The Aztecs

The Aztecs finally found refuge on small islands in Lake Texcoco where, in 1325, they founded the town of TENOCHTITLAN (modern-day Mexico City). Other Chichimecs followed who were more civilized but stole women and practiced sacrifice. –brought knowledge of the Maya calender system, cultivated crops with irrigation, constructed with stone. The Chichimec Period

Basin of Mexico Chain of interconnected lakes –Lake Texcoco deepest and water flowed from it to other lakes the Basin is about 3,000 sq miles and about 15% of that is covered by water. Population estimates at around A.D.1519 are between 1 to 1.2 million.

Aztec Empire

Tenochtitlan

How were they all fed? Used the Chinampas (floating gardens) for agriculture. –25,000 acres of chinampas at the time of contact. –gardens never actually floated, but were created by making use of the vegetaion in the swamps. –Floating water plants were used to build up gardens and then were dragged onto shore for chinampas. –They became anchored to the native cypress. –Lake mud was piled on and canals were built.

Chinampas However, although chinampas were very productive, the number of people living in the area at the time of contact could not keep up with subsistence and surplus food demands. These marsh plots also brought in birds and fish that could be gathered while they were working.

Chinampas Ancient Aztecs tending to chinampas

Cultural Innovations: Trade, Economics, Market System Part of inter-related regions which consisted of Morelos to the south, Puebla to the east, Mezquital to the north, and Toluca to the west. –although many crops the same, some areas had their specialty crops. –tropical fruits, cotton, cacao from Morelos, beans from Puebla. –flowers were also a big part of the economy because one of the great pleasures was of the smelling of flowers.

Aztec Market Market days were held once each five days, four times each month. Sometimes daily in larger towns. –reflected community craft specializations as well as imported goods. –also slaves were traded, and dogs for food (400 on a slow day). Bernal Diaz de Castillo says that he didn’t even have time to list how many things were offered one day at the market commodities and goods exchanged by barter.

Human sacrifice codex.htm

Cultural Innovations Art –Stone carving to communicate ideas. –Free-standing figures of Aztec deities. –Aztec Calender stone. Metallurgy –acquired from Maya. –Mostly gold, silver.

Art Obsidian vessel carved in the shape of a monkey Polychrome terracota plaque with molded and apliquéd sculpture of a human face Stone box with representations of corn cobs

Jewelry Necklaces found in the Great Temple at Tenochtitlan

Masks

Social Structure Basic unit of social organization –calpulli (clan) –not all lineages within the clan were equal. Membership by birth. –families traced their descent through fathers, which is a lineage, and these lineages make up a calpulli. –marry within the calpulli. –one lineage provides leader of that calpulli.

Four principle social categories: Pipiltin- ruler –ruler of the city state and his relatives. –only ones to own their own land Macehualtin-commoner clan. –serfs who worked others land. Pochtea-merchant clan. –owned communal land. Tlacotin-slaves. –no land, no rights. –Irreversible status.

Political Organization Divine King or ruler of Aztec Each city (other than Tenochtitlan) ruled by a petty- king selected from the pipiltin. Dual leadership-military and religious –supreme leader chosen from special lineage, with brother succeeding brother. –court which ruled over military, justice, treasury, and commerce. Moctezuma II hulman.edu/~delacova/florentin e-codex.htm

Moctezuma II and Cortes Moctezuma’s priestly training, particularly in the old Toltec traditions, was his downfall as he believed the return of Quetzalcoatl to be incarnated in Cortes, it paralyzed him and his vast armies until it was too late for the Aztecs. He believed it was his destiny to preside over the Aztecs while a total destruction of the Mexica civilization occurred. Moctezuma was considered a skilled statesman and many references were made by the Conquistadors to their admiration for him. While a captive of Cortes he lost his stature among the general population of Tenochtitlan and was hit in the head by a stone thrown by his former subjects and died while a captive of Cortes