1. Aztecs

2. Location Central Mexico Tenochtitlan Valley of Mexico
“City of the Gods”
Near Mexico City
Center for trade

3. Government Theocracy Social classes Emperor- absolute power Nobility
Govt. officials, priests, military leaders
Commoners
Merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers
Slaves

4. Society/Culture
Tenochtitlan
Planned city
Roads
Aqueducts

5. Society/Culture cont. Calendar Entertainment
Same as the Mayans
18 months of 20 days
5 extra days were bad luck
Entertainment

6. Religion Polytheistic Adopted from the Toltecs
Rituals, festivals, offerings
Sun god
Nourished by human blood

7. Economy Trade Market Agriculture Bigger than any in Spain
Produce sold at market

8. Downfall
Montezuma II
Last emperor
Demand for more tribute and sacrifice caused oppression
Spanish invaded
Hernando Cortez
believed to be Quetzalcoatl

9. Quetzalcoatl Feathered serpent god of Meso-America God of learning
Symbol of death, and rebirth
Was overthrown
Legend says he would return