1. What we think the Aztec capital might have looked like in 1400.
Aztec Culture
What we think the Aztec capital might have looked like in 1400.

2. Terms to Know Tenochititlan = Aztec capital, now part of Mexico City
Chinampas = “Floating Gardens”; mounds of soil built with swamp mud so they could farm in the lake
Polytheism = Belief in many gods

3. Aztec Farming (Chinampas)
Floating Gardens: made farming possible in the swamps of Lake Texcoco.

4. Ancient Structures of the Aztecs
The Aztecs were a people who lived in what is now Central Mexico. They first came to this region in the 1300s and dominated the region from the 1300s to the 1500s. Their religion included human and animal sacrifices. Their diet included a new food known as chocolate, made from fruit of the cacao tree.

5. Topic: Aztec Origins - Question: How did the Aztecs get to Mexico?
- Gods told them to move to Valley of Mexico in 1200’s and to look for an eagle, sitting on a cactus
- When arrived, other tribes already claimed the good land
- Finally saw the eagle in Lake Texcoco (near present day Mexico City), settled there, and began to build their capital city

6. Tenochtitlan (the capital)
Formed on an island
Easy to defend and protect
Soggy land made growing crops difficult, until they adapted

7. Lake Texcoco and Tenochtitlan

8. God that created the world
Aztec Gods
Quetzalcoatl Huitzilopochtli Tlaloc
God of Rain
God that created the world
God of Sun and War

9. Topic: Aztec Life Question: What was life like for the Aztec?
Brutal; most did not live to be 50
Built canals for trade and crops
Lake gave them fish, ducks, algae
Lake also protected them from attack

10. Food – Most Vegetarian. Included corn, beans, squash, apples, algae
Food – Most Vegetarian. Included corn, beans, squash, apples, algae. Starvation common during bad crop years.
Warfare – To protect, and defend nation. Training promoted, ranks kept it organized.
Education – 2 main schools run by priests. Boys learned warfare, girls learned motherly duties.
Recreation – Liked hard work, the little free time they had included music, board and ball games
Social Classes - Ruler on top, priests, warriors, traders, craftsmen, peasants, slaves.
Aztec Culture
Sacrifices – Done to please Gods by giving blood, hearts; most were prisoners honored to do it. How many? 4000/yr. Priests were cannibals!
Crime and Punishment – Gods liked good behavior, cages instead of jail, quick punishments.
Marriage – Arranged by parents, four days of feasting after ceremony, no divorce allowed, multiple wives OK