1. Environment & Lifestyle

2. Characteristics of Northwest Geography North Pacific Current flows west to east

3. Northwest High mountain ranges near coast – Cascades Cool, wet air coming from west Rainy

4. Northwest

5. Environment – High mountains near ocean – Rainy, wet – Rarely extreme cold – Fast flowing streams – Abundant fish (salmon) What do they do? What do they not do?

6. Northwest Rich natural environment – Fishing, hunting, some agriculture Wealth easy to obtain What cultural practices develop because of this?

7. Northwest Cultural Region Wealth = status symbol Potlatch – Parties with hosts giving gifts to guests – Redistribution of wealth – Not who has the most, but who can give away the most

8. Potlatch Held in winter Objects given away – Household goods (pots, pans) – Food – Blankets – Consumable goods, not wealth producing – Slaves (very wealthy)

9. Potlatch Objects often destroyed afterward Occasion often celebration

10. The Aztecs

11. Location

12. Environment High mountains to coast Desert to tropical Mexico City Weather: 2 seasons, dry and wet Temperatures: Winter 14 C, Summer 26 C

13. Geography Mexico City Elevation: 2200 m Located in valley Lake Texcoco Tenochtitlan (island)

14. Geography →Economy Good agricultural area Corn, beans, cocoa bean, spices (peppers) Hunting (geese, deer, rabbit) Domesticated dogs & turkeys

15. Foods Tortillas (corn-based) Fruits & vegetables Chocolate

16. Economy Abundance → high population, cities, advanced culture. Highly developed – most advanced in North A. Built irrigation system Barter system (used cocoa beans) – Turkey egg = 3 beans – Rabbit = 30 beans

17. Tenochtitlan Causeways connected to mainland

18. Class society City = 100,000 to 300,000 inhabitants Two social classes: nobility and commoners Ruler Priests / Warriors Commoners (artisans, merchants) Peasants Slaves

19. Social beliefs/religion Male-dominated society Established schools Huitzilopochtli - chief among gods (sun & war)

20. Human sacrifice

21. History - Aztecs Came from North (1200s?) Attacked by neighbors (1300) – Retreated to island/city Establish selves as empire (1420) Spanish arrive in 1521

22. Time of European Contact Aztecs were empire Invented writing system Arrival of Spanish accompanied by bad omens Defeat caused also by non-Spanish tribes

23. Questions for consideration Why was Mezo-American culture so advanced? Is glorification of Aztec culture justified? What happened to the people?

24. Thank you for your attention!