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The Aztecs

The Aztecs. The Aztecs. A tribe of hunters and farmers who migrated to the shores of Lake Texcoco in the 1200s. Founded Tenochtitlan in 1325. Empire borders stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and as far south as Guatemala.

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The Aztecs

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  1. The Aztecs

  2. The Aztecs • A tribe of hunters and farmers who migrated to the shores of Lake Texcoco in the 1200s. • Founded Tenochtitlan in 1325. • Empire borders stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and as far south as Guatemala. • Became a powerful tribe that was skilled in the art of war.

  3. Capital city of the Aztec empire. Most modern city of the time. Empire grew to more than 5 million at its peak. Built on an island, in Lake Texcoco, that had been enlarged until it was two square miles. Had a population of half a million people. The city was connected to the mainland by three causeways/bridges. Divided into four districts. Modern day Mexico City is built over the ruins of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan

  4. Aztec Warfare • Aztecs conquered surrounding tribes and forced them to pay large tributes. • Tribute = Taxes • Conquering other tribes allowed the Aztecs to gain wealth and slaves for sacrifice. • The conquered peoples were not happy and were easily convinced to revolt against the Aztecs.

  5. Aztec Government • As the civilization grew, they formed city-states that were governed by an emperor. • A council of nobles always chose the emperor from members of the royal family. • The most important emperor was Montezuma.

  6. Montezuma • Became emperor in 1502. • Built many temples, water conduits, and hospitals. • Expanded the empire as far south as Honduras. • Even though the other conquered tribes disliked him, he was thought of as a great ruler by the Aztecs. • Brought the Spaniards to Tenochtitlan.

  7. Religion • Polytheistic – many gods • Each village and each occupation had its own patron god. • Worshipped over 60 gods and goddesses – some helpful, some harmful. • To win favor from the helpful gods, the Aztecs made offerings to them. • Sometime these offerings were human sacrifices. • Pyramids were used as Temples. • Sacrifices were made on an altar at the top of the pyramid. • Blood would run down the steps. • Most sacrificial victims were prisoners of war.

  8. Quetzalcoatl – God of learning and the priesthood, also god of arts and crafts Tlaloc – Rain god, most important to farmers Huitzilopochtli – Sun god an god of war, chief god of the town of Tenochtitlan Homoyoca – Ancient Sun god

  9. Advanced Civilization • Aztecs had . . . • Mathematical system to maintain their empire • Calendar systems to organize their empire • Farming system was very efficient • Developed irrigation systems to help their crops grow during dry periods.

  10. Aztec Calendar • Used two types of calendars. • Lunar = based on the moon • Solar = based on the sun • The lunar calendar had 260 days • Divided into 13 months, each month having 20 days. • The Lunar calendar was considered magical and used to decide which days would be used for religious ceremonies and rituals.

  11. Aztec Calendar • The solar calendar had 365 days • Divided into 18 months, each month having 20 days. • This calendar helped them determine planting and harvesting times. • The extra five days were “nothing” days added to the end of each year and were considered unlucky. • No activities were performed during the “nothing” days. • At the end of the 5 days the Aztecs gave a sacrificial victim to the gods.

  12. Aztec Calendar Stone * Discovered in 1790 * 12 feet in diameter and weighs 20 tons Solar Calendar Lunar Calendar

  13. Aztec Calendar The image of the Sun god Tonatiuh is carved in the center of the Aztec calendar stone. Other carvings represent the Aztec days and religious symbols. Each month was represented by a dot. The individual days were given a specific name and symbol.

  14. Art • Art used religious subjects and themes. • The best remaining examples of Aztec art are architecture and sculpture. • Used stone, wood, jade, turquoise, metal, emerald, and volcanic glass. • Most Aztec gold treasures no longer exist as they were taken and melted down to reuse the gold. • Many buildings and pieces of artwork were destroyed by the Spanish. • Aztecs also made pottery and woven cloth.

  15. Aztec Sports • Tlachtli is a ball game that was played during religious ceremonies. • Court Requirements • Played on a court. In the shape of a capital “I.” • A vertical stone ring was in the middle of the side walls. • The object of the game was to put the ball through the ring. • They used a hard, rubber ball. This ball could only be moved by the players’ hips, knees, legs, and elbows. • This game was used to determine who was to be sacrificed next. • THE WINNERS!!!!

  16. Agriculture • Slash and burn method. • Terraces and Canals • Chinampas were small islands formed in lake and swamp area. • Made by digging mud at the bottom of the lake or swamp and piling it into little mounds. • Sometimes called floating gardens, even though they did not really float. • Common foods • Corn (Maize), beans, squash • Sweet potatoes, tomatoes, papayas, • Rubber, cotton and cacao beans

  17. Language • Had no alphabet. • Wrote in glyphs (pictures). • Paper was made from the bark of the wild fig tree. • The bark was soaked and beaten into sheets. • These sheets were coated with a varnish and stuck together. • They were then folded like an accordion (codex). • Spoke Nahuatl. • Some Aztec words • Acapulco, Mexico, avocado, chocolate, and tomato.

  18. The END of the Aztecs • 1519 • Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes lands on eastern coast of Mexico looking for gold • Conquistador = Spanish explorer or soldier • Had 11 ships, 500 soldiers, 1000 sailors and 16 horses • In order to prevent his men from leaving, he burned his ships. • Success or death. • Cortes trained his men and nearby natives that disliked the Aztecs. • By the time he reached Tenochtitlan, he had 1500 fighters . . . 1000 were natives.

  19. Cortes & the Aztecs • The Aztecs saw Cortes and his men, and believed that he was an Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, who had returned to earth. • He was taken back to Montezuma (emperor) and Tenochtitlan, where he saw what he called “the city of gold”. • Cortes was given gold in the hopes that he would take the gifts and leave. • After two years of struggle, Cortes and the Spanish were able to defeat the Aztecs in 1521. • During this time, Montezuma was a prisoner in his own palace. • Cortes hoped he could rule the Aztecs if he kept their leader hostage. • 240,000 Aztecs were killed, and the city was destroyed.

  20. How were the Spanish able to conquer the Aztecs so easily? • Guns • Cannons • Horses • Thought the men and their horses were one creature. • European diseases • Smallpox • 1520 – thousands died • The Aztec enemies helped the Spanish

  21. Life after the Aztecs • Major consequence of the Spanish conflict with the Aztecs . . . • Creation of a new Spanish empire by the end of the 1500’s. • Stretched from the southern tip of California to the tip of South America. • Thousands of colonists moved from Spain to settle in the New World. • Influenced religion, customs and trade.

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