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The Aztecs

The Aztecs. Essential Standards. 6.G. 2- Apply the tools of a geographer to understand the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions .

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The Aztecs

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  1. The Aztecs

  2. Essential Standards • 6.G.2- Apply the tools of a geographer to understand the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions. • 6.G.1- Understand geographic factors that influenced the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions (i.e. Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas) over time • 6.C&G.1- Understand the development of government in various civilizations, societies and regions • 6.C.1- Explain how the behaviors and practices of individuals and groups influenced societies, civilizations and regions.

  3. Clarifying Objective • 6.G.2.1Use maps, charts, graphs, geographic data and available technology tools to draw conclusions about the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions • 6.G.1.4Explain how and why civilizations, societies and regions have used, modified and adapted to their environments (e.g., invention of tools, domestication of plants and animals, farming techniques and creation of dwellings). • 6.C&G.1.3Compare the requirements for (e.g., age, gender and status) and responsibilities of (e.g., paying taxes and military service) citizenship under various governments. • 6.C.1.3Summarize systems of social structure within various civilizations and societies over time

  4. Essential Question

  5. Who were the The Aztecs • The The Aztecs were a tribe that many people originated from the Atzlan Tribe of the Southwest United States • They were polytheistic people meaning they believed in multiple gods • They were a warrior culture but were supported by agriculture as corn/maize was their main food

  6. The Mexicas/Tenochca • The story of the Aztec Civilization begins with a nomadic people called the Mexicas/Tenochca • The Mexicas/Tenochca arrived in the Valley of Mexico on Lake Texcoco around 1250 A.D. • They found 5 other strong tribes living there already • They couldn’t find a place to settle

  7. The Mexicas/Tenochca • The Mexica/Tenochca wanted to settle on Lake Texcoco as as they realized that settling around a body of water was one of the major keys to the survival of a civilization • They moved from shore to shore on Lake Texcoco getting kicked out left & right because another civilization owned that shoreline

  8. The Mexicas • The Mexicas were finally invited to settle on poor lands by the Culhuacan who wanted to use the Mexicas/Tenochca as warriors • As a tribute the Mexicas/Tenochca asked permission to make the Culhuacan king’s daughter the goddess Yaocihuatl through an ancient Mexica/Tenochca ritual

  9. The Mexicas • Culhuacan King was honored and very happy and accepted the ritual as a sign of respect & friendship • The Culhuacan King’s daughter was led to a small temple

  10. Yaocihuatl • She was to become the goddess of war in the Aztec Culture • Yaocihuatl is a word that is used for a woman warrior • It translates to woman warrior in Spanish (mujerguerrera) or woman that wages war

  11. The Mexica’s Religious Belief • The Mexicas believed in order to make her a goddess she would need to live with the gods • In order to live with the gods she needed to be sacrificed (human sacrifice) • The Aztecs were known for making human sacrifices to their gods (the Mayans & Incas also offered sacrifices but not human sacrifices)

  12. Mexicas & Culhuacan Unification Ceremony • During the Mexicas/Tenochca & Culhuacan Unification Ceremony there was food & dance & laughter & thousands of people came • Then it became time for the Culhuacan King’s daughter to be recognized as a goddess

  13. Mexicas & Culhuacan Unification Ceremony • Everyone was wearing masks decorated in stone tiles, decorated wood & shells which was religious custom • With everyone watching one of the Mexica/Tenochca priests came out of the small temple wearing the Culhuacan King’s daughter’s face as a facemask

  14. Culhuacan King • Obviously the Culhuacan King was furious and expelled the Mexica/Tenochca out of Culhuacan territory • The Mexica again were nomadic and looking for a place to settle

  15. Where the Eagle Sits • That night that they were ordered to flee the Mexicas/Tenochca King had a dream • The dream ordered him to lead his people to the place where the eagle sits upon the cactus with a snake in his talons • The next day the Mexica/Tenochca King led them to an island where he witnessed an Eagle sitting on a Cactus with a snake in his talons

  16. Build Your City • In the dream the King was instructed to build a city where he found the Eagle on the cactus with the snake and the city would be prosperous beyond his dreams • The island where the Eagle sat upon the cactus happened to be in the middle of Lake Texcoco

  17. Tenochtitlan • The Mexicas/Tenochca began building the city which they named Tenochtitlan because they were known as the Tenochca • The Mexicas/Tenochca became skilled warriors and began attacking other tribes in the region (current day Mexico)

  18. Tenochtitlan • Their enemies began to call them the Aztecs for the region that they originally came from (Aztlan) • Tenochtitlan became the religious center & trade of the Aztecs Culture

  19. Sun Stone & Temples • Aztecs built temples to worship their gods • Aztecs create the Sun Stone as a tribute to their sun god • Some believe it served as the Aztec calendar although that theory many do not think is true • However the Sun Stone is still a symbol of pride in Mexico today

  20. Allying with the Mayans & ToltecThe Triple Alliance • In 1427 the Aztecs allied together with the Mayan & Toltec people • Itzacoatl came into power & became the Emperor of the Aztecs • Each of the three Cultures had their responsibilities

  21. Allying with the Mayans & ToltecThe Triple Alliance • The Toltec people were responsible for education • The Mayan’s were responsible for arts & government & societal structure • The Aztecs were responsible for expanding the empire & attacking other civilizations

  22. Aztecs Conquer • Under the Emperor Montazuma the Aztec empire conquered many villages around current day Mexico • When they conquered the village they would make the village become part of the Aztecs • This is why they became so large

  23. Moving to Tenochtitlan • Most of the conquered empires began moving to Tenochtitlan and the city became large • During the time of Montzmuma the Aztec Empire became huge

  24. Aztec Society • Aztec Society was centered around a Caste System • It was led by an emperor but your social status was determined by your lineage or who your parents were • Noble • Commoner

  25. Nobles & Commoners • If you were a noble you were believed to be a descendent of Quetzacoatl the wind god of religion • If you were a commoner you were not a descendent of any god

  26. City Structure • People lived in Calpulli which were their towns • Many Calpulli make a Altepetl which was like a small city • All of the Calpullis & Altepetl made up Tenochtitlan

  27. Education • The Aztecs required all children to be educated • Their parents were responsible for educating children up to age 14 • After age 14 children would go to telpochcalli or calmecac • Calmecac- priest, teacher, healer • Telpochcalli- history, military, trade skill

  28. Tenochtitlan becomes Huge • Tenochtitlan became enormous • At it’s height their were believed to be a minimum of 250,000 people that lived there. Some say more than 1,000,000 people may have lived there

  29. Fall of the Aztec Empire • The Fall of the Aztec Empire happened under Montazuma II • The Aztecs fell as a result of the Spanish Conquest to the Americas • We will go over that tomorrow though

  30. Important Points • 6.G.2- Using different maps & charts we can see that the Aztec Civilization was located in Mexico • 6.G.1- Lake Texcocco was a huge geographic factor that influenced the success of the Aztec Civilization • 6.G.1- Lake Texcoco was the reason Aztecs were able to grow Corn in their Chinampas which they traded for other things • 6.C&G.1- The Aztecs had a Caste system led by an emperor. In a caste system your social status depended on you lineage (your parents) • 6.C&G.1- Aztecs were either Nobles or commoners with Nobles thought to be descendents of the Religious god Quetzalcoatl • 6.C.1- Aztecs made human sacrifices to their gods

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