empire

Expanding Through Trade Their long trek to find their

sacred homeland left the Aztec people extremely independent and resourceful

To build their empire, they employed a few different means

Trade alliances Defensive alliances Conquest

This shows two sides of the Aztecs – the warrior and the trader

The Aztecs were amazing farmers – so why would they need to trade?

Trapped by Geography Even with all their farming skills, the

Aztecs still could not farm certain crops

The city was approximately 2000 metres above sea level

They could not cultivate tropical produce

Avocados, papayas, and cacao They also could not get bright bird

feathers that they adorned themselves with

The city also did not have gold or silver deposits

To get these things merchants travelled great distances with slaves to carry the goods back

Merchants also acted as spies

Expanding Through War

Huitzilopochtli prophesied: “We shall conquer all the people in the universe. I will make you lords and kings of every place in the world.”

This helped motivate the Aztecs to create a powerful empire

When the Spanish arrived in 1519, the Aztecs controlled the largest empire in North America

– 77,000 sq. miles population of 200,000-300,000 people

How did they do this?

They believed that the group (society) was more important than the individual (citizen)

This was a strongly held belief by all

A Warrior Society When a boy was born into Aztec

society, he was immediately initiated into the warrior aspect of life

This was symbolized by placing a very tiny bow and shield in his hands

He was committing to protect the Aztec people even before he could walk, talk, or think, pretty much

What does this tell us about Aztec culture?

Military service was compulsory in Aztec society

The worst insult that could be given was to call someone a coward

Why would this be so?

Aztec Poetry (Again!)

Poetry was created to praise the gods, to share stories and to celebrate the beauty of the natural world

Poems were usually recited or sung to music

It was also often meant to teach a lesson

Loved and tender son, This is the will of the gods.You are not born in your true houseBecause you are a warrior. Your landIs not here, but in another place. You are promised to the field of battle.You are dedicated to war.You must give the Sun your enemies' blood.You must feed the earth with corpses.Your house, your fortune, and your destinyIs in the House of the Sun.

Tribute The Aztecs profited greatly when they

conquered other people

They began to take tribute (valuable gifts and taxes) from those they conquered

They kept records of the tribute they received

Blankets, feathered headdresses, shields, strings of jade beads, cocoa beans

Cocoa beans were very important

They were a key ingredient in a drink thought to make one gain wisdom and power

Cocoa beans, chili peppers and cornmeal

They were also used as currency