Ex.) How do you explain the sun? Warm Up!    Aztec society was based around the religion of multiple gods. From artwork to their building, everything had a connection to their religion. How do you incorporate your beliefs into your daily life?   Ex.) How do you explain the sun?

The Aztecs

The Beginning of the Aztecs The first Aztecs were Northern Mexican farmers. They migrated south, around the 1100's When they got to southern Mexico they realized other tribes had taken all fertile farmland  All that was left for them was a swampy island The Aztecs made themselves skilled fighters to survive 

Aztec Warfare Warfare was a key factor to the Aztecs rise to power They made alliances and partnerships         -for example in the late 1,420s, they formed a secret alliance with 2 other cities on Lake Texcoco Conquered tribes had to pay Aztecs with goods such as cotton, gold, or food.

Trade The Aztecs controlled a huge trade network Local farmers brought their goods to trade Merchants dealt with people in many parts of the empire, so the emperor used them as spies.

The Capital - Location made trade and travel hard THE AZTECS CAPITAL WAS CALLED TENOCHTITALN  THE CAPITAL HAD THE MOST WEALTH AND WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST CITIES WITH ABOUT 200,000 PEOPLE. IT HAD HUGE TEMPLES, MARKETS, AND A MAGNIFICANT PALACE. TENOCHTITALN OVERCAME GEOLOGICAL CHALLENGES LIKE:         - Location made trade and travel hard         - Limited land; surrounded by undrinkable water. TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, THE AZTECS:  BUILT CAUSEWAYS- WHICH WERE RAISED ROADS ACROSS WATER OR WET GROUND  CAUSEWAYS WERE BUILT OUT OF ROCKS COVERED WITH DIRT THEY ALSO BUILT AQUEDUCTS TO CHANNEL THE CLEAN WATER INTO THE CITY.       

Important People Hernan Cortes         - reached Mexico in 1519 looking for gold          - Hearing arrival, emperor Moctezuma thought Hernan was a god          - He thought this because Aztec legend says the god Quetzalcoatl was to return in 1519(the same time Cortes arrived          - Moctezuma showered Cortes with presents          - Cortes wanted more, so he went to the capital and took emperor prisoner          - Aztecs were enraged and drove Cortes out          - In 1521, he came back w/ allies and conquered the capital

Defeat from Conquistadors There were four main factors to the defeat of the aztecs Conquistadors had: - better weapons - the geographical advantage - Aztecs had diseases - Conquistadors had allies to help

Social Hierarchy KIng: ruled empire and lived in luxury Nobles: served as important officials, like tax collectors and judges Priests: preformed important duties, like keeping calendars Warriors: fought to conquer other people and capture victims for sacrifice Merchants: traded goods like food, clothing, and tools Artisans: they made a wide variety of goods people needed Farmers: Most Aztecs farmers just lived in simple huts  Slaves: were prisoners of war who then became slaves and were forced to work Or they were sacrificed 

Aztec Life and Society Clearly defined roles The society was organized into groups called calpullis: a community of families that shared land, schools, and a temple. They each elected a leader, who took orders from the king

Religion They were polytheistic, or believed in multiple gods. They believed Their gods powers could be seen in nature, such as storms, trees, or great people like kings. To please their gods, mainly the god of war, huitzilopochtli and the god of rain tlaloc, sacrifice was necessary. The aztecs believed sacrifice made the god strong and the world safe. Aztec priests sacrificed as many as 10,000 victims each year.

Traditions They had very artistic tradition like their architecture, sculptures, mosaics, and jewelry such as masks. They used materials like stone for the architecture and sculptures, and turquoise, gold and colorful feathers for jewelry.  Turquoise mosaics were also used to decorate knife handles. Aztec women wove  cloth from cloth and embroidered it with colorful designs.

Writing and Literature The aztecs had a complicated writing system.  They kept all records in books made of bark or animal skin which were also called a codex. The aztecs considered speeches very important and enjoyed riddles.  Knowing answers to all the riddles displayed they had paid attention during school.  Telling stories was also an oral tradition. The aztecs passed these stories down generation to generation and were written down.  Much of what historians know about the aztecs is through their written stories.

Achievements The aztecs learned how to build their own floating garden called chinampas. They also knew over 100 different plants that were used for medicine They also studies astronomy and created a similar calendar as the Maya.