Borrowed from Mrs. Valenti’s World History Class Saddleback Valley, CA Thanks Mrs. Valenti!

The Aztec Empire

Their land was mostly swamp  They couldn’t grow crops such as corn or cotton  Timber to build huts was scarce too

The first Aztecs were farmers, but when they arrived in Central America, all the good farmland was taken.  To survive, they had to hire themselves out as warriors. The Aztec Empire

War was the key factor in the Aztecs’ rise to power. The Aztecs built alliances, or partnerships, to build their empire.

The Aztec Empire The Aztecs made the people they conquered pay tribute, by giving them cotton, gold, or food.

The Aztec Empire Conquered peoples could keep their own religion, language, social structure and customs  But most were on the brink of starvation due to the need to pay tribute This made them resent the Aztec rulers

The Aztec Empire The Aztecs controlled a huge trade network. Markets drew buyers and sellers from all over the Aztec Empire.

The Aztec Empire By the early 1500s the Aztecs had the most powerful state in Mesoamerica.

Tenochtitlán Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the Aztec Empire. It was built in the middle of a lake, on an island.

Tenochtitlán The Aztecs built causeways, or raised roads across water or wet ground, so people could access the city.

Tenochtitlán The city had huge temples, a busy market, clean streets, and magnificent palaces. It was the greatest city in the Americas during the time of the Aztecs.

The Spanish Conquest In the late 1400s Spanish explorers and soldiers arrived in the Americas.  The soldiers were called conquistadors. Conquistadors arrived looking for new lands, searching for gold, and looked to spread the Catholic religion.

The Spanish Conquest In 1519, a small group of Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortés reached Mexico.

The Spanish Conquest Cortés landed with over 550 men, 16 horses, 14 cannons, and a few dogs  The Aztec ruler, Moctezuma, sent messengers to greet the ships. Cortés fired his cannons to show his might

The Spanish Conquest This was the first time that the Aztecs had seen cannons, horses, or men with white skin  Moctezuma thought Cortés might be Quetzalcoatl an ancient god that had come to reclaim his earthly kingdom.

The Spanish Conquest  Moctezuma initially welcomed Cortés into Tenochtitlan A big mistake

The Spanish Conquest Within days, Cortés took Moctezuma hostage and took over the Aztecs.  Gold and sliver could not buy his freedom

The Spanish Conquest Six months later, some of Cortés’ deputies massacred thousands of Aztec people, triggering a rebellion  Moctezuma died in the rebellion Its unclear which side killed Moctezuma

The Spanish Conquest The Aztec rebellion drove the Spanish out on Tenochitclan; but it also drove them into the lands of the Aztecs’ enemies  Cortés persuaded those enemies to help him take over the Aztecs

The Spanish Conquest In May 1521, with a huge army behind them, the Spanish laid siege to the Aztec capital  Boat traffic was blocked, supplies could not be received

The Spanish Conquest An epidemic broke out amongst the Aztecs  Diseases were brought over by the Spaniards

The Spanish Conquest On August 13, 1512, with most of the warriors dead from disease, starvation, or war wounds, the Aztecs gave up  Thousands of them were enslaved, most fled to the countryside

The Spanish Conquest The Spanish conquest devastated the Aztec population  Spanish nobles took over the land and forced the Aztecs into slavery by working the silver mines

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs Disease  The Spanish had unknowingly brought deadly diseases such as smallpox to the Americas. These diseases killed the Aztecs, who had never been exposed to such diseases.

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs Diseases decimated the Aztec population. Disease killed more Aztecs than the Spanish did. The spread of disease was the main reason that the Spanish were able to eventually defeat the Aztecs.

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs Alliances  The Spanish had made allies in the region who gave them supplies, information, and warriors.

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs The Aztec had fought some civil wars prior to the arrival of Cortés  This hurt unity, led to a lack of resources, and killed off many of their better warriors

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs Weapons  The Spanish had better weapons than the Aztecs. They had cannons, armor, swords, and horses that the Aztecs did not have.

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs Geography  The Spanish were able to cut off the capital city. The people had no food or water, so many Aztecs died of starvation.