expanding the empire. expanding through trade their long trek to find their sacred homeland left the...
TRANSCRIPT
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