1. Mesoamerica: Mayan & Aztec Empires

2. Climate of Mesoamerica
Warm Temperatures
Plentiful Rainfall
Rich volcanic soils
Good for growing crops like maize, beans, and squash.

3. Early Mesoamerican Civilizations
Olmec
(1200 BC to 300 AD)
Zapotec
(1500 BC to 750 AD)
Toltec
(900 to 1200 AD)

4. The Aztecs
Located in modern day Mexico, and Tenochtitlan was the capital city and is located in what is now present day Mexico City.

5. Rise of the Aztec Empire
According to legend, the war god told one of the tribes’ leaders that they should look for a place where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake. It was there that they should settle and build a new capital.
They built Tenochtitlan after the prediction came true, and it was on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco.

6. Rise of the Aztec Empire Cont…
Population consisted of farmers & warriors.
Allied with Texcoco and Tlacopan.
After the alliance was formed the empire gained control over many region.
Ruled 400 – 500 other city-states.
5 Million people under Aztec rule.

7. Aztec Empire Conquered people paid tribute.
Tribute was a type of tax.
The Aztec Empire gained wealth:
Trade
Tribute

8. Tenochtitlan Size Population Architecture Five square miles 200,000
Approximately 3200 acres
Population
200,000
Architecture
Walled City
Pyramid
Temples
Palaces
Ball court
“Floating Gardens”
Chinampas
Canals
Markets

9. Aztec Society Social Classes
Though people were born into a certain class it was possible to move up the ranks within a life time.
Also apart of the middle class
Merchants and Artisans

10. Aztec Religion
Main deity in the Aztec religion was Huitzilopochtli and was known as both the sun god and war god.
Human sacrifice was practiced heavily in the Aztec religion.
Believed that these sacrifices gave power to the gods which in turn would insure the survival of the Aztec civilization.

11. Religion War captives were used in the sacrifices
In times of peace the Aztec would have to resort to ritualistic warfar.
In the year 1487 the Aztecs reported killing 84,400 war prisoners in four days at the great pyramid of Tenochitlan.
After a town was conquered the inhabitants where no longer eligible of sacrifice and became Aztec citizens.

12. Aztec Art
The Aztecs also made other religious and non-religious artifacts such as jade masks.
These artifacts were sold in markets by visiting merchants.

13. Aztec Achievements Written Record Astronomy
Glyphs- symbols that represented both objects and sounds.
Kept track of tax record and business details.
Astronomy
Calendar like the Mayans, but they also tracked the movements of some planets.

14. THAT’S ALL FOLKS!