1. The Aztecs Control Central America

2. Through alliances and conquest, the Aztecs created a powerful empire in Mexico
This empire was located in what is modern Mexico City today

3. The Valley of Mexico Mountain basin 7,500’ above sea level
Large lakes and fertile soil
Originally inhabited by the Teotihuacan (200 B.C.-700 )and Toltec ( ) civilizations

4. Teotihuacan: An early city-state
“Place of the Gods”
City-state outside of modern Mexico City; thought to be peaceful
200,000 inhabitants at its height
Busy trade center: obsidian (volcanic glass) is most valuable trade item
Used to make sharp weapons
“Avenue of the Dead” lined w/ temples & palaces
“Pyramid of the Sun” was 200’ tall & larger at base than Egypt’s Great Pyramid
Power and wealth based on trade
City declines and abandoned by 750

5. Toltecs Take Over 900-1200 A warlike people, they rule by conquest
They worship fierce war god and offer human sacrifices
Toltec ruler Topiltzin tries to change religion, end
human sacrifice
Encourages worship of Quetzalcoatl
“Feathered Serpent”—a new peaceful god
Followers of the war god rebelled forcing Topiltzin and his followers into exile
The god, Quetzalcoatl, also sent into exile to the east leaving in a raft of snakes
According to legend, Quetzalcoatl would return one day, bringing a new reign of light and peace

6. Legend of the Aztecs
12th c. the nomads migrated to the Valley of Mexico from northern Mexico
People drove them into snake-infested region
Legend says that the sun god, Huitzilpochtli, told them that when they saw an eagle standing on a prickly pear cactus growing out of a rock, their journey would end
Mexican sculpture remembering the moments when Aztecs found the sign for Tenochtitlan . The sculpture is near the Zocalo, in Pino Suarez Street, Historical Center, Mexico City. Mexico.

7. “The place where the eagle screams, where he spreads his wings; the place where he feeds, where the fish jump, where the serpents coil up and hiss! This shall be Mexico Tenochtitlan and many things shall happen!”
Croninca Mexicayotl

8. Founding of Tenochtitlan
1325 under attack, they were driven into swamps and islands of Lake Texcoco
On one of the islands, saw an eagle standing on the prickly pear cactus on a rock
Built their city: Tenochtitlan
Built roadways of stone across Lake Texcoco to link islands & mainland
200,000 people at height
Palaces, temples, markets, residential areas
Other cities formed around the lake
Great Temple was main structure in city

9. Tenochtitlan: A Planned City
Causeways connect island city to mainland areas
Canals enable people to carry goods to city and
its huge main market
Chinampas, floating islands, used to grow crops
Central area has palaces, temples, government
buildings

10. Aztecs Grow Stronger
Triple Alliance—1428 agreement of Aztec and two other city-states
By early 1500s, Aztecs have large empire and rule 5–15 million people
Power comes from tribute resulting from conquests
In form of gold, maize, cacao beans, cotton
Failure to pay resulted in Aztec brutality

11. Nobles Rule Aztecs Emperor Noble class Commoners: Lowest class:
Power is absolute
Lives in palace
Revered
Noble class
Military leaders, officials, priests—rules Aztec society
Nobles own vast estates, live life of wealth and luxury
Commoners:
Merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers
Lowest class:
Enslaved people

12. Aztec Writing

13. Aztec Calendar Derived from the Maya 2 main calendars
Religious: 13 months of 20 days
Solar: 18 months of 20 days w/ 5 day period
Every 52 years, the 2 calendars started on same day & marked by ceremony of fire

14. Religion: The Center of Aztec Life
Major role in Aztec society
Over 1,000 gods, many adopted from others Mesoamerican peoples
Center of religion is public ceremonies to win gods’ favor
Priests make offerings, ritual dramas, songs, dance by masked performers
Many religious festivals throughout year

15. Sacrifices for the Sun God
Sun god: Huitzilopochtli
The god needed to be nourished w/ human blood in order for sun to rise
Human sacrifice carried out on massive scale
1,000s of prisoners of war led to the altar atop the Great Temple where priests carved out their hearts using obsidian knives (as many as 200,000 a year)
Aztec warriors used battle tactics designed to provide live prisoners of war

16. How might ordinary Aztecs have felt about the blood sacrifices to Huitzilopochtli (picture at right)?

17. Problems in the Aztec Empire
In 1502, Montezuma II was crowned emperor
Beloved ruler, great orator
He demands more tribute and sacrificial victims from his provinces which leads to rebellion
In 1519, the Spanish arrive (the year the far-skinned Quetzalcoatl was supposed to return from the east and claim the Aztec Empire)
1480?-1520

18. The Arrival of the Spanish
5’4” tall, bow-legged, thin
1519 Cortes w/ 600 men reach Tenochtitlan where he is welcomed as the armor-clad god,Queztlcoatl
Cortes burned his ships to keep his men from turning back
Montezuma II offers him gifts of gold & his palace to stay
Cortes forces Aztecs to mine more gold & silver to “appease his heart that only gold can cure”
The meeting of Montezuma II and Cortes

19. Montezuma II speaking to Cortes
“Throughout all time we have worshipped our own gods and thought that they were good. I do not doubt the goodness of the god whom you worship, but if he is good for Spain, our gods are equally good for Mexico, so do not trouble to speak to us any more about them at present.”

20. Rebellion of the Aztecs
In 1520, the Aztecs rebel against the Spanish and drive them out
During a speech, Montezuma II tries to convince his subjects to make peace with the Spanish
The crowd denounced him as a traitor
He is stoned to death by his people

21. Fall of the Aztec Empire
1521, Cortes and his men return & conquer the Aztecs
They destroy pyramids, temples, palaces & use the stone to build gov’t bldgs and churches
The rivers & canals were filled in

22. Aztec Flag
Individually or Partners, Create a flag to symbolize the importance of the Aztecs Central America.
At least one symbol representing something important about the arrival of the Aztecs in the Valley of Mexico.
At least one symbol repsenting something important about their capital city Tenochtitlan.
At least one symbol representing something important about how they conquered and ruled their neighbors.
A variety of colors symbolizing the strength and signifcance of the Aztecs.
No more than a five word motto for the flag.
One paragraph explaining each symbol of the flag.

23. Guided Reading
2. The Aztecs joined two other city-states to form a Triple Alliance. Why?
They waged war to gain control over neighboring regions.

24. 3. In Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, the Aztecs built hundreds of temples and religious structures dedicated to the gods. Why?
Worshiped many gods; religion played a major role in Aztec society

25. 4. Aztec engineers built three causeways over water and marshland. Why?
They needed to connect the island site of Tenochtitlan to the mainland.

26. 5. Aztec priests sacrificed humans atop the Great Temple. Why?
The Aztecs believed that without regular offerings of blood, the sun god would not make the sun rise and all life would perish.

27. 6. The Aztecs built a calendar in the main ceremonial plaza of Tenochtitlan. Why?
They needed a way to keep track of when they had to perform varied religious rituals and public ceremonies honoring the many gods.

28. 7. Some of the conquered provinces rebelled against Aztec rule. Why?
The Aztecs had been demanding more and more tribute and sacrificial victims from the surrounding lands under their control and meet the demands of the growing population.