Empire of Blood: The Aztecs

Mesoamerica In what is now southern Mexico and Central America Rain forests cover the region Fertile soil made this a good area for farming People first appeared in this area around 12,000 BC Maize (corn) being grown around 3500 BC

The Aztec Empire Ruled a large empire in central Mesoamerica Founded around 1200 Controlled a huge trade network

Tenochtitlan Founded in 1325 Island in the middle of Lake Texcoco Present-day Mexico City Seat of the Aztec Empire until 1521 At the time of Spanish conquest, it had between 200, ,000 people living in it Only Paris and Constantinople were larger…it was the third largest city IN THE WORLD!!

An artist’s perspective of what Tenochtitlan may have looked like at it height

Aztec Society People divided into social classes Kings the most important Priests and warriors below kings Merchants and artisans next Farmers and slaves the lowest Farmers delivered periodic “tribute” payments to state officials Translation – they paid taxes!

An Empire of Blood Believed the Gods created the Earth by individual sacrifice Essentially, by letting their blood flow, the Gods had given moisture to the Earth, allowing crops to grow Therefore, to honor their sacrifice, the Aztecs believed they too had to sacrifice Priests performed self-sacrifice Piercing, blood-letting Presided over killing of human victims

What would cause a society to believe that killing humans was necessary to their survival? Can you think of any modern-day societies that have beliefs that mirror this (maybe not human sacrifice, but similar ideas)?

Huitzilopochtli, Mexica god of War. As the Aztecs continued to have military success, priests convinced the populace that it was due to these human sacrifices. So…the more military success, the more humans would be sacrificed. Vicious circle, huh?

Any volunteers? Where did these human victims come from? Criminals Captured warriors Slaves Sport or ritual? The Mexica believed human sacrifice was necessary to the survival of the world Though gruesome to us, it was a religious necessity to them Very different from other societies which valued blood-lust – such as the Romans

Aztec Achievements Built floating gardens called chinampas Studied astronomy and created a calendar based on 365 days Built bridges and canals Had a complex writing system

Reflection Would we allow a present-day society to perform ritualistic sacrifices on unwilling human beings? Even for religious purposes? How then should we judge the Aztec Empire? Were they wrong? As historians, should we even bother with placing a value judgment on their actions?