1. Chapter 15 – The Aztec and Inca Empires Section Notes The Aztec Empire Aztec Life and Society The Inca Empire Inca Life and Society Video Mesoamerican Achievements in Science and Math History Close-up Tenochtitlán Machu Picchu Images Linking to Today: Preserving Food Quick Facts People in Aztec Society Chapter 15 Visual Summary Maps The Aztec Empire, 1519 The Inca Empire, 1530 Inca Roads Lake Texcoco Assessment Map

2. The Aztec Empire The Big Idea The Aztecs built a great empire in central Mexico but were conquered by the Spanish in 1521. Main Ideas The Aztecs built an empire through warfare and trade and created an impressive capital city in Mesoamerica. Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire. 7.7.1 7.7.3

3. Main Idea 1: The Aztecs built an empire through warfare and trade and created an impressive capital city in Mesoamerica. The first Aztecs were farmers, but when they arrived in Central America, all the good farmland was taken. To survive, they had to hire themselves out as warriors.

4. The Aztecs’ Rise to Power War was the key factor in the Aztecs’ rise to power. The Aztecs built alliances, or partnerships, to build their empire. The Aztecs made the people they conquered pay tribute, or give them cotton, gold, or food. The Aztecs controlled a huge trade network. Markets drew buyers and sellers from all over the Aztec Empire. By the early 1500s the Aztecs had the most powerful state in Mesoamerica.

5. Tenochtitlán Tenochtitlán was the capital of the Aztec Empire. It was built in the middle of a lake, on an island. The Aztecs built causeways, or raised roads across water or wet ground, so people could access the city. The Aztecs built stone canals to bring water to the city and floating gardens to raise food and flowers. The city had huge temples, a busy market, clean streets, and magnificent palaces. It was the greatest city in the Americas during the time of the Aztecs.

6. Main Idea 2: Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire. In the late 1400s Spanish explorers and soldiers arrived in the Americas. The soldiers, or conquistadors, came to explore new lands, search for gold, and spread the Catholic religion.

7. Cortés and Moctezuma A small group of conquistadors led by Cortés reached Mexico in 1519. Moctezuma II, the Aztec leader, believed that Cortés was a god. Moctezuma sent Cortés gifts, including gold. Cortés wanted more gold, so he went to Moctezuma. Cortés took Moctezuma prisoner. The other Aztecs attacked Cortés and his men. The Spanish were driven out, but Moctezuma was killed. Cortés returned with many Indian allies and in 1521 they defeated the Aztecs and ended their empire.

8. Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs Alliances The Spanish had made allies in the region who gave them supplies, information, and warriors. Weapons The Spanish had better weapons than the Aztecs. They had cannons, armor, swords, and horses that the Aztecs did not have. Geography The Spanish were able to cut off the capital city. The people had no food or water, so many Aztecs died of starvation. Disease The Spanish had unknowingly brought deadly diseases such as smallpox to the Americas. These diseases killed the Aztecs, who had never been exposed to such diseases.

9. Aztec Life and Society The Big Idea The Aztecs developed complex social, religious, artistic, and scientific systems in their empire. Main Ideas Aztec society was divided by roles and by class. The Aztec religion required human sacrifice to keep the gods happy. The Aztecs had many achievements in science, art, and language. 7.7.2 7.7.4 7.7.5

10. Main Idea 1: Aztec society was divided by social roles and by class. People in Aztec society had clearly defined roles. These roles, along with social class, determined how Aztec men and women lived. They had four distinct social classes. –Kings and nobles –Priests and warriors –Merchants and artisans –Farmers and slaves

11. Classes of Aztec Society: Kings and Nobles The king was the most powerful person in Aztec society. The king was in charge of law, trade and tribute, and warfare. The king had nobles to help him manage the kingdom. The nobles were tax collectors and judges as well as other jobs. They passed their titles down from father to son.

12. Classes of Aztec Society: Warriors and Priests The priests had a great deal of influence over the lives of the Aztecs. The priests had many duties, including keeping calendars to decide when to plant crops and hold religious ceremonies. Aztec warriors also had many duties. They fought to capture victims for religious sacrifices. They also brought great wealth to the empire. The warriors were very well respected by the Aztecs.

13. Classes of Aztec Society: Merchants and Artisans Merchants gathered goods from all over the empire and sold them in the main market. Many merchants were very wealthy and used their money to build large houses and send their sons to private schools. Artisans were also rich and important to the Aztecs. They made gold jewelry and elaborate headdresses.

14. Classes of Aztec Society: Farmers and Slaves Farmers and slaves made up the lowest class of Aztec society. Most of the people who lived in the empire were farmers who grew maize, beans, and a few other crops. Farmers were very poor and did not own their own land. Slaves were people who had been captured in battle or who could not pay their debts. They were laborers, and if they did not obey, they were sacrificed to the gods.

15. Main Idea 2: Aztec religion required human sacrifice for keeping the gods happy. The Aztecs believed that they had to feed the gods. Most sacrifices were enemy warriors.

16. Aztec Sacrifices The Aztecs believed that keeping the gods happy meant that their lives would be blessed. The greatest number of sacrifices were made to the war god Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc. Priests led the sacrificial rituals, which took place on top of the temples that had been built. Humans were sacrificed because it was believed that the human hearts and blood would “feed” the gods and keep them strong. Aztec priests sacrificed as many as 10,000 victims a year in religious sacrifices.

17. Main Idea 3: The Aztecs had many achievements in science, art, and language. The Aztecs valued learning and art. Aztec scientific achievements, artistic traditions, and language contributed to their culture.

18. Scientific Achievements The Aztecs studied astronomy and created a calendar much like the Mayan calendar. The Aztecs also knew many different uses for plants. They knew of 100 different plants that could be used for medicine.

19. Writing and Literature The Aztecs had a complex writing system and kept extensive written records. The Aztecs also had a very strong oral tradition. They considered fine speeches very important and also enjoyed riddles. Stories about ancestors and gods were also a part of the oral tradition. The Aztecs told these stories to their children and passed them down from generation to generation. After the Spanish conquered the Aztecs, many of these stories were written down.