The Aztec The Aztec lived in central Mexico

The Aztec

The Aztec lived in central Mexico from about the 1200 s to the 1500 s.

Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan • Capital of the Aztec empire • Built on a swampy island in the middle of a large lake to help protect it from enemy attacks • Site of present-day Mexico City

Aztec Pyramid • Living space for the Emperor • Became his burial place when he died • Buried with jewels, jewelry, food and many other things that were supposed to travel with him into the after life

Aztec Empire • About 5 million people • Society who used advanced concepts like a calendar to help with planting and harvesting crops • Used mathematical systems to keep up with their empire • Used irrigation systems to water their crops • Good with metal-working and pottery making

Aztec Empire • Worshipped many gods • Sacrificed humans and animals to gain favor with their gods • Conquered neighboring tribes and made them pay taxes and provide humans for sacrifices

Montezuma II • Aztec ruler from about 1500 to 1520 • Popular with his own people but highly feared by his enemies

Hernan Cortes • Spanish conquistador • Sailed into Mexico in 1519 in search of gold, silver, and other valuable resources • His expedition had about 600 men, horses, guns, and canons • Created an alliance with enemies of the Aztec and had about 1, 000 natives join him in his fight against the Aztec

Fall of the Aztec Empire • Montezuma and the Aztec mistakenly thought Cortes was a god at first • Cortes captured Montezuma and held him prisoner • Cortes and his men defeated the Aztec and Montezuma was killed • In time the Spanish sent more troops to Mexico and destroyed Tenochtitlan • Thousands of natives died in a massive smallpox epidemic because they had never been exposed to the disease and had no immunity built up like the Spanish did • The Spanish built Mexico City where Tenochtitlan had been

Quiz 1. Why did the Aztec build their capital on an island in the middle of a lake? 2. Who conquered the Aztec empire for Spain? 3. Who was the Aztec ruler when the Spanish arrived? 4. What disease killed thousands of people in Mexico in 1520? 5. What capital city did the Spanish build after destroying Tenochtitlan?