WALT: To describe how the Aztecs adapted to the marshy land and built their houses.

Aztec life was not all about sacrifice and war with other tribes nor grand temples and gods. In fact everyday life was very well organised. People grew food and wove cloth. They made pots, paper, leather, medicines and ornaments. They bartered for goods in the market or used them to pay their rents, tributes and taxes

Once it was built the chinampa was filled with mud from the lake bottom along with dead twigs and leaves to create fertile soil. Wooden dykes kept the water away from the crops. First the plot was marked out with wooden posts. Then it was fenced with woven branches. Sometimes trees were planted to hold the soil together with their roots. Many ordinary people lived on chinampas. These were islands reclaimed from the lake by piling up plants and black, sticky mud. Remember the Aztecs had settled on marshy ground – they had to build islands to live on.

Farmers had to get permission from the Aztec government before planting crops. If they did not they would be punished. If the chinampa was well prepared the crops would thrive. Rich soil and plentiful water was ideal for growing crops. Chinampas were one of the most highly productive farming methods ever invented. In a good year the Aztecs could grow 7 crops on one chinampa.

To stop the soil becoming exhausted from use the Aztecs used manure – human manure. Pests were controlled using organic methods. The Aztecs knew that certain plants, like marigolds, kept insects away so they planted these among their crops. Chinampas were very busy. Turkeys were kept in small gardens, dogs ran around freely. When the dogs were fully grown they were often killed and eaten. Women grew flowers to sell at market. Men grew the maize (corn). They used a wooden stick for digging.

Fishermen still managed to fish despite Lake Texcoco filling up with chinampas. They used dug out canoes and made nets by weaving grass strands together. They waited until a fish was under their canoe and then used spears made of wood and stone to catch it.

Poorer Aztecs lived in simple houses like this one Poorer Aztecs lived in simple houses like this one. The law said their house could only be 1 storey high. Houses were built of adobe (mud) and were often brightly painted. Most had flat roofs but some, like this one, were thatched or tiled with wood.

Usually there were only 2 rooms – 1 for living and eating and the other for sleeping. There was only 1 door and no windows so houses were dark.

At night the Aztecs lit their houses using torches made from pine branches. The Aztecs liked to keep clean so steam baths were built near them. There was little furniture. Reed mats were used for sleeping. Clothes were kept in wooden chests. They cooked on an open fire.

AZTEC GODS

Aztec Gods Religion was extremely important in Aztec life. They worshipped hundreds of gods and goddesses, each of whom ruled one or more human activities or as aspects of nature e.g. sun, rain. They believe that everything in life is controlled by the gods, they bring good things, such as rain to make the crops grow, but also bad things like disease, drought and bad luck.

The Aztecs thought that the power of the gods should be acknowledged and thanks given to them, so as to avoid the catastrophes that their rage could cause. For this reason monuments temples and statues were built, and sacrifices performed as gifts to the gods.

Huitzilopochtli (Hummingbird) He is the god of war and the rising sun and special guardian of Tenochtitlan. He is the special god of the Aztec people, they believed he brought them success in war. His temple on the main pyramid was the focus of fearsome sacrifices of the prisoners captured by Aztec warriors. Victims’ heads were strung as trophies on a great rack. He is always shown as a warrior. He wears a warrior’s cotton oversuit and carries a shield and a snake of fire. His body and clothes are painted blue.

Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent) He is the wind god and also the god of knowledge. He is usually a friend to the people. He has taught them many skills, such as picture writing, art and science. He taught men the calendar and devised ceremonies He is shown with a beard to represent age or an old man. He wears the mask of a serpent and a hat decorated with the feathers of a quetzal bird.

Tlaloc Tlaloc is the rain god. He is known as “he who makes things sprout”. The rain he brings allow crops to grow. Tlaloc also controls storms, thunder and lightening. He is shown holding lightening in the form of a snake in one hand. In the other hand he holds an axe which makes thunder-bolts. The jaguar he sometimes has coming from his mouth is the roar of thunder. Tlaloc is always shown with goggle eyes and long teeth.

Your task Your task is to create an Aztec god of your own. Remember that they had a god or goddess to represent everything. Describe what it is they represent and this can be more than one thing. Describe what they look like and what the things they hold or wear represent (this should be to do with what they are god/goddess of). Create an illustration of your god/goddess and label each important part.

Chantico- The Goddess of Fire She wears a crown of cactus spikes.

Huitzilopochtli- The God of War He is also known as the Hummingbird God. His father was a ball of feathers!

Patecatl- The God of Healing He is associated with the number 13.

Quetzalcoatl- The God of Wind His name means ‘feathered serpent’.

Tepeyollotl- The God of Earthquakes He is also the god of echoes and jaguars. His name means ‘heart of the mountain’.

Tlaloc- The God of Rain His name means ‘the one who is made out of earth’.

Xochipilli- The God of Art, Dance and Beauty His name means ‘flower prince’.

Atlaua- The Goddess of Water She is shown throwing water droplets.

The Religion of the Aztecs

A Brief Background Located in central Mexico Empire spanned from the 14th -16th centuries

A Brief Background The Aztecs referred to themselves as Mexica Tenochtitlan, the center of their civilization, is modern day Mexico City An Aztec myth states that one of their gods, Huitzilopochtli, told them to settle on the site where they witnessed an eagle on a cactus devouring a serpent. They named that land Tenochtitlan.

A Brief Background Practiced a Mesoamerican religion which served to: -unify the people -solve the mysteries of life -maintain order Fall of empire marked by takeover of Tenochtitlan by Spanish conquistadors in 1520s

A Syncretistic Religion Prior to the arrival of the conquistadors, the empire was highly successful and rapidly growing Success attributed to combining beliefs and practices of conquered people into one religion Practiced a syncretistic religion

Priestly Hierarchy Organized priestly hierarchy governed empire Priestly duties: -ensure regularity of seasonal cycles -servants to the deities -rule over people -conduct ritual ceremonies -lead military -govern schools

Priestly Hierarchy Levels of ascension: novice priests, offering priests, fire priests, Quetzalcoatl, and Tlatoani Tlatoani -high priest with divine right -head of the military -people were not allowed to look him in the eye

Priestly Hierarchy Quetzalcoatl was the title given to the two priests who ranked below Tlatoani (not to be confused with the god Quetzalcoatl) -presided over shrines atop the Great Temple -only priests allowed to marry and have families of their own Fire priests were the priests in charge of human sacrifices

Beginning of human sacrificing Idea started because of belief in main sun god Hulzilopochtli They believed that the sun god fought the moon and star gods every night to bring life to the earth so mankind could live Aztec people worshiped the sun god and felt obligated to repay him for fighting their battle by nourishing him

How to repay the Sun God They realized that they cannot nourish a god on what mere mortals would eat. They came to the conclusion that the gods must be nourished on what gives life, which is blood.

Types of Sacrifices Varied according to: Specific god being nourished The celebration that was going on

Sacrifice by God 3 examples: Name unknown Sacrifice to Rain God Tlaloc What was required? sacrifice was a mature woman from a noble family of Aztec descent Sacrifice to Rain God Tlaloc The sacrifice of a child with two cowlicks in their hair Sacrifice to strengthen Sun God during eclipse The sacrifice of the blood and heart of an Albino (believed they were “full of light”)

Sacrifice by Celebration 2 important celebrations God’s Feast Day During this day the priests of the community would kill their slaves for the gods done to try to sway the gods to provide the people with sustenance O’Nothing Days During the night, priests would dress up as one of the supreme gods would then wait on top of an extinct volcano and wait for the evening star to reach the top of the sky The priest would then open the victim’s chest and light their heart on fire while the heart was still beating they would tear the heart out of the sacrifices body and put it in a bowl to offer to the gods

GODS

Gods The Aztecs believed in gods for different situations Creation of their world For fertility, regeneration Death War Sacrificial nourishment of the sun

Categories of the Gods Nature gods Gods of creation Gods of excess Gods of maize and fertility Gods of death and the underworld The trade gods

Hulzilopochtli Also known as hummingbird Most important god the patron god of the entire Aztec society “patron god” is believed to be one who the Aztecs created their entire society around “patron god” is assumed to have created their remote ancestors as well as assigned the people their language, customs, characteristics, and professions The god of war, sacrifice, and the sun

Tezcatlipocatl Also known as smoking mirror The shaman god

Quetzalcoatl also known as feathered serpent The god of life

Levels of the world Human World Upper World Nether World

Upper World Inaccessible to humans Has 13 layers Also known as Tialocan

Human World Also known as the earth world

Nether World Has 9 layers Also known as Mictlan

The life cycle consists of birth, life, death, and rebirth. When someone dies they go to either to Mictlan, Tialocan, or the sun

Fallen warriors and women who died during childbirth were thought to have their souls “transform into hummingbirds that would follow the sun on its journey thorough the sky People that drowned went to Tialocan All others go to Mictlan

2 Types of Calendars Xiuhpohualli -Year Count Tonalpohualli - Day Count

Xiuhpohualli Xiuhpohualli – Year Count 365 day calendar that followed the agricultural year. Consisted of 18 months with 20 days in each 52 years

Tonalpohualli Tonalpohualli - Day Count 260 days Religious calendar A day consists of a number and a symbol. Each day sign is dedicated to a god.

Festivals Each month had its own festival Each festival had its own deity that was worshipped All of the festivals had agricultural themes Sowing, planting, and harvesting

Xiuhmolpilli Xiuhmolpilli To prevent the end of the world. Abstinence from work, fasting, ritual cleansing, ritual bloodletting, destruction of old household items and observance of silence

Toxcatl Fifth twenty-day month Sacrifice of a young man Tezcatlipoca- God of God’s