Toltecs and Aztecs

Introduction With the collapse of Teotihuican and the abandonment of the Mayan cities, Meso- America underwent major changes First came the rise of the Toltecs – established a capital in Tula in 968CE

Their Heritage The legend of Topiltzin and the God Quetzalcoatl This led to the movement of the Toltecs to the Yucatan area Their empire stretched across much of central Mexico The Toltecs attacked the city of Chichen Itza – which was once a major center for Mayan priests

The Toltec influence spread north They made have traded items like turquoise from SW America Questions exist on how far their influence went – some argue they may have penetrated into the Mississippian groups like the Hopewell peoples… others disagree

The Mississippian Culture Flourished CE Economy based on maize and beans Towns along rivers Large burial mounds Produced pottery Ritual executions and sacrifices The Cahokia – in Eastern Illinois – covered 5 miles and had some 30,000 people –They constructed on of the largest pyramids of this region – Monks Mound

The Aztecs The Toltec lasted until about 1150 The center of Mexican population shifted to the coasts The lakes of Mexico became the heartland The Aztec won these areas and built a powerful empire The Aztecs simply used the political anarchy after the fall of the Toltec to build a new civilization

They rewrote history to suit their purposes They consisted of about 10,000 Migrated to Lake Texcoco Once there, they came in contact with leftover Toltecs, and fought for control of the region The Aztecs gained a reputation as warriors and fanatical followers of their gods in which they offered human sacrifices to Founded a new city – Tenochtitlan in 1325 By then, they were completely independent