Aztecs Geography Legend to settle where eagle is

Aztecs

Geography Legend • to settle where eagle is perched on cactus with snake in its beak

Geography • Aztecs settled in the Valley of Mexico on a small island in the middle of Lake Texcoco • Valley of Mexico is in the highland basin of central Mexico • Named their settlement Tenochtitlan

Geography • Tenochtitlan was a good place to settle because • Easy to defend • It was a rich source of food • It was easy for to get to for trading • Canals made transportation and getting around easy

Geography • Aztecs at their height • Empire had 10 million people • Valley of Mexico about 1 million people • Tenochtitlan – 200, 000 people • Central Mexico • Costal Guatemala • Moctezuma was the leader beginning in 1502

Geography & History • Downfall of the civilization began in 1519 with the arrival of Hernan Cortes and the Spaniards • Military fighting • Diseases – small pox

Religion • Worshiped many gods • Kings ruled with the blessing of the gods • Tezcatlipoca • All powerful god • Tlaloc • God of rain (water and harvest) • Huitzilopochtli • MOST IMPORTANT GOD • Brought success in battle • Kept sun in sky • Human sacrifice kept Huitzilopochtli strong & sun in sky

RELIGION MOCTEZUMA HUITZILOPOCHTLI

Achievements • Architects • • Templo Mayor • Largest temple in the plaza • Two shrines at the top • One for Tlaloc Raised up road that connected the island to the shore Brought fresh water to the island Avenues & canals • • • Aqueducts • • One for Huitzilopochtil Causeway • • • Made travel easy Chinampas • Floating islands • Plots of gardens or fields for farming • Used to expand land Dikes • Prevent flooding and circulate water for chinampas

Achievements Causeway Templo Mayor Canals

Achievements Chinampas Aqueduct

Achievements • Artisans • Baskets, pottery, and sandals • Jewelry • Mosaics • Feather work – headdresses, capes, & shields

Achievements Language • Skilled orators • Tell stories from past and legends of the gods • Nahuatl is Aztec language • Poetry

Politics • No true central government • Loose collection of city-states • Maintained control through military force • Led by a king • King selected by council of nobles

Politics • New king had to prove military skills and win tribute • King had five advisors • One prime minister – run day to day affairs • Four military generals

Politics • Lower level of advisors • Judges • Clerks • Tax collectors • Cities were divided into districts called calulli • Led by district chief

Economy • For most commoners life centered around farming • Men tended fields • Women household duties • Artisans and traders were well respected • • Artisans • Sandals • Baskets • Feather headdress • pottery Traders • Travel to obtain exotic goods – feathers and stones • Trade at market • Sometimes cacao beans used for money

Social • There were two classes – nobles and commoners • Nobles • 5 -10% of population • Trace lineage to first Aztec king • Held leadership positions with the government and military

Social • Commoners • • Most were farmers • Men tended fields • Women household Artisans and traders were seen as important, but were commoners • All • Children went to school for at least a few years • All boys received military training

Social Aztec Family

Mexico City Zocalo (Plaza)

View of cathedral from Templo Mayor

Templo Mayor Today