1. THE AZTECS

2. ORIGINS Migrants from the north “Aztlan” One of seven Chichimecan tribes Mexica vs. Aztec Looking for eagle with serpent (legend has it…) “People without faces” Took on culture of previous cultures (e.g. Toltecs)

4. EAGLE WITH SERPENT TODAY

5. LANGUAGE Nahuatl Many Spanish words derive from Nahuatl Tomate/tomatl Milpa/ milpa Atole/atolli Camote/comotli Tecolote/tecolotl Over a million speakers today in Central Mexico (rural) Place names abound (Xochimilco, Acapulco, Chapultepec, etc.)

6. MEXICA WRITING

7. COUNTING

8. TENOCHTITLAN 1325 Lake Texcoco Vision of/from Huitzilopochtli (patron god) in form of an eagle, with serpent on cactus (Mexican Flag) Swampy, marshy setting

10. TEMPLO MAYOR

11. TRIPLE ALLIANCE Mexica of Tenochtitlan were most powerful group. Allied with two other city-states to control most of current-day Mexico: Texcoco, Tenochtitlan, and Tlacopan

12. AZTEC RELIGION: Creation of the world: Trial and error, creation and rebirth Creation requires a god to sacrifice him/herself for the sun to exist Five Suns: Each ends in a cataclysmic event We are in fifth sun Must keep it going to survive Human sacrifice demanded….

13. HUITZILOPOCHTLI Aztec God of War Associated with sun in the sky Often represented like a hummingbird Warrior spirits said to come back as hummingbirds

14. HUMAN SACRIFICE Debt: Return for gods sacrificing selves for creation of sun, moon, earth. Human blood needed to keep the light, the sun, life Enemy captives Victims placed on special stones atop temple pyramids Hearts cut out by special priests, offered up to gods Form of intimidation vs. enemies One part of larger religious practices, including domestic altars, non-human sacrifices, music and dance exaggerated by Spaniards for own purposes

16. QUETZALCOATL God of learning and patron of priests Plumed serpent Was tricked by jealous gods, drunken, fornicated with his sister, and fled to the east in horror, promising to return Aztecs initially thought Hernan Cortes was Quetzalcoatl returning

17. AZTEC TIME Two calendars: 365 day xiuhpohualli (year count)xiuhpohualli 120 day tonalpohualli (day count) sacred calendar (13 x 20)tonalpohualli

18. AZTEC GOVERNMENT: NOBILITY King (tlotoani) Ruled the city-state; selected by council of nobles Lords with titles (tecuhtli) War heroes appointed to beGenerals, judges, governors Lesser nobles (pilli) Warriors (tequiua) Priests

19. AZTEC SOCIAL ORGANIZATION Nobility vs. commoners Nobles (hereditary) 10% (gov’t and economic control Commoners (90%) Macehualtin (workers, taxpayers, backbone of Aztec society) Tlalmaitl (serfs) no land, no taxes Tlacotin (slaves)

20. AZTEC STUDENTS BEING DISCIPLINED BY THEIR TEACHERS AT SCHOOL (CODEX MENDOZA)

21. JAGUAR WARRIOR

22. AZTEC EAGLE WARRIOR

23. ARTS AND SCIENCES Pictographic written language Poetry Stone sculptures Obsidian tools Astronomical observations Health and medicine

24. FEATHERWORK: MOCTEZUMA II’S HEADRESS

25. AZTEC CERAMICS

26. AZTEC STONE CARVINGS