3. Essential Standards
6.G.2- Apply the tools of a geographer to understand the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions.
6.G.1- Understand geographic factors that influenced the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions (i.e. Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas) over time
6.C&G.1- Understand the development of government in various civilizations, societies and regions
6.C.1- Explain how the behaviors and practices of individuals and groups influenced societies, civilizations and regions.

4. Clarifying Objective
6.G.2.1Use maps, charts, graphs, geographic data and available technology tools to draw conclusions about the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions
6.G.1.4Explain how and why civilizations, societies and regions have used, modified and adapted to their environments (e.g., invention of tools, domestication of plants and animals, farming techniques and creation of dwellings).
6.C&G.1.3Compare the requirements for (e.g., age, gender and status) and responsibilities of (e.g., paying taxes and military service) citizenship under various governments.
6.C.1.3Summarize systems of social structure within various civilizations and societies over time

5. Essential Question

6. Who were “The Aztecs”
The The Aztecs were a tribe that many people originated from the Atzlan Tribe of the Southwest United States
They were polytheistic people meaning they believed in multiple gods
They were a warrior culture but were supported by agriculture as corn/maize was their main food

7. The Mexicas/Tenochca
The story of the Aztec Civilization begins with a nomadic people called the Mexicas/Tenochca
The Mexicas/Tenochca arrived in the Valley of Mexico on Lake Texcoco around 1250 A.D.
They found 5 other strong tribes living there already
They couldn’t find a place to settle

8. The Mexicas/Tenochca
The Mexica/Tenochca wanted to settle on Lake Texcoco as as they realized that settling around a body of water was one of the major keys to the survival of a civilization
They moved from shore to shore on Lake Texcoco getting kicked out left & right because another civilization owned that shoreline

9. The Mexicas
The Mexicas were finally invited to settle on poor lands by the Culhuacan who wanted to use the Mexicas/Tenochca as warriors
As a tribute the Mexicas/Tenochca asked permission to make the Culhuacan king’s daughter the goddess Yaocihuatl through an ancient Mexica/Tenochca ritual

10. The Mexicas
Culhuacan King was honored and very happy and accepted the ritual as a sign of respect & friendship
The Culhuacan King’s daughter was led to a small temple

11. Yaocihuatl She was to become the goddess of war in the Aztec Culture
Yaocihuatl is a word that is used for a woman warrior
It translates to woman warrior in Spanish (mujer guerrera) or woman that wages war

12. The Mexica’s Religious Belief
The Mexicas believed in order to make her a goddess she would need to live with the gods
In order to live with the gods she needed to be sacrificed (human sacrifice)
The Aztecs were known for making human sacrifices to their gods (the Mayans & Incas also offered sacrifices but not human sacrifices)

13. Mexicas & Culhuacan Unification Ceremony
During the Mexicas/Tenochca & Culhuacan Unification Ceremony there was food & dance & laughter & thousands of people came
Then it became time for the Culhuacan King’s daughter to be recognized as a goddess

14. Mexicas & Culhuacan Unification Ceremony
Everyone was wearing masks decorated in stone tiles, decorated wood & shells which was religious custom
With everyone watching one of the Mexica/Tenochca priests came out of the small temple wearing the Culhuacan King’s daughter’s face as a facemask

15. Culhuacan King
Obviously the Culhuacan King was furious and expelled the Mexica/Tenochca out of Culhuacan territory
The Mexica again were nomadic and looking for a place to settle

16. Where the Eagle Sits
That night that they were ordered to flee the Mexicas/Tenochca King had a dream
The dream ordered him to lead his people to the place where the eagle sits upon the cactus with a snake in his talons
The next day the Mexica/Tenochca King led them to an island where he witnessed an Eagle sitting on a Cactus with a snake in his talons

17. Build Your City
In the dream the King was instructed to build a city where he found the Eagle on the cactus with the snake and the city would be prosperous beyond his dreams
The island where the Eagle sat upon the cactus happened to be in the middle of Lake Texcoco

18. Tenochtitlan
The Mexicas/Tenochca began building the city which they named Tenochtitlan because they were known as the Tenochca
The Mexicas/Tenochca became skilled warriors and began attacking other tribes in the region (current day Mexico)

19. Tenochtitlan
Their enemies began to call them the Aztecs for the region that they originally came from (Aztlan)
Tenochtitlan became the religious center & trade of the Aztecs Culture

20. Sun Stone & Temples Aztecs built temples to worship their gods
Aztecs create the Sun Stone as a tribute to their sun god
Some believe it served as the Aztec calendar although that theory many do not think is true
However the Sun Stone is still a symbol of pride in Mexico today

21. Allying with the Mayans & Toltec The Triple Alliance
In 1427 the Aztecs allied together with the Mayan & Toltec people
Itzacoatl came into power & became the Emperor of the Aztecs
Each of the three Cultures had their responsibilities

22. Allying with the Mayans & Toltec The Triple Alliance
The Toltec people were responsible for education
The Mayan’s were responsible for arts & government & societal structure
The Aztecs were responsible for expanding the empire & attacking other civilizations

23. Aztecs Conquer
Under the Emperor Montazuma the Aztec empire conquered many villages around current day Mexico
When they conquered the village they would make the village become part of the Aztecs
This is why they became so large

24. Moving to Tenochtitlan
Most of the conquered empires began moving to Tenochtitlan and the city became large
During the time of Montzmuma the Aztec Empire became huge

25. Aztec Society Aztec Society was centered around a Caste System
It was led by an emperor but your social status was determined by your lineage or who your parents were
Noble
Commoner

26. Nobles & Commoners
If you were a noble you were believed to be a descendent of Quetzacoatl the wind god of religion
If you were a commoner you were not a descendent of any god

27. City Structure People lived in Calpulli which were their towns
Many Calpulli make a Altepetl which was like a small city
All of the Calpullis & Altepetl made up Tenochtitlan

28. Education The Aztecs required all children to be educated
Their parents were responsible for educating children up to age 14
After age 14 children would go to telpochcalli or calmecac
Calmecac- priest, teacher, healer
Telpochcalli- history, military, trade skill

29. Tenochtitlan becomes Huge
Tenochtitlan became enormous
At it’s height their were believed to be a minimum of 250,000 people that lived there. Some say more than 1,000,000 people may have lived there

30. The Fall of the Aztec Empire happened under Montazuma II
The Aztecs fell as a result of the Spanish Conquest to the Americas
We will go over that tomorrow though

31. Important Points
6.G.2- Using different maps & charts we can see that the Aztec Civilization was located in Mexico
6.G.1- Lake Texcocco was a huge geographic factor that influenced the success of the Aztec Civilization
6.G.1- Lake Texcoco was the reason Aztecs were able to grow Corn in their Chinampas which they traded for other things
6.C&G.1- The Aztecs had a Caste system led by an emperor. In a caste system your social status depended on you lineage (your parents)
6.C&G.1- Aztecs were either Nobles or commoners with Nobles thought to be descendents of the Religious god Quetzalcoatl
6.C.1- Aztecs made human sacrifices to their gods