The Americas: The Aztec

The Aztecs

Rise of the Aztecs Aztecs (Mexica) migrate to Lake Texcoco in central Mexico c. 1325 Founded city of Tenochtitlan in 1325 Empire started in 1434 Aztec kings represented civil power and served as a representative of the gods on Earth

Aztec Government City-states ruled by a speaker chosen from the nobility The Great Speaker, ruler of Tenochtitlan, was in effect an emperor Increasingly considered a living god Conquered peoples maintained some autonomy if they paid tribute

Aztec Religion Aztec maintained traditional deities of Mesoamerica 128 major deities Huitzilopochtli (right) was the Aztec tribal patron and patron deity of the cult of warfare and sacrifice

Human Sacrifice Human sacrifice was a typical part of Mesoamerican religion Aztec expand practice into a cult where military supplied war captives for sacrifice Why? Political purposes Population control Cannibal kingdom

Human Sacrifice

Tenochtitlan On an island in Lake Texcoco Aztecs called it the “foundation of Heaven” By 1519 had a population of 150,000 Connected by causeways and canals

Tenochtitlan “The Venice of the Americas”

Aztec Economy Agriculture Food often provided as tribute Built chinampas Pochteca was a special merchant class which specialized in long-distance luxury trade Cacao beans and gold dust were used as currency; bartering was most common 17’ long x 100’ to 330’ wide 20,000 acres of chinampas

Chinampas 17’ long x 100’ to 330’ wide 20,000 acres of chinampas Chinampas were man-made floating islands 17’ long x 100’ to 300’ feet wide. Aztecs built over 20,000 acres of chinampas.

Chinampas

Aztec Society Originally divided into seven clans called calpulli Calpulli redistributed land, organized labor gangs & military units, maintained temples & schools Eventually a class of nobility emerged Nobility controlled the priesthood & military

Aztec Society The noble class consisted of a ruler, priests, & lords. Lords included landowners & judges. Priests played a very important part in Aztec society. They watched planets & stars to read the calendar & make predictions. The high priests made offerings to the gods, even sacrificing people. Prayers & songs were carried out by priests, as well.

Aztec Society The middle class was the largest class in Aztec society. Members lived in modest houses made of adobe bricks. Farmers, artisans, merchants, and metal workers made up the middle class. They all contributed to society, but merchants were especially important. Through merchants, Aztecs were able to trade goods such as rubber, cotton, feathers, & cocoa.

Aztec Society The lower class consisted of the poor, slaves, & servants. The poor were farmers & hunters. Their homes were small and simple, as were their meals. Children of slaves were born free. Slavery was a form of punishment; those w/ debts & prisoners of war were slaves. Servants, on the other hand, were not considered property, even though they served nobility. They could marry & run their own businesses.

Aztec Society Moving Up and Down the Social Pyramid Aztecs belonged to a class from birth. However, it was possible to move up through marriage or bravery in battle. People could also move down the pyramid & become slaves as punishment for serious crimes. Rights of Women and Slaves While women & men were not viewed as equals, women still had several rights. A woman could own property, divorce her husband, remarry, & ask for justice. Slaves had a surprising amount of rights. They could marry, have children, & buy their freedom.

Aztec Society Women’s primary role was the household Women spent six hours a day grinding corn; restricted women’s rights Marriages were arranged Polygamy existed amongst the nobility Women could inherit property