1. The Aztecs Control Central Mexico
Chapter 16
Section 3

2. Key Terms
Obsidian
Quetzacoatl
Triple Alliance
Montezuma II

3. The Valley of Mexico 7,500 feet above sea level
Where Mexico City is now
Aztecs the greatest empire is Mesoamerica
Accessible resources
Fertile land

4. An Early City-State Teotihuacan-first major civilization
First century AD
6th century 150,000 to 200,000 people
Avenue lined with 20 pyramids dedicated to various gods
Pyramid of the sun the largest

5. An Early City-State People lived in apartment style buildings
Thriving center of trade
Obsidian-most valuable item
Green or black volcanic glass
Did not conquer neighbors or create an empire

6. An Early City-State
Their art, style and religion found all over Central America
City abruptly declined
Virtually abandoned by 750
Name means city of the gods

7. Toltecs Take Over 900 new people take over Capitol is Tula
Built pyramids and temples
Carved pillars like warriors
Warlike, based on conquest.

8. Toltecs Take Over Worshipped a fierce war god
Demanded blood and human sacrifice
Topiltzin- tried to change religion
Encouraged them to worship Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent)

9. Toltecs Take Over Uprising forces exile
Tolpiltzin and followers go to Yucatan Peninsula
Influences later Mayan culture
Power Declines
1200 end of their reign

10. Aztec Empire Mexico Valley 1200 Aztecs called Mexica Soldiers for hire
Poor nomadic people
Came from harsh deserts
Fierce and ambitious
Soldiers for hire
God of sun and god or warfare told to find city of their own

11. Aztec Empire
Look for a place where the eagle perched on a cactus holding a serpent
Small island in Lake Texcoco
1325 found the city of Tenochtitlan

12. Aztecs Grow Stronger 1428 joined with two other city-states
Triple alliance- Aztecs, Texcoco, Tlacopan
1500’s controlled a vast empire
80,000 square miles
38 provinces
5-15 million people
Central Mexico from Atlantic to Pacific

13. Aztecs Grow Stronger
Power based on military conquest and tribute from conquered lands
Let local rulers govern their area
Tribute
Gold, maize, jade, Cacao, beans or cotton
Refusal meant death and destruction of their village

14. Nobles Rule Aztec Society
Military rulers led
Made up the noble class
Vast estates, life of luxury
Two other classes
Commoners- merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers (owned land)
Enslaved persons- captives

15. Noble Rule Aztec Society
Emperor atop the social pyramid
Absolute power
Magnificent palace
Entered in bare feet and looked down

16. Tenochtitlan: A Planned City
1500’s became an urban center
200,000 to 400,000 people
Large than any European city of that time
Aztec engineers made raised road

17. Tenochtitlan a Planned City
Streets and broad avenues connected the city
Canals let canoes come into center city
Tlatelolco- huge market
Most items grown on chinampas (floating gardens)

18. Tenochtitlan a Planned City
Center of city massive walled complex
Palaces
Temples
Government buildings
Great Temple- giant pyramid with twin temples on top
One to sun god
One to rain god

19. Religion Rules Aztec Life
Tenochtitlan contained hundreds of temples
1000 gods
Aztecs worshipped Toltec gods
Quetzalcoatl- not only pictured as a feathered serpent but also pale skinned man with a beard

20. Religious Practices Public ceremonies Communicate and win their favor
Priest made offerings
Ritual dramas, songs, and dances
Aztec calendar full of religious festivals

21. Sacrifices for the Sun God
Huitzilopochtli- made the sun rise every day
Battled evil to get to next day
Needed human blood for nourishment
If no blood the god would be too weak to rise
World will be plunged into darkness

22. Sacrifices for the Sun God
Human sacrifice on a massive scale
Thousands led to temple
Hearts carved out with obsidian knives
Usually enslaved persons, criminals, people offered as tribute from their community
Aztecs made new conquests to get more victims

23. Problems in the Aztec Empire
1502 Montezuma II crowned emperor
Empire began to weaken
Montezuma wanted more tribute and sacrifices
Provinces rose up
Period of unrest and rebellion

24. Problems in the Aztec Empire
Aztecs predicted bad things would happen
Saw omens in everything
Most worrying event was the arrival of the Spanish
Fair skinned bearded strangers brought back thoughts of Quetzalcoatl