Aztec Empire
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
 Huge pyramids, some lined with
thousands of skulls
Rise to Power: Warriors
 Aztecs
called themselves Mexica (mehhee-ka)
 They were skilled warriors
 One ruler ruled over the Aztec Empire
 under the leader Moctezuma they
expanded to 1/3 of southern Mexico
 Population of 25 million at peak
 Grew stronger through war, tribute, and
trade
Moctezuma :Warriors
Religion: Polytheism (many gods)
 Worshiped
gods of sun, rain, moon
etc.
 KEY POINT: The Aztecs predicted
that Quetzalcoatl (serpent god of
creation) would return in early 1500s
Religion: Quetzalcoatl
Religion: Sacrifice

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
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 for
sure….
Sacrifice
Aztec Social Structure

Royal Family

Nobles
Merchants

Commoners/Serfs

Slaves

Royal family One Ruler
Ruled, wives held high
positions and respect
Nobles- priest, military
officers, and government
leaders
Merchants- imported the
goods
Commoners/Serfsworked in the fields
Slaves- people could be
sold into slavery
Hernan Cortez

Spanish Conquistador
 Learned about the
Aztecs and their
riches
 Knew he would have
to conquer them to
rule Mexico
Hernan Cortez and the Spanish




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 jails Monteczuma
Hernan Cortez and the Spanish

The Aztecs fight the
off, but the Spaniards
leave behind small
pox:
 Cortez returns and
defeats them: only 2
million Aztecs survive

In 1521 the Aztecs
finally surrender
Small Pox
•fever, chills,
headache,
nausea, vomiting
and severe
muscle aches
•A rash follows
that spreads and
progresses to
raised bumps
that crust, scab,
and fall off after
about three
weeks, leaving a
pitted scar.
•30-50% fatality
rate
Different Perspective:
Slide 1: 1.List 6 things you see in this picture
2. Who do you think painted this an Aztec or a Spaniard? Why?
Slide 2: 1) Why do you think that the man on the horse is light while everyone
else is dark? 2) Who do you think that this person on the horse is?
Slide 3: 1) What is going on in this picture? 2) Who do you think painted this
and why?
Slide 4: 1) Describe 5 things that you see in this photo. 2) How is the story in
this painting different than slide 1 and 2?