The Aztecs Present day MexicoCity Settled by Aztecs after they saw the sign they had been in search ofan eagle perched with a snake in its beak Switched from hunting to farming Built chinampas ID: 219372
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Slide1
AD 1300s came to power in Mexico
The AztecsSlide2
Present day Mexico-CitySettled by Aztecs after they saw the sign they had been in search of-an eagle perched with a snake in its beak
Switched from hunting to farming
Built chinampas: artificial islands made of earth embedded in a shallow lake bed; they were essentially floating gardens in which they grew corn, squash, and beansThey later built canals for transportation
TenochtitlanSlide3
In the 1400s they greatly expanded their territory through fierce conquests and various alliances
Spread empire from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific
Aztec people- approx. 30 millionWar brought power and wealth
Tribute/taxes helped turn their capital into a great city
The Aztec EmpireSlide4
Had
a single ruler chosen by nobles and priests
Nobles and political leaders wore luxurious feathered cloaks and gold jewelryMajority of people were commoners who farmed At the bottom of society were slaves-criminals and prisoners of war; however, they could own land and buy their freedom
Aztec power also secured long distance traders who brought and carried goods and also served as
spies
Government
and SocietySlide5
Chief Aztec god was
Huitzilopochtli
-the sun godHis pyramid temple towered above the capital cityBattled forces of darkness each night and reborn each morning
There
was no promise that the sun would always win-to give the god strength they offered human sacrifices through the priests
ReligionSlide6
Other cultures implemented the concept of human sacrifice but not on the scale of the Aztecs and of course the Mayans
They carried out almost continual warfare
Among the conquered peoples, discontent and rebellion gradually rose up among the people
This created an advantage for the Spanish who would later arriveSlide7
The Aztecs believed that illness was punishment from the gods
However, priests did use some medical practices
The Aztecs, like the Mayas, had 2 accurate calendars: 365 for harvests and 260 for religionPriests were keepers of Aztec knowledge-they recorded laws and events
They also utilized math and astronomy
Education and LearningSlide8
By the early 1500s, the Aztecs were conquered by Spanish conquistadors.
Warfare and introduced illnesses