The Aztecs Control Central Mexico Chapter 16 Section 3

Key Terms Obsidian Quetzacoatl Triple Alliance Montezuma II

The Valley of Mexico 7,500 feet above sea level Where Mexico City is now Aztecs the greatest empire is Mesoamerica Accessible resources Fertile land

An Early City-State Teotihuacan-first major civilization First century AD 6th century 150,000 to 200,000 people Avenue lined with 20 pyramids dedicated to various gods Pyramid of the sun the largest

An Early City-State People lived in apartment style buildings Thriving center of trade Obsidian-most valuable item Green or black volcanic glass Did not conquer neighbors or create an empire

An Early City-State Their art, style and religion found all over Central America City abruptly declined Virtually abandoned by 750 Name means city of the gods

Toltecs Take Over 900 new people take over Capitol is Tula Built pyramids and temples Carved pillars like warriors Warlike, based on conquest.

Toltecs Take Over Worshipped a fierce war god Demanded blood and human sacrifice Topiltzin- tried to change religion Encouraged them to worship Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent)

Toltecs Take Over Uprising forces exile Tolpiltzin and followers go to Yucatan Peninsula Influences later Mayan culture Power Declines 1200 end of their reign

Aztec Empire Mexico Valley 1200 Aztecs called Mexica Soldiers for hire Poor nomadic people Came from harsh deserts Fierce and ambitious Soldiers for hire God of sun and god or warfare told to find city of their own

Aztec Empire Look for a place where the eagle perched on a cactus holding a serpent Small island in Lake Texcoco 1325 found the city of Tenochtitlan

Aztecs Grow Stronger 1428 joined with two other city-states Triple alliance- Aztecs, Texcoco, Tlacopan 1500’s controlled a vast empire 80,000 square miles 38 provinces 5-15 million people Central Mexico from Atlantic to Pacific

Aztecs Grow Stronger Power based on military conquest and tribute from conquered lands Let local rulers govern their area Tribute Gold, maize, jade, Cacao, beans or cotton Refusal meant death and destruction of their village

Nobles Rule Aztec Society Military rulers led Made up the noble class Vast estates, life of luxury Two other classes Commoners- merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers (owned land) Enslaved persons- captives

Noble Rule Aztec Society Emperor atop the social pyramid Absolute power Magnificent palace Entered in bare feet and looked down

Tenochtitlan: A Planned City 1500’s became an urban center 200,000 to 400,000 people Large than any European city of that time Aztec engineers made raised road

Tenochtitlan a Planned City Streets and broad avenues connected the city Canals let canoes come into center city Tlatelolco- huge market Most items grown on chinampas (floating gardens)

Tenochtitlan a Planned City Center of city massive walled complex Palaces Temples Government buildings Great Temple- giant pyramid with twin temples on top One to sun god One to rain god

Religion Rules Aztec Life Tenochtitlan contained hundreds of temples 1000 gods Aztecs worshipped Toltec gods Quetzalcoatl- not only pictured as a feathered serpent but also pale skinned man with a beard

Religious Practices Public ceremonies Communicate and win their favor Priest made offerings Ritual dramas, songs, and dances Aztec calendar full of religious festivals

Sacrifices for the Sun God Huitzilopochtli- made the sun rise every day Battled evil to get to next day Needed human blood for nourishment If no blood the god would be too weak to rise World will be plunged into darkness

Sacrifices for the Sun God Human sacrifice on a massive scale Thousands led to temple Hearts carved out with obsidian knives Usually enslaved persons, criminals, people offered as tribute from their community Aztecs made new conquests to get more victims

Problems in the Aztec Empire 1502 Montezuma II crowned emperor Empire began to weaken Montezuma wanted more tribute and sacrifices Provinces rose up Period of unrest and rebellion

Problems in the Aztec Empire Aztecs predicted bad things would happen Saw omens in everything Most worrying event was the arrival of the Spanish Fair skinned bearded strangers brought back thoughts of Quetzalcoatl