How did the Aztecs come to dominate Central Mexico? The Rise of the Mexica How did the Aztecs come to dominate Central Mexico?

Who were the Mexica? one of several migrant groups to arrive in central mexico in the mid 13th century. Sought a sign from the gods as to where they needed to settle Eventually built a large city called tenochtitlan on an island in the middle of lake texcoco in the valley of the sun.

DOES THE IMAGE LOOK FAMILIAR? MEXI THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AN EAGLE, PERCHED ON A CACTUS, WITH A SNAKE IN ITS MOUTH DOES THE IMAGE LOOK FAMILIAR?

TENOCHTITLAN ISLAND LOCATION WIDE ROADS CANALS CAUSEWAYS MARKETPLACES CHINAMPAS The principle market in Tenochtitlan had separate sections for merchants dealing in gold, silver, slaves, cotton cloth, shoes, animal skins, turkeys, dogs, wild game, maize, beans, peppers, cacao, and fruits. (it was virtually an outdoor mall complete with a Fresh Market and a Wal-Mart)

HOW DO YOU FARM ON AN ISLAND? FLOATING GARDENS CHINAMPAS DREDGED THE MUCK FROM THE LAKE’S BOTTOM AND BUILT FLOATING GARDENS ABLE TO HARVEST AS MANY AS 7 CROPS A YEAR MAIZE, BEANS, SQUASH, TOMATOES, PEPPERS & CHILES YEAR ROUND

HOW DID THEY CREATE AN EMPIRE? BY EARLY 15TH CENTURY, THEY DOMINATED THEIR NEIGHBORS AND DEMANDED TRIBUTE ABOUT THE MID-15TH CENTURY, THEY JOINED WITH TWO NEIGHBORING CITIES TO CREATE A TRIPLE ALLIANCE THAT GUIDED THE EMPIRE THIS “AZTEC” ALLIANCE WAS DOMINATED BY THE MEXICA AND THEY IMPOSED THEIR RULE ON APPROXIMATELY 12 MILLION PEOPLE AND MOST OF MESOAMERICA. The other cities in the triple alliance were Texcoco and Tlacopan. Under the rule of Itzcoatl (Obsidian Serpant) and Montezuma I, they advanced first into southwestern Mexico. They then populated the area with Aztec colonists. They then turned their attention toward the Gulf Coast region. Finally they conquered all the areas in the highlands in between these outlying areas and Tenochtitlan.

WHY DID THEY WANT AN EMPIRE? The main object of the triple alliance was to exact tribute from subject peoples. Basic tribute was usually food crops and basic manufactured goods such as textiles, fur blankets, jewelry, and obsidian knives. Sometimes they demanded slaves. The Aztec empire had no elaborate bureaucracy or administration. They simply conquered and assessed tribute, leaving local people to rule the area and collect the tribute. They also did not keep a permanent standing army, but collected from 489 subject territories.

MEXICA SOCIETY rigid hierarchy with public honors and rewards going mostly to the military elite (all males were looked at as potential warriors – no matter what the original social standing) For the most part though, the military elite came from the aristocracy. Military elite were showered with wealth and honor Extensive land grants Tribute from commoners Most successful formed a council to elect the ruler Ate the best food and consumed most of the luxury items Law even regulated how they dressed Dress… commoners had to wear coarse, burlaplike garments while aristocrats could wear cotton clothes. Warriors even got to wear colorful capes and adorn themselves with feathers.

GENDER EQUALITY? Women played almost NO role in politics They did however have significant influence over their families and enjoyed high honors as mothers of warriors. They were also prominent in the marketplace They law subjected women to the strict authority of their fathers or their husbands. With the exception of a few priestesses, ALL Mexica women were married. Society recognized bearing children as equivalent to a warrior capturing an enemy in battle.

DID THE PRIESTS HAVE INFLUENCE? ADVISORS Ranked among the society’s elite Special education in calendars and ritual lore Presided over all religious ceremonies Had considerable influence over politics On a few occasions, priests even were elected supreme rulers Montezuma II (1502-1520) who was ruler when the Spanish arrived

LIFE OF THE COMMONERS… The bulk of the populace was made up of commoners They were organized into communal groups called calpulli (originally more tribal, later based on location) They often farmed the chinampas, communal lands designated by the calpulli, and lands owned by the aristocrats/warriors They also had to provide common labor for public works projects as well Slaves were mostly domestic servants and most were Mexica… foreign slaves were normally sacrifices Skilled artisans also enjoyed a prestigious existence in Mexica society. Long distance merchants were also important because they brought back luxury goods but also because they provided political and military intelligence about foreign lands

ALSO ADOPTED Tezcatlipoca and quetzalcoatl. MEXICA RELIGION THEY ADOPTED RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS FROM OTHER GROUPS THROUGHOUT MESOAMERICA. THESE INCLUDED THE BALL GAME, COMPLICATED CALENDARS (365 DAY SOLAR YEAR AND A RITUAL YEAR OF 260 DAYS) ALSO ADOPTED Tezcatlipoca and quetzalcoatl. Tezcatlipoca was a powerful figure, the giver and taker of life and the patron deity of warriors. Quetzalcoatl was primarily the god of peace but supported the arts, crafts, and agriculture.

QUETZALCOATL god of peace believed to return one day and bring peace and prosperity. Legend said he was light skinned and would return from the eastern sea in the year ONE REED carrying many things the Aztecs had never seen before

HUITZILOPOCHTLI Sun god who required daily sacrifices of human blood to make the sun rise. Mexica warriors believed it was his providence that made them successful, so they had to offer sacrifices to appease him and maintain the success. Sacrifice was not for entertainment – it was essential to the world’s survival

Huitzilopochtli’s Sacrifices The Mexica placed much higher emphasis on human sacrifice than the earlier peoples of Mesoamerica. Some victims were Mexica criminals, but most were either tribute from conquered peoples or warriors captured in battle.