Aztec Empire

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Aztec Empire
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Geography

• Founded capital Tenochtitlan -an island in the
  middle of Lake Texcoco (modern day Mexico city)
• Moderate climate, interconnecting lakes, forest
  and wild game
• Mesoamerica (includes the southern part of Mexico
  and parts of northern Central America)

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Geography and Adaptation

• Built raised roads across water or wet ground
• Used floating gardens called chinampas to
  produce food in swampy conditions
• They created canals for irrigation and
  transportation of goods and people

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Tenochtitlan Interesting Facts

• City contained 80,000 to 250,000 people
• Canals served as roads for trade and travel
  between villages
• Markets- 60,000 people visited daily
• Huge pyramids, some lined with thousands of
  skulls

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Rise to Power Warriors

• Aztecs called themselves Mexica (meh-hee-ka)
• They were skilled warriors
• One ruler ruled over the Aztec Empire
• under the leader Moctezuma they expanded to 1/3
  of southern Mexico
• Population of 25 million at peak
• Grew stronger through war, tribute, and trade

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Moctezuma Warriors
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Religion Polytheism (many gods)

• Worshiped gods of sun, rain, moon etc.
• KEY POINT The Aztecs predicted that Quetzalcoatl
  (serpent god of creation) would return in early
  1500s
• www.youtube.com/watch?vpxxkX7BjojY

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Religion Quetzalcoatl
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Religion Sacrifice

• Attempted to please gods, by human sacrifices
• Military Deterrent Sacrifices used as
  intimidation to the people and other tribes
• Typical sacrifices would take place on top of a
  high temple
• Aztec sacrificed about
• 10,000 people

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Famine and Sacrifice

• In 1450, a famine occurred due to poor weather
  bad farming conditions
• the Aztec priests began to make many sacrifices
  to the gods
• They work. Why?
• Not enough food More sacrifices Less people
  to feedMaybe? Who knows for sure.

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Pictures of Sacrifice
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Aztec Social Structure

• Royal family One Ruler Ruled, wives held high
  positions and respect
• Nobles- priest, military officers, and government
  leaders
• Merchants- imported the goods
• Commoners/Serfs- worked in the fields
• Slaves- people could be sold into slavery

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Hernan Cortez

• Spanish Conquistador
• Learned about the Aztecs and their riches
• Knew he would have to conquer them to rule Mexico

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Hernan Cortez and the Spanish

• Other native tribes were tired of paying tribute
  to the Aztecs and joined Cortez
• When he arrives Moctezuma II thinks that he is
  Quezalcoatl
• They invite him to the capital Tenochititlan
• Cortez jails Monteczuma

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Hernan Cortez and the Spanish

• The Aztecs fight them off, but the Spaniards
  leave behind small pox
• Cortez returns and defeats them only 2 million
  Aztecs survive
• In 1521 the Aztecs finally surrender

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Small Pox

• fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting and
  severe muscle aches
• A rash follows that spreads and progresses to
  raised bumps that crust, scab, and fall off after
  about three weeks, leaving a pitted scar.
• 30-50 fatality rate

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Different PerspectiveSlide 1 1.List 6 things
you see in this picture2. Who do you think
painted this an Aztec or a Spaniard? Why?
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Slide 2 1) Why do you think that the man on the
horse is light while everyone else is dark? 2)
Who do you think that this person on the horse
is?
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Slide 3 1) What is going on in this picture? 2)
Who do you think painted this and why?
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Slide 4 1) Describe 5 things that you see in
this photo. 2) How is the story in this painting
different than slide 1 and 2?