Aztec Empire
Warm up: 1.List 6 things you see in this picture
2. Who do you think painted this an Aztec or a Spaniard? Why?
Geography
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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.
 The Aztecs built huge pyramids, some
lined with thousands of skulls.
Rise to Power: Warriors
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Aztecs called themselves Mexica (meh-shee-ka)
Skilled warriors, one ruler ruled over Aztec
Empire.
under the leader Monteczuma they expanded to
1/3 of Mexico- Mostly in South
Population of 25 million at peak
Grew stronger through war, tribute, and trade.
Tribute– The Aztecs made neighboring tribes
pay them in order to not be attacked.
Neighboring tribes “paid tribute” but, with good
reason they did not like being bullied. This will
effect the Aztecs in the future.
Monteczuma :Warriors
Religion: Polytheism (many gods)
 Worshiped
gods of sun, rain, moon
etc.
 KEY POINT: The Aztecs predicted
that Quetzalcoatl (ket-sahl-koh-aht-l)
(serpent god of creation) would return
in early 1500s.
Religion:Quetzalcoatl
Quetzalcoatl - ket-sahl-koh-aht-l
Religion: Quetzalcoatl &
Sacrifice
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ket-sahl-koh-aht-l
 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
Sacrifice
Social Structure
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Royal Family
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Nobles
Merchants
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Commoners/Serfs
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Slaves
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Royal family ruled all,
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 and the Spanish
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He was a Spanish Conquistador
that learned about the Aztecs and
their riches.
He knew he would have to
conquer them to rule Mexico.
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 jailed Monteczuma.
Hernan Cortez
Hernan Cortez and the Spanish
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The Aztecs fight them
off, but the Spaniards
leave behind small
pox.
 Two years later
Cortez returns and
defeats the Aztecs.
Only 2 million Aztecs
survive.
 In 1521 the Aztecs
finally surrender
Analyzing A Primary Source:
 Based
on what you have learned,
who do you think said the
following quote?
Hernan Cortez in a letter to Emperor Carlos V.
“As we took them by surprise, they were
easy to disperse, especially because I had
imprisoned their leaders. I ordered some
towers and fortified houses from which
they were attacking us to be set on fire. And
so I proceeded through the city
fighting for five hours …Finally all the people
were driven out of the city in many
directions, for some five thousand Indians
from Tascalteca and another four
hundred from Cempoal were assisting me.”