Social Studies

The Aztecs originated as a nomadic tribe in northern Mexico

arrived in Mesoamerica around the beginning of the 13th century

aka Tenochca or Mexica their emblem is an eagle on a cactus with a snake on its mouth, which is also Mexico’s national emblem today

established the foundations of their capital city, Tenochtitlan, in 1325, in the middle of a lake northeast of Mexico city

The Aztec Empire Aztec people were warlike Itzcoatl ––– Aztec leader – in 1428, they formed an alliance with the Texcocans and the Tacubans to defeat their most powerful rival, the Tepanec, and conquer their capital of Azcaputzalco

in 1440, Montezuma (Moctezuma) I, successor of Itzcoatl, was a great warrior who was remembered as the “father” of the Aztec empire. He collected taxes from 371 tribes and became the richest Aztec emperor

Tenochtitlan, with more than 140,000 inhabitants by the 16th century, was the most populated city ever to exist in Mesoamerica

Itzcoatl Montezuma I

The Aztec Empire markets, such as Tenochtitlan’s Tlatelolco, drove Aztec’s economy

civilization was highly developed socially, intellectually, and artistically highly structured society with a strict caste system: nobles at the top, serfs at the bottom

mythology and religion were related for the Aztecs the founding of Tenochtitlan was based on the belief that people from Aztlan (“Land of White Herons” and origin of name Aztec) had first settled in the Valley of Mexico

the Aztec pantheon was a mix of older Mesoamerican gods and Mexica deities

two principal god worshipped: Huitzilopochtli (war & sun god) and Tlaloc (rain god)

both gods had a temple on the top of the Templo Mayor pyramid at the heart of Tenochtitlan

Valley of Mexico

Huitzilopochtl

iTlaloc

The Aztec Empire other important gods included: Tezcatlipoca (supreme god at Texcoco) Xiuhtecuhtli (god of fire) Ometeotl (creator god) Mictlantecuhtli (god of the dead) Quetzalcoatl (“feathered serpent” and white god)

the sun was a great significance for the Aztecs as they believed that the world went through a series of cosmic age

the cosmic progression was represented in the famous Sun Stone

Aztec Sun Stone

Aztec Empire as the Most Cruel Empire most cruel of all the American tribes cruelty extended to children, and even to royalty develop their strength and courage through human sacrifices and blood

believe that the Aztec king gave his blood as an offering to the gods in the pyramid temple, the same is expected from the queen

human sacrifices, even children, were required from the people. The sacrifice would walk before the crown in “the valley of the fallen” and climb the steps to the top of the temple and be executed

The Aztec Empire had knowledge of writing, language, math, and simple science

the Aztec language, Nahuatl, was the dominant language in central Mexico by the mid-1350s

they built pyramids and palaces they had plenty of silver and gold green jade was the most valuable as it was rare they had decorative arts in textiles, pottery, and jewelry

Aztec king was an absolute ruler

The Aztec Empire Aztec royalty enjoyed special treats not available to other people

for example, chocolate was regarded as a royal delicacy word ‘chocolate’ comes from the Aztec had a written calendar: famous stone calendars measuring 3.7 meters which is displayed in the National Museum in Mexico City

Aztec call their king, Tlatoani, meaning “speaker” controlled some 11 million people in 1515, they were heavily defeated by the Tlaxcala and Huexotzingo

during the rule of Cuahtemoc, Hernando Cortes, a Spaniard, conquered the empire on August 13, 1521

Cuahtemoc

Hernan Cortes

Timeline1200 – the Aztecs arrive in the Valley of Mexico

1325 – the city of Tenochtitlan is founded and becomes the capital of the Aztec Empire1375 – the first dominant ruler, Acamapichtli, comes into power1427 – Itzcoatl becomes the fourth ruler and founder of the Aztec Empire1428 – the Aztecs form a triple alliance with Texcocans and Tacubans to defeat Tepanecs1440 – Montezuma I becomes the fifth leader and his ruled marked the heights of the Aztec Empire1487 – the Templo Mayor (Great Temple of Tenochtitlan) is built1502 – Montezuma II becomes the ninth ruler

Acamapichtli

Montezuma II

Templo Mayor

Timeline1519 – Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes arrives

in Tenochtitlan. He is taken as an honored guest but later takes Montezuma II as prisoner1520 – Cuahtemoc becomes the tenth ruler of the Aztecs. Meanwhile, Cortes forms an alliance with Tlaxcala and attacks the Aztecs1521 – Cortes defeats the Aztecs and takes over the city of Tenochtitlan1522 – the Spanish begin to rebuild the city of Tenochtitlan then renames it to Mexico city and becomes the capital of New Spain

New Spain

Mexico City