Aztecs Chapter 16

Map

Geography Settled in a swampy area in the middle of Lake Texcoco Built a magnificent capital, Tenochititilan Island 3 Major things that made them rise to power: War: fierce fighters Tribute: payment (from the people they conquered) Trade: controlled a huge trade network All of these gave them power, strength, and $$

Geography Causeways: raised road that allowed them to go to and from the city. Canals: crisscrossed the city These two things helped travel and trade Island

Farming Floating gardens: chinampas Soil on top of rafts and tied to trees in the water

Social Structure Emperor: highest, most important Nobles: helped the emperor (tax collection; government officials) Warriors/Priests: priest led religious events/ceremonies; priests kept the calendars; warriors respected privileges Merchants/Artisans: traders; craftsmen Farmers/Laborers: paid high tax; poor Slaves: struggled to survive

Religion Polytheistic (many Gods) Human sacrifice

Achievements Stone pyramids Studied astronomy and calendar was made Record keeping Oral tradition: riddles

Additional Information The Spanish soldiers that arrived in the Americas in the late 1400s were called conquistadors. They were led by a Spanish explorer named Hernan Cortes. The Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II, was taken prisoner and later killed by the Spaniards.

Cortes defeats the Aztecs Factors that helped Cortes and his men defeat the Aztecs: Native American tribes who resented the Aztecs’ harsh rule allied with Cortes Spanish had better weapons Brought deadly diseases like smallpox