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The Aztecs

The Aztecs. I. The Valley of Mexico. Valley of Mexico: Mtn. basin – 7500 ft. Home of powerful cultures Large shallow lakes, fertile soil. A. Teotihuacan (“City of the Gods”). First major civ. of Central Mexico 1 st cent. = construction began 6 th cent. = peak of civ.

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The Aztecs

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  1. The Aztecs

  2. I. The Valley of Mexico • Valley of Mexico: • Mtn. basin – 7500 ft. • Home of powerful cultures • Large shallow lakes, fertile soil

  3. A. Teotihuacan (“City of the Gods”) • First major civ. of Central Mexico • 1st cent. = construction began • 6th cent. = peak of civ. • Avenue of the Dead – • Central avenue lined w/over 20 pyramids • Pyramid of the Sun • Center of trade network (obsidian) • By 750—abandoned? • Invasion? • Internal conflict?

  4. B. The Toltec • 900 CE: Toltecs rose to power • Ruled by military class • Capital = Tula • Spread influence as far south as Yucatan • Built pyramids & temples • Extremely warlike—CONQUEST • 1000: Topiltzin – tried to change religion • End human sacrifice • Worship different god (Quetzalcoatl – “Feathered Serpent”) • Forced into exile (Yucatan) • Legend of Topiltzin/Quetzalcoatl – “I’LL BE BACK.”

  5. II. The Aztec Empire • 1200 CE: arrived in Valley of Mex. • Contained city-states (Toltec) • Known as the “Mexica” – poor, nomads, northern Mex. • Adopted local cultures • Huitzilopochtli – god of sun & warfare • Eagle perched on cactus w/snake in its mouth • The place where the eagle screams, where he spreads his wings; the place where he feeds, where the fish jump, where the serpents coil up & hiss! ---from Cronica Mexicayotl

  6. Lake Texcoco • 1325: founded Tenochtitlan (modern Mex. City)

  7. A. Aztecs Grow Stronger • 1428: Triple Alliance: Aztecs, Texcoco, Tlacopan • 1500s: controlled over 80,000 sq. mi. • 38 provinces – pop. = 5-15 mill. • Used military conquest • Demanded tribute/taxes from conquered subjects

  8. B. Nobles Rule Aztec Society • Noble class = govt. officials, military leaders • Commoners = merchants, artisans, soldiers, farmers who owned land • Enslaved persons = lowest class • EMPEROR = sat atop Aztec social pyramid • Power was absolute

  9. C. Tenochtitlan • Early 1500s: • 200,000 to 400,000 pop. • Built on an island connected to mainland by 3 main causeways (Lake Texcoco) • Surrounded by smaller cities (connected by streets) • Canals intersected roads (canoes) • Tlatelolco: huge market • Chinampas: “floating gardens” • The Great Temple: giant pyramid w/twin temples at top • Sun god = Huitzilopochtli • Rain god = Tlaloc

  10. III. Religion Rules Aztecs • Worshiped animistic spirits (natural forces) • About 1,000 gods (adopted from other peoples) • Ex. = worshipped Quetzalcoatl (Toltec god) • Winged serpent, but also a pale-skinned man w/a beard

  11. A. Religious Practices • 2 main calendars: • Sacred calendar = 13 mos. of 20 days • Solar calendar = 18 mos. of 20 days • Unlucky 5 day prd. = nemontemi

  12. B. Sacrifices for the Sun God • Sun god = Huitzilopochtli (most important) • Made sun rise everyday • Battled forces of evil during the night • Needed nourishment (human blood) for strength • Otherwise, the world would plunge into darkness • Atop the Great Temple = sacrifices took place • 1487: 80,000 victims over 4 days • Needs for sacrifice motivated conquest

  13. IV. Problems in the Aztec Empire • 1502: Montezuma II became emperor • Called for more tribute/sacrifice b/c of growing pops. • Provinces rose up (prd. of unrest & rebellion) • Tried to lessen pressure • Many predicted terrible things (bad omens) • Lightning striking a temple • Partial eclipse of sun • Arrival of Spanish (return of Quetzalcoatl) (1519)

  14. V. Comparison of Cultures • Aztecs = Mayas • Romans = Greeks • Aztec calendar, mathematics, & writing = Mayan sources • Roman philosophy & science = Greek models

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