The AztecsThe Aztecs

The Aztec CivilizationThe Aztec Civilization•The Aztecs built their capital city, Tenochtitlán, in Tenochtitlán, in 1325.1325.•They built homes They built homes called Chinampas. called Chinampas. These were built on These were built on man made islands man made islands created with mud created with mud that had been piled that had been piled up.up.•They built bridges, They built bridges, roads, and canals roads, and canals and their city grew. and their city grew.

Everyday LifeEveryday Life The Aztecs made canoes and would The Aztecs made canoes and would

go fishing. They also grew food like go fishing. They also grew food like corn and raised animals, like corn and raised animals, like turkeys, to eat. turkeys, to eat.

The Aztecs also had traditional The Aztecs also had traditional plants and ointments that they plants and ointments that they would use as medicine.would use as medicine.

The Aztecs made their own clothes. The Aztecs made their own clothes.

Hernan CortezHernan Cortez•Cortez was an explorer sent by the governor of Cuba on a voyage. • He was chosen because he was an experienced explorer and was known for his courage. He also said that he would help fund the voyage and put all of his personal savings into the voyage.

Purpose of the VoyagePurpose of the VoyageThe governor of Cuba wanted more land and had heard a rumor of land being found. He wanted to send Cortez to find the land and claim it for the many Europeans who had begun to move to Cuba. The governor also thought that people in this new area could be converted into Christians. At the last minute the governor decided to cancel the voyage because he thought Cortez had other motives. Cortez set sail anyway!

Cortez's VoyageCortez's Voyage•Cortez had 11 ships, 400 men, and 16 horses. •The men on the ship were mostly poor Europeans who had come to Cuba for a new life. They were promised free land, but by the time they got to Cuba all of the land was taken. •When the Spanish men landed Cortez burned the ships.

MotezumaMotezuma Montezuma was the leader of the Montezuma was the leader of the

Aztecs. He believed that Cortez was Aztecs. He believed that Cortez was the descendant of a God who was the descendant of a God who was supposed to be coming back to rule supposed to be coming back to rule over the Aztecs. over the Aztecs.

Welcoming of Cortez Welcoming of Cortez Montezuma welcomed Cortez into Montezuma welcomed Cortez into

the city of the city of Tenochtitlán Tenochtitlán with open with open arms and gave him presents of arms and gave him presents of jewels and gold. The Aztecs also jewels and gold. The Aztecs also gave him and his men food. gave him and his men food.

In return Cortez captured In return Cortez captured Montezuma and held him as a Montezuma and held him as a prisoner. prisoner.

Cortez’s Letter to the Cortez’s Letter to the KingKing

Cortez had upset the governor of Cuba Cortez had upset the governor of Cuba and needed to get someone on his side. He and needed to get someone on his side. He wrote a letter to King Charles V and told wrote a letter to King Charles V and told him of the "ungodly ways" of the natives him of the "ungodly ways" of the natives and said that he was helping them rebel and said that he was helping them rebel against their tyrannical ruler.against their tyrannical ruler.

He also told the king that the Aztecs had a He also told the king that the Aztecs had a huge wealth and that he wanted to huge wealth and that he wanted to conquer their land in the name of conquer their land in the name of Christianity and the Spanish Crown.Christianity and the Spanish Crown.

Cortez’s PastCortez’s Past Cortez had gone on the voyage Cortez had gone on the voyage

without permission from the governor without permission from the governor of Cuba. As a result the governor sent of Cuba. As a result the governor sent him men to capture Cortez. him men to capture Cortez.

Cortez had to leave the city of Cortez had to leave the city of Tenochtitlán to meet them. Instead of Tenochtitlán to meet them. Instead of taking him back to Cuba the men were taking him back to Cuba the men were talked into helping Cortez. He told talked into helping Cortez. He told them of the gold that was to be found. them of the gold that was to be found.

Return to Return to Tenochtitlán Tenochtitlán When Cortez returned to the city he When Cortez returned to the city he

found that the men he left in charge found that the men he left in charge had brutally murdered hundreds of had brutally murdered hundreds of Aztecs. Aztecs.

The Aztecs had been in the middle of The Aztecs had been in the middle of a religious ceremony and had no a religious ceremony and had no weapons. The Spaniards had slashed weapons. The Spaniards had slashed the Aztecs hands and faces until they the Aztecs hands and faces until they were dead. were dead.

The Aztecs let Cortez back into the The Aztecs let Cortez back into the city. city.

At first the Aztecs were calm, but then At first the Aztecs were calm, but then they surrounded Cortez and his men they surrounded Cortez and his men and began to attack them. and began to attack them.

Cortez made Montezuma speak to the Cortez made Montezuma speak to the Aztecs to calm them. The Aztecs threw Aztecs to calm them. The Aztecs threw stones at Montezuma for being a stones at Montezuma for being a traitor and he later died. traitor and he later died.

DefeatDefeat Cortez and his men were forced to Cortez and his men were forced to

leave the city and it is said that he leave the city and it is said that he began to cry. The defeat of the began to cry. The defeat of the Spanish that night is known as The Spanish that night is known as The Sad Night. Sad Night.

Half of the Spanish men were killed.Half of the Spanish men were killed.

The Sad NightThe Sad Night

RevengeRevenge Cortez spent the next year building Cortez spent the next year building

up his forces. He talked members of up his forces. He talked members of other native tribes to join him. other native tribes to join him.

The he went back into the city of The he went back into the city of Tenochtitlán and killed over 40,000 Tenochtitlán and killed over 40,000 Aztecs. He also burnt or destroyed Aztecs. He also burnt or destroyed as much of the city as he could. as much of the city as he could.

Wall of Skulls in Wall of Skulls in TenochtitlánTenochtitlán

Tenochtitlán TodayTenochtitlán TodayToday Mexico City is built on top of the ruins of the Aztec land. There are still Aztecs in this area and they still have traditional ways of life. They farm, make their own clothes, and raise animals.