Key Aspects of the Key Aspects of the Aztec EmpireAztec Empire

1450-1750 Lesson 31450-1750 Lesson 3

Power Shift in Power Shift in MesoamericaMesoamerica• Review decline of Review decline of

MayaMaya• New powers in the New powers in the

Valley of MexicoValley of Mexico– Maya cultural Maya cultural

satellitessatellites– Ringed by Ringed by

volcanoesvolcanoes• fertilityfertility• geologic instabilitygeologic instability

– Lake system & Lake system & chinampaschinampas

Post-Classical Militarist Post-Classical Militarist SocietiesSocieties• Key groups: Key groups:

Teotihuacan civ., Teotihuacan civ., Toltec, AztecToltec, Aztec

• Characterized by Characterized by imperial powers, greater imperial powers, greater urbanization, frequent urbanization, frequent warfare (war gods)warfare (war gods)

• Trade networks more Trade networks more centralized & extensivecentralized & extensive– links to Mississippian & links to Mississippian &

Anasazi tribesAnasazi tribes

The Aztecs & Mesoamerican The Aztecs & Mesoamerican CultureCulture

• Linked to Maya learning, Linked to Maya learning, religion, cosmology religion, cosmology

• Tlacaelel and the Aztec Tlacaelel and the Aztec social contractsocial contract

• Rising godsRising gods– Huitzilopochtli (Sun)Huitzilopochtli (Sun)– Quetzalcoatl (Learning & Quetzalcoatl (Learning &

Civilization) Civilization) – Both also linked to WARBoth also linked to WAR

——massivemassive amounts of amounts of sacrificesacrifice

Aztec OriginsAztec Origins• The MexicaThe Mexica

– ChichimecsChichimecs to to mercenariesmercenaries

– Controlling the Controlling the Valley of Valley of MexicoMexico

– TenochtitlTenochtitlánán

– Extent of the empire

Aztec Political PolicyAztec Political Policy• State TerrorState Terror

– Tribute Tribute requirementsrequirements

• ““Flower Wars”Flower Wars”– bad public bad public

relationsrelations– changes style of changes style of

warfarewarfare• what is the goal?what is the goal?• the sacrifice issuethe sacrifice issue

Aztec Economy & SocietyAztec Economy & Society• Trade is one Trade is one

dimensional; goods dimensional; goods redistributed by redistributed by govt.govt.– food productsfood products– birds & feathers, birds & feathers,

cacao, jadecacao, jade– obsidian, slavesobsidian, slaves

• Ag. Regionalization Ag. Regionalization based on clan-groupsbased on clan-groups

Aztec Economy & SocietyAztec Economy & Society• Social authoritySocial authority

– The The CalpulliCalpulli• rights & rights &

responsibilitiesresponsibilities

– The The PipiltinPipiltin• lesser nobles—lesser nobles—

bureaucrats bureaucrats

• Growing disparities Growing disparities & the rise of the & the rise of the pipiltinpipiltin

On the Eve of CortésOn the Eve of Cortés• Capital’s Capital’s

consumption consumption straining resourcesstraining resources

• Gap between rich & Gap between rich & poor wideningpoor widening

• Tribute & Flower Tribute & Flower Wars creating Wars creating dissentdissent

• Moctezuma II & Moctezuma II & Cult of QuetzalcoatlCult of Quetzalcoatl

The Aztec EmpireThe Aztec Empire