The Aztecs Legacy

by Octavio Martinez

Who were the Aztecs?

• American indigenous people• An ethnic group who settled in the

central valley of Mexico• One of the most important and

advanced pre-Hispanic civilizations in the Americas

• Their empire was destroyed during the Spanish Conquest

Pre-Hispanic Civilizations

• Maya civilization– Oldest and lengthiest – Peak (AD 250 to 900)

• Inca civilization– Greatest in extension– Peak (AD 1438 to 1533)

• Aztec civilization– Largest capital– Peak (AD 1325 to 1521)

History of Mexico

• Three major periods: pre-Hispanic, Spanish Colony and independent nation

• Three major civil wars: Conquest, Independence and Revolution

Aztecs Spanish Colony MexicoModernMexico

Conquest Independence Revolution

1325 1519 1810 1910

time

Origin of the Aztecs

• Ancestors were semi-nomad tribes wandering areas of southern USA and northern Mexico

• Their ethnic group was called Nahuas who spoke nahuatl dialect

• Aztecs is a nahuatl word meaning “people from Aztlan”

Legacy: Nahuatls

• 30% of the total population has direct indigenous inheritance

• There are 2.5 million Nahua living in Mexico

• Nahuatl is spoken by 1.5 million people

• Most of Nahuas live in the central states of Mexico

Huitzilopochtli myth• Main Aztec God• God of the Sun and

War• Means “left-handed

hummingbird”• Son of Coatlicue• Brother of

Coyolxauhqui and the 400 surians

• “Guided” nahuas to the promised land

Legacy: Coyolxauhqui Stone Disk

• Found in 1978 during the excavations for new metro line, next to the National Palace and Cathedral

• A stone with a shape of a disk weighing 8 tons and 3.25m of diameter

Aztec Pilgrimage

• Travelled south of Aztlan looking for the promised land to build a powerful empire

• There were already other tribes living in the valley and had confrontations

• Discovered the abandoned city of Teotihuacan– Followed architectural style– Adopted Gods (Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc)

Legacy: Ancient City

• Teotihuacan stands for “Birthplace of the Gods”

• Built by Toltecas (100 BC-250 AD) and later abandoned (700 AD)

• It is located 50 km north east of Mexico City

• Highlights are pyramids of the sun and moon and temple of Quetzalcoatl

Foundation of Tenochtitlan

• Originally an island in Lake Texcoco

• Founded in AD 1325 • Location was

signalled by an ancient prophecy

• Its name means “Among the prickly pears that grow in the rocks”

Legacy: National Identity• The location of the Great

City would be signaled by an eagle eating a snake while standing on a prickly pear cactus

• Legend represents the Coat of arms of the Mexican flag

• Name of the country derives from the nahua tribe that came from Aztlan, the MEXIcas

• CO is a nahuatl word meaning place or city

City of Tenochtitlan

• The main city was built on an island within a lake

• City was connected to mainland via 4 causeways

• Streets were wide and straight

• Population was around 200,000 people

• People transported in canoes

Legacy: Mexico City

• Rebuilt after the Conquest following Spanish architectural standards

• In 1585 AD changed its name to Mexico City

• Mexico City’s downtown lies over Tenochtitlan

• One of the largest cities in the world with over 20 million people

City of Tenochtitlan • Extended with

“Chinampas” or floating gardens for agriculture needs

• In the centre, there were palaces, public buildings and schools

• Schools were divided in “Calmecac” for nobility and “Telpochcalli” for common people

• Army was compulsory and had ranks according to achievements

Legacy: Xochimilco Lake

• Located in the southern suburbs of Mexico City

• Remainder of what used to be the massive Texcoco Lake

• System of canals for colorful boats named “trajineras”

• Some chinampas have been recreated

Aztec Cuisine

• The basic ingredients were corn, beans, zucchini and chilli

• Tlaxcalli or Tortilla was always accompanying meals

• Meat was usually Hueyxolotl (turkey), Xoloitzcuintli (dog), iguana and fish

• Main drinks included Pulque (fermented maguey) and Atolli (corn porridge)

Legacy: Xocolatl

• Consumed as early as 1900 BC in Mexico• Aztecs used it in religious events• Cacao beans were accepted as currency• Taken by the Spaniards to Europe to mix it with sugar

and milk

Government

• Ruled by a king called “Tlatoani” who represented God and “Huetlatoani” or next level governors.

• A tribute system was established in which 32 provinces contributed and 27 only with consent

• Tenochtitlan joined Texcoco and Tlacopan to form the “Triple Alliance” thus becoming the Aztec Empire

Aztec Calendar

• The most famous stone of the Aztec empire

• Consisted of a 365-day calendar and a 260-day ritual calendar

• Altogether they form 52 years

• For every 52 years a new sun will rule the Universe

Ritual Calendar

• 20 day signs• 13 day

coefficients• 20x13 = 260

days• Each 13-day set

was associated with a deity

• For example 1-jaguar to 13-death is Quetzalcoatl

Aztec Gods

• There were more than 100 Aztec Gods

• Gods were mainly associated with nature elements

• Other Gods were related to human stages, activities and feelings

• Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc were main Gods

Human Sacrifices

• Required to preserve the balance of the Universe

• Aztec Gods fed on human hearts and blood

• After the sacrifice, bones and skin were honored and decorated

• Respectful death was also considered during war or while giving birth

Legacy: Templo Mayor

• One of the main Aztec temples in Tenochtitlan

• Destroyed by the Spanish and covered over by a new city

• Excavations in the early 20th century unveiled it

• Templo Mayor was used for sacrifices

The Conquest• Aztecs had

premonitions of bad times coming ahead

• Spanish conquistadores arrived in the east coast of Mexico

• Strategy, alliances with rivals and deceases, causes of Aztec defeat

• Spanish conquered Tenochtitlan in 2 years

To know more…• Visit Teotihuacan,

Anthropology museum, Xochimilco and Templo Mayor in Mexico City

• Books: “The True History of the Conquest of New Spain” by Bernal Diaz del Castillo and “The Broken Spears” by Miguel Leon Portilla

• Movie “Apocalipto”