1. The Americas: The Aztec

2. The Aztecs

3. Rise of the Aztecs
Aztecs (Mexica) migrate to Lake Texcoco in central Mexico c. 1325
Founded city of Tenochtitlan in 1325
Empire started in 1434
Aztec kings represented civil power and served as a representative of the gods on Earth

4. Aztec Government
City-states ruled by a speaker chosen from the nobility
The Great Speaker, ruler of Tenochtitlan, was in effect an emperor
Increasingly considered a living god
Conquered peoples maintained some autonomy if they paid tribute

5. Aztec Religion Aztec maintained traditional deities of Mesoamerica
128 major deities
Huitzilopochtli (right) was the Aztec tribal patron and patron deity of the cult of warfare and sacrifice

6. Human Sacrifice
Human sacrifice was a typical part of Mesoamerican religion
Aztec expand practice into a cult where military supplied war captives for sacrifice
Why?
Political purposes
Population control
Cannibal kingdom

7. Human Sacrifice

8. Tenochtitlan On an island in Lake Texcoco
Aztecs called it the “foundation of Heaven”
By 1519 had a population of 150,000
Connected by causeways and canals

9. Tenochtitlan “The Venice of the Americas”

10. Aztec Economy Agriculture
Food often provided as tribute
Built chinampas
Pochteca was a special merchant class which specialized in long-distance luxury trade
Cacao beans and gold dust were used as currency; bartering was most common
17’ long x 100’ to 330’ wide
20,000 acres of chinampas

11. Chinampas
17’ long x 100’ to 330’ wide
20,000 acres of chinampas
Chinampas were man-made floating islands 17’ long x 100’ to 300’ feet wide. Aztecs built over 20,000 acres of chinampas.

12. Chinampas

13. Aztec Society Originally divided into seven clans called calpulli
Calpulli redistributed land, organized labor gangs & military units, maintained temples & schools
Eventually a class of nobility emerged
Nobility controlled the priesthood & military

14. Aztec Society
The noble class consisted of a ruler, priests, & lords. Lords included landowners & judges. Priests played a very important part in Aztec society. They watched planets & stars to read the calendar & make predictions. The high priests made offerings to the gods, even sacrificing people. Prayers & songs were carried out by priests, as well.

15. Aztec Society
The middle class was the largest class in Aztec society. Members lived in modest houses made of adobe bricks. Farmers, artisans, merchants, and metal workers made up the middle class. They all contributed to society, but merchants were especially important. Through merchants, Aztecs were able to trade goods such as rubber, cotton, feathers, & cocoa.

16. Aztec Society
The lower class consisted of the poor, slaves, & servants. The poor were farmers & hunters. Their homes were small and simple, as were their meals. Children of slaves were born free. Slavery was a form of punishment; those w/ debts & prisoners of war were slaves. Servants, on the other hand, were not considered property, even though they served nobility. They could marry & run their own businesses.

17. Aztec Society
Moving Up and Down the Social Pyramid
Aztecs belonged to a class from birth. However, it was possible to move up through marriage or bravery in battle. People could also move down the pyramid & become slaves as punishment for serious crimes.
Rights of Women and Slaves
While women & men were not viewed as equals, women still had several rights. A woman could own property, divorce her husband, remarry, & ask for justice. Slaves had a surprising amount of rights. They could marry, have children, & buy their freedom.

18. Aztec Society Women’s primary role was the household
Women spent six hours a day grinding corn; restricted women’s rights
Marriages were arranged
Polygamy existed amongst the nobility
Women could inherit property