Aztec Empire

Warm up: 1.List 6 things you see in this picture 2. Who do you think painted this an Aztec or a Spaniard? Why?

Geography  Founded capital Tenochititlan -an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco (modern day Mexico city).  Moderate climate, interconnecting lakes, forest and wild game.  Mesoamerica (includes the southern part of Mexico and parts of Northern Central America.

Geography and Adaptation   Built raised roads across water or wet ground.  Used floating gardens called chinampas to produce food in swampy conditions.  They created canals for irrigation and transportation of goods and people.

Tenochtitlan Interesting Facts   City contained 80,000 to 250,000 people.   Canals served as roads for trade and travel between villages.   Markets- 60,000 people visited daily.   The Aztecs built huge pyramids, some lined with thousands of skulls.

Rise to Power: Warriors  Aztecs called themselves Mexica (meh-shee-ka)  Skilled warriors, one ruler ruled over Aztec Empire.  under the leader Monteczuma they expanded to 1/3 of Mexico- Mostly in South  Population of 25 million at peak   Grew stronger through war, tribute, and trade. Tribute– The Aztecs made neighboring tribes pay them in order to not be attacked. Neighboring tribes “paid tribute” but, with good reason they did not like being bullied. This will effect the Aztecs in the future.

Monteczuma :Warriors

Religion: Polytheism (many gods)  Worshiped gods of sun, rain, moon etc.  KEY POINT: The Aztecs predicted that Quetzalcoatl (ket-sahl-koh-aht-l) (serpent god of creation) would return in early 1500s.

Religion:Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl - ket-sahl-koh-aht-l

Religion: Quetzalcoatl & Sacrifice  ket-sahl-koh-aht-l  Attempted to please gods, by human sacrifices.  Military Deterrent: Sacrifices used as intimidation to the people and other tribes  Typical sacrifices would take place on top of a high temple.  Aztec sacrificed about 10,000 people. 10,000 people.

Famine and Sacrifice   In 1450, a famine occurred due to poor weather bad farming conditions.   The Aztec priests began to make many sacrifices to the gods. They work. Why?   Not enough food = More sacrifices = Less people to feed…Maybe? Who knows

Sacrifice

Social Structure  Royal family ruled all, wives held high positions and respect  Nobles- priest, military officers, and government leaders  Merchants- imported the goods  Commoners/Serfs- worked in the fields  Slaves- people could be sold into slavery Royal Family Nobles Merchants Commoners/Serfs Slaves

Hernan Cortez and the Spanish   He was a Spanish Conquistador that learned about the Aztecs and their riches.   He knew he would have to conquer them to rule Mexico.   Other native tribes were tired of paying tribute to the Aztecs and joined Cortez.   When he arrives Moctezuma II thinks that he is Quezalcoatl.   They invite him to the capital Tenochititlan.   Cortez jailed Monteczuma.

Hernan Cortez

Hernan Cortez and the Spanish   The Aztecs fight them off, but the Spaniards leave behind small pox.   Two years later Cortez returns and defeats the Aztecs. Only 2 million Aztecs survive.   In 1521 the Aztecs finally surrender  

Analyzing A Primary Source:  Based on what you have learned, who do you think said the following quote?

“As we took them by surprise, they were easy to disperse, especially because I had imprisoned their leaders. I ordered some towers and fortified houses from which they were attacking us to be set on fire. And so I proceeded through the city fighting for five hours …Finally all the people were driven out of the city in many directions, for some five thousand Indians from Tascalteca and another four hundred from Cempoal were assisting me.” Hernan Cortez in a letter to Emperor Carlos V.