1. Religious Beliefs of the Aztecs
In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:
The Aztecs
Tenochtitlan
Religious Beliefs of the Aztecs
Aztec Human Sacrifice
Cortes

2. The Aztecs lived in central Mexico.

3. The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was
built on an island in Lake Texcoco in
1325.

4. Tenochtitlan Over 200,000 Aztecs lived in the capital.
At that time, the capital was about five times larger than London, England.
The Aztec capital was a religious center as well as a bustling center for trade and commerce.

5. The Aztecs believed in many gods.
They were polytheists.

6. Human Sacrifice The Aztecs worshipped many gods.
The Aztecs believed that the god of the sun required human blood to rise.
Human sacrifice ensured that the sun would rise.

7. Aztec priests
regularly
engaged in
human
sacrifice
to ensure
that the
sun would
rise.

8. Aztec human sacrifice frequently
occurred at the top of Aztec pyramids.

9. Warfare
For nearly 200 years, the Aztecs made war with neighboring ethnic groups.
Sometimes the Aztecs engaged in warfare simply to acquire victims for human sacrifice.
Skilled warriors were greatly valued in Aztec culture.

10. Cortes, a Spaniard, conquered the
Aztecs in 1519.

11. The Spaniards
had better
weapons and
horses.

12. Ultimately, Aztec society was destroyed
by the superior weapons of the Spaniards
and smallpox disease.

13. Questions for Reflection:
Who were the Aztecs and where did they live?
Describe the Aztec capital.
Why did the Aztecs engage in human sacrifice?
Who was Cortes and what did he do?
Why were the Aztecs defeated?