The AztecsThe Aztecs
Remains of an Aztec temple in a Mexico City Subway station
The Aztecs come to The Aztecs come to MexicoMexico
OriginsOrigins1. Mexica (later 1. Mexica (later called Aztecs) called Aztecs) entered Valley entered Valley around 1200 around 1200 (from North (from North America?)America?) after the after the decline of the decline of the Toltecs Toltecs
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/city.htm
2. Founded Tenochtitlan on islands in Lake Texcoco around 1325
Building Building TenochtitlanTenochtitlan
The Aztec The Aztec EmpireEmpire
5-15 million 5-15 million subjectssubjects
Demanded tribute Demanded tribute and and obedienceobedience
Brutal in Brutal in suppressing suppressing revoltrevolt
SocietySociety
Emperor--Emperor--absolute powerabsolute power
NoblesNobles
WarriorsWarriorsPriestsPriestsGovernment Government officialsofficials
School School for for
noble noble boysboys
CommonersCommoners
Artisans, Artisans, merchants, farmers merchants, farmers and soldiersand soldiers
SlavesSlaves
EconomyEconomy
Vast trade networkVast trade network
Much of capital’s food Much of capital’s food provided by floating provided by floating gardensgardens
(60,000 per day met in capital for trade)
TenochtitlanTenochtitlan
Greatest city in the Greatest city in the worldworld
Early 1500’s 200,000 Early 1500’s 200,000 pop.pop.
Connected to mainland Connected to mainland by causeways and by causeways and bridges (easy to defend)bridges (easy to defend)
Canals, aqueducts, Canals, aqueducts, good sanitationgood sanitation
DiegoRiveraMural--AztecFestival
ReligioReligionn
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/sunstone.htm
1. Calendar, writing
http://www.washington.edu/ark2/archtm/dc55.html
Calendar TodayCalendar Today
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/evidence.htm
Aztec Aztec WritingWriting
2. Gods demanded sacrifice--200 a day eventually
3. Battle tactics designed to capture victims alive
http://www.eskimo.com/~zylyn/photos/itza5.jpg
Wall of Wall of SkullsSkulls
Destruction of Destruction of Azted CivilizationAzted Civilization
Montezuma II inherited great unrest
Montezuma sees a Montezuma sees a cometcomet
Demands for tribute and sacrifice caused rebellion
1519 Word reached Montezuma that Quetzequatl had returned to
the Gulf Coast
HernandHernandooCortesCortesConquerConqueror ofor ofthe the AztecsAztecs
http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/Cortes/cortes.html
http://www.funkandwagnalls.com/mediagallery/getpage.asp?book=FWENCOnline&abspage=/MediaGallery
Montezuma Montezuma IIIILast King of Last King of the Aztecsthe AztecsKilled byKilled byhis ownhis ownpeoplepeople
Montezuma Montezuma IIIILast King of Last King of the Aztecsthe AztecsKilled byKilled byhis ownhis ownpeoplepeople
Reasons for Spanish Reasons for Spanish successsuccess
Weapons--firearms, Weapons--firearms, horseshorses
Aztec enemies Aztec enemies Quetzacoatl--Believed Quetzacoatl--Believed Cortes might be a godCortes might be a god
Disease--wiped Disease--wiped out more than out more than half of the half of the IndiansIndians
IntermissionIntermissionIntermissionIntermission
TulumTulum
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