 Warfare=main driving force (Economic and religiously)
 Regular: Calpulli (companies)
 Elite Aztec Warriors:Noble warrior class
 Eagle and jauguar: capture prisoners
 Shorn Ones (Cuachicqueh) Most prestigious
 Armor/gear was determined according to type

/

• Huitzilopochtli cult(temple)=
• Fear of End every 52 years greatest center
• fear of nature, fear of
• Birth of child
• Family meetings the end
• Harvest
• 5 gods created the
• War victories world
• Sun god:Huitzilopochtli=n
• Used incense
• Sacrifice eeds sacrifice
• weather

• Growth Ceremony(Teizcalanaliztli)
– Tug lightly at new plants
– Offer some in the temple
– Take child after eating
– Tug/stretch limbs
– Child will now grow like maize
– Step over a sitting child=stop growth
– To resume growth=step back opposite direction

• Marriage ceremony
– Pretty/handsome victim or prisoner
– Last month=4 virgins
– 5 days=entertained
– Last day=Heart pulled out
– Instead of thrown down stairs=carried

• Pass out orange cards
• Given exhortations (rules)
– Don’t eat like a pig
– Step aside to let someone pass
– Don’t stay in the market too long, might cause a fight
– Girls learn to spin and weave
– Don’t have evil thoughts ;)

• Medicinal advancements
– Herbs
– Surpassed those of
Europe
– Spiritual
– Herbal
• Complex calendar
• Drills out of reed and bones
• Canoes
• Wheel(toys)
• Base of 20
• Used algorithms
• Pyramidsused for sacrifice
• astronomy

• From their predecessors
• Toltecs
• Foundation • Last of the invading
Nahuan
• Influenced by Spaniards
• Broke loose from subjugation to surrounding tribes of the
Valley of Mexico
• Formed alliances
• Built up power

• 6 th century: Nahuan peoples migrated to
Mesoamerica from northern Mexico
• Nomadic peoples mixed in area
• Settled in Valley of Mexico=tributary of
Azcapotzalco
• Alliance Defeated Azcapotzalco=chance to build their own empire

• Spanish conquest
• Cortes conquered capital
• Empire weakened after death of Moctezuma II
• Aztec culture lost once Spanish took over
• Diseases also played a role in decline

• Expanding
• Imposing their own practices
– Monotheism
– Educating
– Destroyed aztec buildings
– Allied with the enemies of Aztecs

• Polytheistic
• Worshipped nature
• Shamanism
• Priests practiced honesty/chastity
• Festivals/ceremonies to honor Gods
• Fasting, prostration,kneeling, sacrifice
• Higher building=closer to sky
• Chief priest-red habit, crown of feathers, gold

1. Huitzilopochtli-tribal war God
2. Tezcatlipoca-all around powerful god
3. Tlaloc-god of water, rain, clouds, thunder, mountains
4. Quetzalcoatl-god of priests, wind, air (confession)

• Number 0
• Modern day calendar created with aztec help
• Words from language ex. Coyote, or tomato
• Early form of chocolate
• Usage on ink on bodies
• No underage drinking
• Medicine, math, astrology

• http://www.history.com/topics/mexico/videos
#the-aztecs

• http://www.google.com/search?q=spaniards+aztecs&client=safari&rls=en&source
=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=N6OHUeyFG4_HywGr14DoCA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&b iw=831&bih=784#imgrc=_
• http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-culture.html
• http://www.history.com/topics/mexico/videos#the-aztecs
• http://www.history.com/topics/mexico/videos#the-aztecs
• http://www.aztec-indians.com/aztec-culture.html