Aztecs 2 Name five foods you like to eat that reflect your culture.

Food and Trade The Aztec grew corn, maize, beans, squash, pumpkins, chilis, peppers, and coco beans They picked fruit of bananas, papaya, mangos, and pineapple They traded between cities and used gold and coco beans for currency They learned from the Maya how to build roads and built roads simular to the Mayan white Roads Everything was taxed and tax collectors came by weekly to collect “ The King’s Gold”

Education Aztec created a school system, average citizens sent their children to school to learn to read and write and do math, they then went to work in the field and marketplaces The elite sent their students to another school, one where they were taught religion, leadership, sports and reading, writing and math, they were also trained as artisans and royalty The Schools were a vital part of every community and often led the celebrations to their gods

Building an Empire The Aztec built their empire first by making alliances and then using the large army from those alliances to conquer most of Central Mexico Their goal was to capture the king of an enemy state, and hold him up for the loyalty of that states soldiers, then they would sacrifice him as an offering to the gods Soldiers were paid well, and even given the best equipment available to go into battle with Each soldier was given two slaves to carry their equipment and keep their camp and weapons in top shape, those that did not were sacrificed

Aztec Religion Huitzilopochtli  the patron god of the Aztecs. He was the god that, during their migration, indicated them the place to found their capital Tenochtitlan. His name means “Hummimngbird of the left” and he was the patron of war and sacrifice. His shrine, on top of the pyramid of the Templo Mayor, was decorated with skulls and colored in red for blood.  Tlaloc Tlaloc  was the rain god and one of the most ancient deities in all Mesoamerica. His origins can be traced back to Teotihuacan, the Olmec and the Maya. He is associated with fertility and agriculture. To Tlaloc was dedicated the second shrine on top of the Templo Mayor, the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan. His shrine was decorated with blue bands representing rain and water. The Aztec believed that the cries and tears of newborn children were sacred to the god, and, therefore, many ceremonies for Tlaloc involved the sacrifice of children  Tonatiuh Tonatiuh  was the sun god. He was a nourishing god who provided warmth and fertility. In order to do so, he needed sacrificial blood.

Aztec Religion Tezcatlipoca – His name means “Smoking Mirror” and he often represented an evil power. Tezcatlipoca was the patron of the night Chalchiuhtlicue – was the goddess of water and all aquatic elements. Her name means “she of the Jade Skirt”. Centeotl God of Maize Centeotl Xipe Totec – name means “Our Lord with the flayed skin”. Xipe Totec was the god of agricultural fertility

Aztec Religion Quetzalcoatl – “the Feathered Serpent”, is probably the most famous Aztec deity and is known in many other Mesoamerican cultures such as Teotihuacan and the Maya. He represented the positive counterpart of Tezcatlipoca. He was patron of knowledge and learning and also a creative god.