1. THE AZTECS

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

3. 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.)

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

5. TEMPLO MAYOR

6. TRIPLE ALLIANCE Mexica of Tenochtitlan were most powerful group. Allied with two other city-states to control most of current-day Mexico

7. HUITZILOPOCHTLI Aztec God of War Often represented like a hummingbird Warrior spirits said to come back as hummingbirds

8. 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 Queztalcoatl returning

9. 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

10. AZTEC TIME Five Suns: Each ends in a cataclysmic event We are in fifth sun Must keep it going to survive Two calendars: 365 day xiuhpohualli (year count)xiuhpohualli 120 day tonalpohualli (day count) sacred calendar (13 x 20)tonalpohualli

11. AZTEC GOVERNMENT King (tlotoani) Ruled the city-state; selected by council of nobles Lords with titles (tecuhtli) Lesser nobles (pilli)

12. SOCIAL CLASSES Nobility vs. commoners Commoners (90%) Calpolli tlacotin (servants)

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