1. The Aztecs
Ms. Baquedano

2. Origin Myth Aztecs were originally nomadic hunters
Believed they would one day see an eagle on a cactus with a snake in its beak
This would be a sign from the gods that this is where they should build their great city
In 1325, the Aztecs settled on an island in Lake Texcoco, building the city of Tenochtitlan
This is where the Mexican flag design comes from

3. Valley of Mexico
Area was first settled by the Teotihuacans, then the Toltecs, then the Mexica [ pronounced me-hee-kah], who later turned into the Aztecs
The Aztecs fled a place called Chapultepec to finally settle on the island of Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan was easy to defend, had plenty of fish, and water birds to eat

4. Beginnings Began as mercenaries for group called the Tepanecs
Itzcoatl, Aztec ruler, rebels against the Tepanecs and forms a Triple Alliance with 2 other city-states, and defeated them
Itzcoatl set out to make the Aztecs powerful and legendary, even going as far as burning Aztec history to rewrite them as descendents of the Toltecs

5. Tenochtitlan
Even though it was an island, the city became a HUGE amazing city
Aztecs were master builders – some of their buildings still stand
Built “floating gardens” called chinampas to grow crops
Built by putting poles in the water, and filling the space in between with mud, rocks, and straw