The AztecsThe Aztecs

The AztecsThe Aztecs A tribe of hunters and farmers A tribe of hunters and farmers

who migrated to the shores of who migrated to the shores of Lake Texcoco in the 1200s.Lake Texcoco in the 1200s.

Founded Tenochtitlan in 1325.Founded Tenochtitlan in 1325.

Empire borders stretched from Empire borders stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and as far south Pacific Ocean and as far south as Guatemala.as Guatemala.

Became a powerful tribe that Became a powerful tribe that was skilled in the art of war.was skilled in the art of war.

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan Capital city of the Aztec Capital city of the Aztec

empire.empire. Most modern city of the Most modern city of the

time.time. Empire grew to more than Empire grew to more than

5 million at its peak.5 million at its peak.

Built on an island, in Lake Built on an island, in Lake Texcoco, that had been Texcoco, that had been enlarged until it was two enlarged until it was two square miles.square miles.

Had a population of half a Had a population of half a million people.million people.

The city was connected The city was connected to the mainland by three to the mainland by three causeways/bridges.causeways/bridges.

Divided into four districts.Divided into four districts.

Modern day Mexico City Modern day Mexico City is built over the ruins of is built over the ruins of Tenochtitlan.Tenochtitlan.

Aztec WarfareAztec Warfare

Aztecs conquered surrounding tribes and forced Aztecs conquered surrounding tribes and forced them to pay large tributes.them to pay large tributes. Tribute = TaxesTribute = Taxes

Conquering other tribes allowed the Aztecs to Conquering other tribes allowed the Aztecs to gain wealth and slaves for sacrifice.gain wealth and slaves for sacrifice.

The conquered peoples were not happy and The conquered peoples were not happy and were easily convinced to revolt against the were easily convinced to revolt against the Aztecs.Aztecs.

Aztec GovernmentAztec Government

As the civilization grew, they formed city-As the civilization grew, they formed city-states that were governed by an emperor.states that were governed by an emperor.

A council of nobles always chose the A council of nobles always chose the emperor from members of the royal family.emperor from members of the royal family. The most important emperor was Montezuma.The most important emperor was Montezuma.

MontezumaMontezuma Became emperor in 1502.Became emperor in 1502.

Built many temples, water Built many temples, water conduits, and hospitals.conduits, and hospitals.

Expanded the empire as far south Expanded the empire as far south as Honduras.as Honduras.

Even though the other Even though the other conquered tribes disliked him, conquered tribes disliked him, he was thought of as a great he was thought of as a great ruler by the Aztecs. ruler by the Aztecs.

Brought the Spaniards to Brought the Spaniards to Tenochtitlan.Tenochtitlan.

ReligionReligion Polytheistic – many godsPolytheistic – many gods

Each village and each occupation had its own patron Each village and each occupation had its own patron god.god.

Worshipped over 60 gods and goddesses – some Worshipped over 60 gods and goddesses – some helpful, some harmful.helpful, some harmful.

To win favor from the helpful gods, the Aztecs made To win favor from the helpful gods, the Aztecs made offerings to them.offerings to them.

Sometime these offerings were human sacrifices.Sometime these offerings were human sacrifices.

Pyramids were used as Temples.Pyramids were used as Temples. Sacrifices were made on an altar at the top of the Sacrifices were made on an altar at the top of the

pyramid.pyramid. Blood would run down the steps.Blood would run down the steps.

Most sacrificial victims were prisoners of war.Most sacrificial victims were prisoners of war.

Quetzalcoatl – God of learning and the priesthood, also god of arts and crafts

Tlaloc – 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 CivilizationAdvanced Civilization

Aztecs had . . . Aztecs had . . . Mathematical system to maintain their empireMathematical system to maintain their empire Calendar systems to organize their empireCalendar systems to organize their empire Farming system was very efficientFarming system was very efficient

Developed irrigation systems to help their crops grow Developed irrigation systems to help their crops grow during dry periods.during dry periods.

Aztec CalendarAztec Calendar

Used two types of calendars.Used two types of calendars. Lunar = based on the moon Lunar = based on the moon Solar = based on the sunSolar = based on the sun

The lunar calendar had 260 days The lunar calendar had 260 days Divided into 13 months, each month having 20 days.Divided into 13 months, each month having 20 days.

The Lunar calendar was considered magical and The Lunar calendar was considered magical and used to decide which days would be used for used to decide which days would be used for religious ceremonies and rituals.religious ceremonies and rituals.

Aztec CalendarAztec Calendar The solar calendar had 365 days The solar calendar had 365 days

Divided into 18 months, each month having 20 days.Divided into 18 months, each month having 20 days. This calendar helped them determine planting and This calendar helped them determine planting and

harvesting times.harvesting times.

The extra five days were “nothing” days added to The extra five days were “nothing” days added to the end of each year and were considered unlucky.the end of each year and were considered unlucky. No activities were performed during the “nothing” days.No activities were performed during the “nothing” days. At the end of the 5 days the Aztecs gave a sacrificial At the end of the 5 days the Aztecs gave a sacrificial

victim to the gods.victim to the gods.

Lunar Calendar

Solar Calendar

Aztec Calendar Stone * Discovered in 1790 * 12 feet in diameter and weighs 20 tons

Aztec CalendarThe 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.

ArtArt Art used religious subjects and themes.Art used religious subjects and themes.

The best remaining examples of Aztec art The best remaining examples of Aztec art are architecture and sculpture.are architecture and sculpture.

Used stone, wood, jade, turquoise, Used stone, wood, jade, turquoise, metal, emerald, and volcanic glass.metal, emerald, and volcanic glass.

Most Aztec gold treasures no longer exist Most Aztec gold treasures no longer exist as they were taken and melted down to as they were taken and melted down to reuse the gold.reuse the gold.

Many buildings and pieces of artwork Many buildings and pieces of artwork were destroyed by the Spanish.were destroyed by the Spanish.

Aztecs also made pottery and woven cloth.Aztecs also made pottery and woven cloth.

Aztec SportsAztec Sports Tlachtli is a ball game that was played during religious Tlachtli is a ball game that was played during religious

ceremonies.ceremonies.

Court RequirementsCourt Requirements Played on a court. In the shape of a capital “Played on a court. In the shape of a capital “II.”.” A vertical stone ring was in the middle of the side walls.A vertical stone ring was in the middle of the side walls.

The object of the game was to put the ball through the The object of the game was to put the ball through the ring. ring.

They used a hard, rubber ball. This ball could only be moved by They used a hard, rubber ball. This ball could only be moved by the players’ hips, knees, legs, and elbows.the players’ hips, knees, legs, and elbows.

This game was used to determine who was to be This game was used to determine who was to be sacrificed next.sacrificed next.

THE WINNERS!!!!THE WINNERS!!!!

AgricultureAgriculture Slash and burn method.Slash and burn method.

Terraces and CanalsTerraces and Canals

Chinampas were small islands formed Chinampas were small islands formed in lake and swamp area.in lake and swamp area.

Made by digging mud at the bottom Made by digging mud at the bottom of the lake or swamp and piling it of the lake or swamp and piling it into little mounds. into little mounds.

Sometimes called floating gardens, Sometimes called floating gardens, even though they did not really even though they did not really float.float.

Common foodsCommon foods Corn (Maize), beans, squashCorn (Maize), beans, squash Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, papayas, Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, papayas, Rubber, cotton and cacao beansRubber, cotton and cacao beans

LanguageLanguage Had no alphabet.Had no alphabet.

Wrote in glyphs (pictures).Wrote in glyphs (pictures).

Paper was made from the bark of Paper was made from the bark of the wild fig tree. the wild fig tree.

The bark was soaked and The bark was soaked and beaten into sheets. beaten into sheets.

These sheets were coated with These sheets were coated with a varnish and stuck together. a varnish and stuck together.

They were then folded like an They were then folded like an accordion (codex).accordion (codex).

Spoke Nahuatl.Spoke Nahuatl.

Some Aztec words Some Aztec words Acapulco, Mexico, avocado, Acapulco, Mexico, avocado,

chocolate, and tomato.chocolate, and tomato.

The END of the AztecsThe END of the Aztecs 15191519

Spanish conquistador Hernan Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes lands on eastern coast Cortes lands on eastern coast of Mexico looking for goldof Mexico looking for gold

• Conquistador = Spanish Conquistador = Spanish explorer or soldierexplorer or soldier

Had 11 ships, 500 soldiers, Had 11 ships, 500 soldiers, 1000 sailors and 16 horses1000 sailors and 16 horses

In order to prevent his men In order to prevent his men from leaving, he burned his from leaving, he burned his ships. ships.

• Success or death.Success or death.

Cortes trained his men and Cortes trained his men and nearby natives that disliked the nearby natives that disliked the Aztecs. Aztecs.

By the time he reached By the time he reached Tenochtitlan, he had 1500 Tenochtitlan, he had 1500 fighters . . . 1000 were fighters . . . 1000 were natives. natives.

Cortes & the AztecsCortes & the Aztecs The Aztecs saw Cortes and his men, and The Aztecs saw Cortes and his men, and

believed that he was an Aztec god, believed that he was an Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, who had returned to earth.Quetzalcoatl, who had returned to earth.

He was taken back to Montezuma (emperor) He was taken back to Montezuma (emperor) and Tenochtitlan, where he saw what he called and Tenochtitlan, where he saw what he called “the city of gold”.“the city of gold”.

Cortes was given gold in the hopes that he Cortes was given gold in the hopes that he would take the gifts and leave. would take the gifts and leave.

After two years of struggle, Cortes and the After two years of struggle, Cortes and the Spanish were able to defeat the Aztecs in 1521.Spanish were able to defeat the Aztecs in 1521.

During this time, Montezuma was a prisoner During this time, Montezuma was a prisoner in his own palace.in his own palace.

Cortes hoped he could rule the Aztecs if he Cortes hoped he could rule the Aztecs if he kept their leader hostage. kept their leader hostage.

240,000 Aztecs were killed, and the city was 240,000 Aztecs were killed, and the city was destroyed.destroyed.

How were the Spanish able to How were the Spanish able to conquer the Aztecs so easily?conquer the Aztecs so easily?

GunsGuns

CannonsCannons

HorsesHorses Thought the men and their Thought the men and their

horses were one creature.horses were one creature.

European diseasesEuropean diseases SmallpoxSmallpox 1520 – thousands died1520 – thousands died

The Aztec enemies helped the The Aztec enemies helped the SpanishSpanish

Life after the AztecsLife after the Aztecs

Major consequence of the Spanish conflict with the Major consequence of the Spanish conflict with the Aztecs . . . Aztecs . . . Creation of a new Spanish empire by the end of the Creation of a new Spanish empire by the end of the

1500’s.1500’s. Stretched from the southern tip of California to Stretched from the southern tip of California to

the tip of South America. the tip of South America.

Thousands of colonists moved from Spain to settle in Thousands of colonists moved from Spain to settle in the New World. the New World.

Influenced religion, customs and trade.Influenced religion, customs and trade.