1. Mr. Millican’s Humanities Class
THE AZTECS A Z T E C S
Mr. Millican’s Humanities Class

2. Geography A Z T E C S Spanned both highlands and coastal regions
Stretched from Atlantic to Pacific

3. Geography A Z T E C S Mountains with fertile valleys (volcanic ash)
Warm temperatures, long growing season

4. Religion A Z T E C S
Quetzalcoatl, the feather serpent god of wind, was known as the creator of humanity

5. Religion A Z T E C S
Huitzilopochtli, the war god, told the Aztecs to build their capital where they found an eagle, clutching a snake, on a cactus

6. Religion A Z T E C S
In order to appease Huitzilopochtli and ensure the sun rose every day, Aztecs committed human sacrifice, often by cutting out the heart

7. Achievements A Z T E C S
Tenochtitlan was built in the middle of Lake Texcoco, only accessible by causeways
Dikes were built along the edge of the city to prevent flooding

8. Achievements A Z T E C S
Chinampas were floating farm plots built in the middle of Lake Texcoco, eventually anchored by willows

9. Achievements A Z T E C S
Triple Alliance of Aztecs, Texcoco, and Tlacoplan in 1428 led to an empire of 5 million by 1520

10. Political System A Z T E C S
Emperor chosen from among brothers and sons of previous emperor by high council of 4 nobles
Had to be educated at a calmecac school, be over 30 and an experienced warrior

11. Political System A Z T E C S
Emperor took tribute from the altepetl (city states) that made up the empire
A Tlatoani led the altepel and a Cihuacoatl was the chief judge, both directly responsible to the Emperor

12. Political System A Z T E C S
The emperor was also the chief priest of the land and oversaw rituals (and sacrifice) as dictated by the Aztec calendar

13. Economics A Z T E C S
Pochteca controlled the vast Aztec trade network and often served as spies for the Emperor

14. Economics A Z T E C S
Aztecs exported such goods as maize, gold, copper, obsidian, and jade in order to gain cacao, quetzal feathers, rubber and jaguar skins

15. Social Structure A Z T E C S
Roles seldom changed, although in very rare cases talented commoners could attend a calmecac school and become priests or government officials

16. Social Structure A Z T E C S
Warfare was constant to keep a steady influx of prisoners to be used as sacrifice—those spared became slaves, mostly working on farms