THE AMERICAS The Aztec – Part 2

THE AZTEC - Achievements Writing – Used picture writing but did not develop an Alphabet Aztec Calendar - 365 day calendar Medicine - Doctors practiced their medicine and operations on human sacrifices and with dead bodies from wars. They got a lot of their medicine from plants. Education Public education for boys and girls starting at age 13 They taught lessons in citizenship, history and tradition, religious ceremonies and arts and crafts. Boys learned methods of warfare; girls learned singing and dancing skills

THE AZTEC - Warfare The Aztecs believed it was a religious duty to be a warrior. Used swords, bows and arrows, javelins, clubs and slings for weapons. Aztecs went to war to get tribute (what losers gave to winners) and sacrificial victims for religious ceremonies. Goal of Aztec warfare was capture, not kill. Members of losing tribe became slaves or sacrifices.

THE AZTEC – Montezuma and Cortes Montezuma – most famous Aztec ruler; ruled from 1466-1520 and was a strong leader who enlarge the Aztec Empire. In 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes landed in Mexico. At first, Montezuma believed he was a representative of Quetzalcoatl, the god who had departed centuries earlier and promised he would someday return. He offered fold to the foreigners and gave them a palace to use while they were in the city.

THE AZTEC - Conquered Eventually, tensions arose as the Spanish wanted Aztec land and gold. They took Montezuma hostage and began to pillage the city. In 1520 (a year after arriving) the people revolted, killed many Spanish, and drove them out of the city. Meanwhile, disease hit – no naturally immunity or prior exposure to European diseases such as small pox or measles.

THE AZTEC - Conquered Cortes recruited the Aztecs’ enemies to help them conquer Tenochtitlan. Cortés and his allies headed to the capital with 500 soldiers and 16 horses. Spanish advantages: Aztec weakened from disease Horses (Aztecs afraid of them) Guns and cannons

THE AZTEC - Conquered After four months, the city surrendered. According to the Spanish, Montezuma’s own people became angry with his policies and killed him. Cortes leveled pyramids, temples, and palaces and used the stones to build government buildings and churches for the Spanish. Rivers and canals were filled in. Books, records, and art were destroyed Aztec were forced to become Christians, and many were enslaved. Diseases continued to spread and killed 7 million Native Americans within 50 years.

THE AZTEC - Conquered So, how were both European and Native American cultures changed after European contact with the Aztecs?

THE AZTEC - Videos Aztec 25 Facts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGyVRAtZbRk HH Aztec Gardening, Priest Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG8WRKpdq- c&list=PLf2z9xGWCE6_jN7xmf7Pi3KaElkDg6ir_&index=6 HH Aztec Shopping https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oarNOjHHMjc&list=PLo3mWDVC320YN GHt3eCygEl868Ld1y0eS&index=5 HH Aztec Masterchef https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5-GLDwfb-o What Happened to Aztecs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3kWJfkqT0g&list=PLf2z9xGWCE6_jN7x mf7Pi3KaElkDg6ir_ Coroner Report Aztec Sacrifice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQKJRnPpIxw