Aztecs

Introduction ( do not copy this slide, just discuss)

The Aztecs had a legend. They believed that one day they would spot an eagle, perched on a cactus, holding a snake. When they saw this, it would be the signal that they had found a place to call home. There, they would settle down forever. Part of the legend was that their gods had told them to settle down peacefully and build a capital city before they did anything else.

That's what they did. One day, a priest saw an eagle, perched on a cactus, holding a snake in its mouth! He could not believe his eyes. He ran back to the Aztec camp to tell his people what he had seen. This happened in the Valley of Mexico, along the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco.

The legend….cactus, eagle, snake

Geography & Environment Interaction

Developed on island in Lake Texcoco

Developed Chinampas- floating gardening beds for growing crops

They built canoes so they could hunt and fish.

They created medicines from the many plants they found in the area

They built dikes to hold back water in the swampy areas

Question- why do we build dams? What purpose does this serve greater than holding back water?

They built their beautiful capital city on a swamp, thanks to the skills of their engineers.

Capital city Tecochtitlan which is now modern day Mexico city

Made up of city states

Food Production

Aztecs did not have cows, sheep, or goats.

They grew chili peppers, corn, tomatoes, beans, and squash on the floating gardens (Chinampas) they built on the marshy waters.

They fished.

They collected eggs, edible flowers, ate insects such as grasshoppers, lizards, frogs, salamanders, and ants.

What is a Chinampa?

The floating gardens were actually rafts. The rafts were anchored to the bottom of the lake, or to a strong tree in the marsh.

They piled vegetation and reeds on top of the raft to help provide good soil and drainage.

On top of this, they piled dirt. They planted seeds in the dirt and grew their crops.

Government

The Aztecs were ruled by an emperor who was believed to be chosen by the Gods

The emperor lived in the palace in the capital city.

There were many cities in the Aztec empire.

A noble was in charge of each city but had to answer to the emperor

Like the Mayas, they had several city states who ran thing there on way day to day

All people in every city state lived by the same laws, if you broke a low punishment was harsh, mostly death

All city states had to pay a Tribute to the Emperor

O

Emperor (incarnation of sun god)

o Nobles, Warriors & priests

Commoners- Craftsmen, merchants, traders, farmers

Unskilled workers-Farm laborers

Slaves

O Upward mobility for commoners was possible based on superior service especially in war

Socia

l Stru

cture

Economy (money, growth of civilization)

Agricultural in origin Development of specialization of labor Trade grows as artisans & craftsmen sell their

goods Wealth from trade and tributes paid by

conquered peoples supported the empire

Religion Polytheistic

Had ceremonial temples

That's why worshiping their gods was a big part of Aztec daily life, and why their priests were especially important in the Aztec culture. The priests told the people how to behave so they would not anger their gods.

All Aztec priests were religious leaders. Some were active in government. Some acted as teachers. Some created the many records the Aztecs kept, written in hieroglyphics.

Believed in Human Sacrifice-believed necessary to prevent gods from destroying the world increased the importance of war, as victims captured in war were sacrificed…...more men were sacrificed than women

The Aztecs built temples to honor their gods. Temples provided a place for the music of worship, a place for the private ceremony of personal bloodletting, and a place to conduct the many human sacrifices that the Aztecs believed were necessary to keep their gods happy

Achievements

Chinampas Architecture Jewelry writing Calendar Arrows & use of poison

Fall of an Empire

Tribute states joined forces with Spanish explorers, led by Cortes’, to overthrow the

Aztec emperor, Role of smallpox in weakening the empire Technology in warfare gives Spanish upper

hand