1. Aztecs
People of the Sun

2. Aztec History Aztecs (Mexicas)
Nomads (Wanderers)-approximately 200 years
Tried to settle in Valley of Mexico (1300) but driven away.

3. Established City on an island in a lake (1325)
This lake was Lake Texcoco
The island was named Tenochtitlan
Aztec Empire-spread from one side of present day Mexico to the other. (Pacific Ocean to Gulf Coast)

4. Toltecs-another tribe, the Aztecs admired them.
1st Aztec king was a Toltec
By 1500-Aztecs were the most powerful tribe in Mexico
Army was over 600,00 warriors.

5. Quetzalcoatl (God of Toltecs)
Huitzilopochtli-God of War
Major purpose of war-capture victims to sacrifice because the sun would die unless the god was honored

6. Social Structure Upper Class (Pipiltin)
Owned land, had full education, government jobs, king chosen from this group
Ordinary Citizens (Macehualtin)
They were taught reading, writing, astrology and theology (the study of gods and religion); farmers, soldiers, merchants, artists
Slaves (Mayeques)
Worked the land for others, servants

7. Warfare War was important to culture
Soldiers duty was to capture for sacrifices
Military training started young
Squads of 20 combined to form units of 400

8. Weapons
Macana-paddle shaped wooden club edged with sharp pieces of obsidian
Obsidian-black glass that comes from volcanoes
Atlatl-spear thrower
Bows/Arrows and blow guns
Aztecs would send arrows and shields to the enemy before an attack

9. Siege of Tenochtitlan 1519-Spanish/ Hernan Cortez (Cortes)
Lasted 80 days
500 Spanish men
200,000 Indians allies fought with Cortez
Cortez captured Montezuma (Moctezuma)- leader of Aztecs

10. Aztecs lose 240,000 men
Aztecs also lose 300,000 to smallpox and 60,000 left army
Spaniards and their allies only lose 30,000 men
By 1521 the Aztec Empire is destroyed