World Civ - Aztec Empire (Beginning)

How Aztec started

• Came to power in Mesoamerica in the 1300s

• They searched for a homeland that was promised by the god Quetzalcoatl

• Lake Texcoco

  •  built on swampland

• Built chinampas

  • A raft on a water

• Montezuma

• Considered one of the most powerful rulers

  • Built temples

  • Aqueducts

  • And roads

• By 1500s

  • Aztec empire spread throughout present day southern Mexico

• Tenochtitlan was built on two islands

• To keep their gods happy

• The Aztecs believed that human sacrifice was necessary

• They used people to feed their gods

• Some of the people they sacrificed were Aztecs

• Prisoners

• Aztec Government

  • Aztecs had one king/emperor who ruled over all chosen by a council of Nobels and priest

  • Nobels served as

    • Judges

    •  officials

    • governors

    • Wore elaborate gold jewelry

  • Most crimes punishable by death or being sold into slavery

   

  Aztec Chocolate

   

  • The Aztecs had a passion for chocolate

  • In fact, one of the more sought after Aztec foods was actually a drink made of chocolate

  • Through the chocolate milk

   

  Aztec religion - Human sacrifice

  • About 20,000 per year

  • Bodies taken to the top of pyramids

    • Chests were cut open

    • Heart ripped out

    • And boy thrown off

  • Mostly prisoners of war, and some slaves, and some nobles

  • Constant warfare necessary to have enough prisoners of war around to sacrifices

  • Some historians say bodies were sometimes eaten by royalty

    • Polytheistic

  • Chief god was

    • Huitzilopochtli

      • The sun God

    • Fought with darkness each night to raise the sun

  • No promise the sun would win and rise

  • Sacrifice ensured sun would rise

   

  Aztec Economy

  • Economy based on agriculture

    • Farming

    • Chinampas

      • "floating gardens"

  • On reed mats piled with earth

  • Filled in lakes and made channels for irrigation

    • Grew, corn, squash, and beans

   

  Aztec Intellectual & Artistic Achievements Callender

   

  • 365 day calendar and a 260 ritual calendar

  • Calculates that the world would end on December 21st

   

  • Spanish came in 1519

  • AD search of Gold, God, and Glory

  • Led by Hernan Cortes

  • Aztec thought Cortez was Quetzalcoatl