The Aztecs

The Aztecs A tribe of hunters and farmers

who migrated to the shores of Lake Texcoco in the 1200s.

Founded Tenochtitlan in 1325.

Empire borders stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and as far south as Guatemala.

Became a powerful tribe that was skilled in the art of war.

Tenochtitlan Capital city of the Aztec

empire. Most modern city of the

time. Empire grew to more

than 5 million at its peak.

Built on an island, in Lake Texcoco, that had been enlarged until it was two square miles.

Had a population of half a million people.

The city was connected to the mainland by three causeways/bridges.

Divided into four districts.

Modern day Mexico City is built over the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

Aztec Warfare Aztecs conquered surrounding tribes and forced

them to pay large tributes. Tribute = Taxes

Conquering other tribes allowed the Aztecs to gain wealth and slaves for sacrifice.

The conquered peoples were not happy and were easily convinced to revolt against the Aztecs.

Aztec Government

As the civilization grew, they formed city-states that were governed by an emperor.

A council of nobles always chose the emperor from members of the royal family. The most important emperor was Montezuma.

Montezuma Became emperor in 1502.

Built many temples, water conduits, and hospitals.

Expanded the empire as far south as Honduras.

Even though the other conquered tribes disliked him, he was thought of as a great ruler by the Aztecs.

Brought the Spaniards to Tenochtitlan.

Religion Polytheistic – many gods

Each village and each occupation had its own patron god.

Worshipped over 60 gods and goddesses – some helpful, some harmful.

To win favor from the helpful gods, the Aztecs made offerings to them. Sometime these offerings were

human sacrifices.

Religion Pyramids were used as Temples.

Sacrifices were made on an altar at the top of the pyramid.

Blood would run down the steps. Most sacrificial victims were prisoners of war.

Quetzalcoatl – God of learning and the priesthood, also god of arts and crafts

Tlaloc – Rain god, most important to farmers

Huitzilopochtli – Sun god an god of war, chief god of the town of Tenochtitlan Homoyoca – Ancient Sun god

Advanced Civilization

Aztecs had . . . Mathematical system to maintain their empire Calendar systems to organize their empire Farming system was very efficient

Developed irrigation systems to help their crops grow during dry periods.

Aztec Calendar Used two types of calendars.

Lunar = based on the moon Solar = based on the sun

The lunar calendar had 260 days Divided into 13 months, each month having 20 days.

The Lunar calendar was considered magical and used to decide which days would be used for religious ceremonies and rituals.

Aztec Calendar The solar calendar had 365 days

Divided into 18 months, each month having 20 days. This calendar helped them determine planting and

harvesting times.

The extra five days were “nothing” days added to the end of each year and were considered unlucky.

No activities were performed during the “nothing” days.

At the end of the 5 days the Aztecs gave a sacrificial victim to the gods.

Lunar Calendar

Solar Calendar

Aztec Calendar Stone * Discovered in 1790 * 12 feet in diameter and weighs 20 tons

Aztec CalendarThe image of the Sun god Tonatiuh is carved in the center of the Aztec calendar stone.

Other carvings represent the Aztec days and religious symbols.

Each month was represented by a dot. The individual days were given a specific name and symbol.

Art Art used religious subjects

and themes.

The best remaining examples of Aztec art are architecture and sculpture. Used stone, wood, jade,

turquoise, metal, emerald, and volcanic glass.

Art Most Aztec gold treasures no longer exist as they were taken and melted down to reuse the gold. Many buildings and

pieces of artwork were destroyed by the Spanish.

Aztecs also made pottery and woven cloth.

Aztec Sports Tlachtli is a ball game that was played during religious

ceremonies.

Court Requirements Played on a court. In the shape of a capital “I.” A vertical stone ring was in the middle of the side walls.

The object of the game was to put the ball through the ring.

They used a hard, rubber ball. This ball could only be moved by the players’ hips, knees, legs, and elbows.

This game was used to determine who was to be sacrificed next.

THE WINNERS!!!!

Agriculture Slash and burn method.

Terraces and Canals

Chinampas were small islands formed in lake and swamp area. Made by digging mud at the

bottom of the lake or swamp and piling it into little mounds.

Sometimes called floating gardens, even though they did not really float.

AgricultureCommon foods

Corn (Maize), beans, squash

Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, papayas,

Rubber, cotton and cacao beans

Language Had no alphabet.

Wrote in glyphs (pictures).

Paper was made from the bark of the wild fig tree. The bark was soaked and

beaten into sheets. These sheets were coated

with a varnish and stuck together.

They were then folded like an accordion (codex).

Language Spoke Nahuatl.

Some Aztec words Acapulco,

Mexico, avocado, chocolate, and tomato.

The END of the Aztecs Cortes trained his

men and nearby natives that disliked the Aztecs. By the time he

reached Tenochtitlan, he had 1500 fighters . . . 1000 were natives.

The END of the Aztecs 1519

Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes lands on eastern coast of Mexico looking for gold• Conquistador = Spanish explorer or soldier

Had 11 ships, 500 soldiers, 1000 sailors and 16 horses

In order to prevent his men from leaving, he burned his ships. • Success or death.

Cortes & the Aztecs The Aztecs saw Cortes and his

men, and believed that he was an Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, who had returned to earth.

He was taken back to Montezuma (emperor) and Tenochtitlan, where he saw what he called “the city of gold”. Cortes was given gold in the

hopes that he would take the gifts and leave.

Cortes & the Aztecs After two years of struggle,

Cortes and the Spanish were able to defeat the Aztecs in 1521. During this time, Montezuma

was a prisoner in his own palace.

Cortes hoped he could rule the Aztecs if he kept their leader hostage.

240,000 Aztecs were killed, and the city was destroyed.

How were the Spanish able to conquer the Aztecs so easily?

Guns

Cannons

Horses Thought the men and

their horses were one creature.

How were the Spanish able to conquer the Aztecs so easily?

European diseases Smallpox 1520 – thousands died

The Aztec enemies helped the Spanish

Life after the Aztecs Major consequence of the Spanish conflict

with the Aztecs . . . Creation of a new Spanish empire by the

end of the 1500’s.Stretched from the southern tip of

California to the tip of South America.

Thousands of colonists moved from Spain to settle in the New World.

Influenced religion, customs and trade.