“Uic athan” Contrasting views and confusion Aztec “Uic athan” Contrasting views and confusion

Quetzalcoatl : Feathered Serpent

Sources Accounts of the Spanish Accounts of the Aztec Archaeology Conquistadores Priests Accounts of the Aztec Codex Mendoza Codex Florentine Archaeology

Modern reenactment. Recent resurgence in Aztec “identity” within descendant communities.

Route taken by Cortez

Great military leader who expanded the empire. Emperor 1440-1469 Moctezuma I Great military leader who expanded the empire. Emperor 1440-1469 Moctezuma II Very religious and philosophical leader. Emperor 1502-1520 II

Codex Mendoza depicting different warrior classes.

Nezahualcoyotl of the Tetzcoco Eagle Knight. Lifesize statue. Nezahualcoyotl of the Tetzcoco

Major origin story portrayed in post conquest codex.

Capital of Aztec Empire; Tenochitlan

Virtual model of Templo Major

Religion Bloody by modern standards. Some rituals gruesome (Xoce Totec ritual of renewal) Sacrifice meant to exhibit power and elicit fear and feed the dieties. Political purposes: Fear of Aztec helped reduce resistance.

Warrior Priest King Note earplugs as signs of rank.

Priest Water deity

The Texcocoans erected a temple for the one almighty god (Tloque Nahuague) which did not include a sacrificial altar. He is said to have resided at the highest point of heaven and did not interfere in human lives. Mexica resolved to include pantheon of gods.

As with Maya, gods often had many forms and responsibilities As with Maya, gods often had many forms and responsibilities. Quetzacoatl could be a wind god, god of life, represent Venus, a reincarnated king… Everyone feared the gods and priestly predictions affected behavior.

Sacrifice Blood sacrifice was an important feature of Aztec religion. Thousands were sacrificed each year.

Bloodletting was thought necessary to ensure the Sun was fed, to maintain the cycle of life. Priests formed a special class. During 1300’s rivals within Aztec religious authorities debated over pantheistic or monotheistic system.

Flint knife with mosaic handle.

Anthropohagi in perspective The word cannibal was first used by Columbus to equate anthropophagi to the tribes of the Khan (Kublai Khan in China) based on misinterpretation of Arawak accounts. Survival Ritual/sacrificial Subsistence

The Arts Aztec flute.

Craft specialization Obsidian workers feather crafters stone workers weavers architects physicians painters Gold workers traders merchants Pochteca materials scientists teachers civil servants pharmacists

Musical instruments

brazier

Legal Structure

Laws applied to all. Strict laws according to class distinctions. Serious offences were punishable by death.

Excavation of mass burial. Possible Aztec resistance fighters.

Social Roles Women and men had distinct social obligations and status Much of what we know comes from post-conquest manuscripts of the Aztec. Separate Schools for boys and girls.

The game Patolli. Players use beans with numbers like dice to gamble on outcome. Invoke the name of Maculixochtli. Four directions divided in 13 equal sacred 52

Midwife.

Diet. Household kitchen duties.

Insignia and heraldry.

Marriage ceremony; commoners

Farming tasks. Maize to feed the multitudes. Eggs and insects

Invasion and Conquest Cortez arrives at Vera Cruz in 1519. Aztec population at time of invasion over 2 million. Three years later population reduced to 70,000. Many contemporary critics of Cortez. His cousin Pizarro will invade Peru.