The Aztecs

By: Mia Nazzaro, Rhianna Follet, Yash Doshi, Vincent Far

Geography & TimelineGeography• The Aztecs were located in Central Mexico,

originally on Lake Texcoco, and expanding from there.

• This island on the lake made agriculture and self-defense easy, allowing the civilization to grow rapidly.

Timeline• The Aztecs relocated to the lake in the Valley

of Mexico around 1200 A.D.• 300 years later, in 1502, Moctezuma II

became the ruler of the civilization, and they were considered to be at their peak.

• Finally, the Aztecs fell in 1519, when their capital, Tenochtitlan, was destroyed. Their civilization survived for approximately 300 years.

Government

• The Aztec government consisted of a

ruler and a group of powerful aristocrats

– The Aztec ruler did not have total

power

• This government introduced a monarchy

system which was adopted from the

neighboring civilizations

• Due to this new monarch government a

social hierarchy developed

– People were sorted into groups

This Aztec warrior was in the middle of the social hierarchy, which was

established by the Monarchy

Economy• Aztec economy was based

mainly on agriculture.

• The largest market square in the

Aztec empire was in the city of

Tlateloco.

• The Aztec citizens had no real

form of currency. Although they

used cacao beans as their form of

money.

• The Aztecs normally traded

goods and services in exchange

for other goods and services.

Cacao Beans

Aztec marketplace

Writing

Origin

• Aztecs used hieroglyphics as a form of writing.

• It was derived from the Mixtec writing system and

is similar to logo graphics.

• The form of language was called Náhuatl.

Uses

• Pictographic writing such as symbols and pictures

represented ideas and words.

• Language was mainly used for business, records,

censuses, religious writings, and tax lists.

• Previously the Aztecs use to carve their writing ,

which later changed to written text.

Beliefs• The Aztecs worshipped many gods and would

thank the gods through human and animal

sacrifices.

– The Aztecs felt that the way they died,

determined how they were treated in the

after-life.

• The Aztecs divided their history into five ages,

known as Suns.

– Believed that they lived in the 5th sun

• Their beliefs explained the Aztec’s existence

– These stories of creation were passed

along and kept alive through stories and

migration

The Aztecs used sacrifices to thank the gods and prevent them from harming the civilization

Technology • Innovations:

• Advanced Medicine

• Herbs and spiritual healing

• Calendar:

• The Aztec had a calendar called the

“Aztec Sunstone Calendar”

• It measured days, months and cosmic

cycles (sun cycles)

• Irrigation systems and buildings:

• The Aztecs have used irrigation systems

for agriculture.

• The Aztecs used stone tools to build

buildings (monuments, houses, etc…)

and valuables (gold, jewelry etc…)

Aztec Sunstone Calendar

Art & Architecture• Art-

– Different forms of their art included pottery, tapestries and other cloth products, and jewelry. These were made out of natural materials such as feathers, bone, and clay.

– Their artwork sometimes symbolized social hierarchy ranging from rulers and wealthy aristocrats, to the common folk.

– Stone masonry provided some forms of art as well. Some creations would be statues and temples.

• Architecture- – The Aztecs built sturdy structures that are still in

tact today. – They built temples dedicated to their many gods

and beliefs. – These temples would be centered around one

temple, called the Great Temple.

The serpent was a prominent symbol in Aztec artwork.

The Great Temple served as a center point in Aztec architecture.

Rise & FallRise

• The city, Teotihuacan, was built by tribal groups in

600 A.D.

• Aztecs arrive in 1200 A.D. as homeless travelers.

• They became allies with other tries and gain more

influence and power.

• Soon the Aztec Empire became the central control of

what will soon be Mexico.

Fall

• In 1519, Hernando Cortez, a Spanish explorer,

brought 400 soldiers, 100 sailors to explore the area.

• Aztecs welcomed Cortez with opened arms thinking

that he was a Aztec God.

• But Montezuma realizes Cortez is not a god and

bribed him to leave.

• Soon Cortez gathers enough troops to conquer the

Aztec Empire, bringing the Aztecs to an end.

Cortez and his men fighting the Aztecs

Aztec Calendar

Contributions

Aztec contributions to the

modern world include:

• The Aztec Calendar.

• Advanced medicines.

• Advanced weapons.

• A measurement system.

ResourcesBooks:• The Crafts and Culture of The Aztecs, by Joann Jovinelly and Jason Netelkos• The History Atlas of South America, by Edwin Early • Everyday Life of The Aztecs, by Warwick Bray• The Earth and Its Peoples, by Richard W. Bulliet, Pamela Kyle Crossley, Daniel R. Headrick,

Steven W. Hirsch, Lyman L. Johnson, David Northrup• Perspectives on the Past, by Larry S. Krieger, Dr. Edward Reynolds, Kenneth Neill

Internet:• The Ancient Aztecs: www.library.thinkquest.org/27981/• The Aztec Number System:

http://www.math.temple.edu/~zit/Native%20American/9%20Aztecs_num.pdf• The History of the Aztecs: http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/aztecs.htm• The Aztec Civilization:

http://www2.truman.edu/~marc/webpages/nativesp99/aztecs/aztec_template.html