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.

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 craftsTlaloc – 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 Calendar

The 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.

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.

Common 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).

Spoke Nahuatl.

Some Aztec words

Acapulco, Mexico, avocado, chocolate, and tomato.

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 trained his men and

nearby natives that disliked the

Aztecs.

By the time he reached

Tenochtitlan, he had 1500

fighters . . . 1000 were

natives.

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.

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.

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.