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The Aztecs: Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization

Explore the Aztec civilization from Central Mexico, known for their theocracy, brutal wars, chinampa agriculture, polytheistic beliefs, and eventual conquest by Spanish conquistadors. Learn about their art, social structure, and more.

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The Aztecs: Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization

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  1. Aztecs – c. 1350- 1550 A Continuation of the Olmec and Maya cultures

  2. Location / Geography • Central Mexico (not the Yucatan) • Capital at Tenochtitlan (island)‏500,000 people • Total Pop: 10-20 million

  3. Politics • Theocracy led by divine king/Priest • Military – nearly constant brutal wars for conquest, collect tribute, captives forslaves and sacrifice

  4. Economics • Agriculturally based • merchants are limited by what they can carry since they don’t have large pack animals • Chinampas – huge floating islands for agriculture • The great market – daily trade in the merchant section of large cities

  5. Chinampa

  6. Religion • Polytheistic • Many Temples based on astronomy for worship, agricultural planning and sacrifice • Each holiday included ceremonies involving human sacrifice/cannibalism • Fatalistic and cyclical view of the world

  7. Social • Large gap between upper/lower classes • Role of Women – decide fate of prisoners, domestic chores (grinding maize), can inherit land • Common people in constant fear of war/sacrifice/slavery

  8. Intellectual • calendar, numbers and pictorial writing similar but not identical to Maya • Capital built on an island required great planning and coordination

  9. Art • Temples • Gold objects • Sculpture • Skull racks

  10. Conquered by Spanish • Spanish conquistadors led by Cortes crush the Aztecs during the 1530s • More on that later

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