Religious Beliefs of the Aztecs In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms: The Aztecs Tenochtitlan Religious Beliefs of the Aztecs Aztec Human Sacrifice Cortes

The Aztecs lived in central Mexico.

The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was built on an island in Lake Texcoco in 1325.

Tenochtitlan Over 200,000 Aztecs lived in the capital. At that time, the capital was about five times larger than London, England. The Aztec capital was a religious center as well as a bustling center for trade and commerce.

The Aztecs believed in many gods. They were polytheists.

Human Sacrifice The Aztecs worshipped many gods. The Aztecs believed that the god of the sun required human blood to rise. Human sacrifice ensured that the sun would rise.

Aztec priests regularly engaged in human sacrifice to ensure that the sun would rise.

Aztec human sacrifice frequently occurred at the top of Aztec pyramids.

Warfare For nearly 200 years, the Aztecs made war with neighboring ethnic groups. Sometimes the Aztecs engaged in warfare simply to acquire victims for human sacrifice. Skilled warriors were greatly valued in Aztec culture.

Cortes, a Spaniard, conquered the Aztecs in 1519.

The Spaniards had better weapons and horses.

Ultimately, Aztec society was destroyed by the superior weapons of the Spaniards and smallpox disease.

Questions for Reflection: Who were the Aztecs and where did they live? Describe the Aztec capital. Why did the Aztecs engage in human sacrifice? Who was Cortes and what did he do? Why were the Aztecs defeated?