The Aztecs

I. The Valley of Mexico

Valley of Mexico: Mtn. basin – 7500 ft. Home of powerful cultures Large shallow lakes, fertile soil

A. Teotihuacan (“City of the Gods”)

First major civ. of Central Mexico 1st cent. = construction began 6th cent. = peak of civ. Avenue of the Dead –

Central avenue lined w/over 20 pyramids Pyramid of the Sun

Center of trade network (obsidian) By 750—abandoned?

Invasion? Internal conflict?

B. The Toltec

900 CE: Toltecs rose to power Ruled by military class Capital = Tula

Spread influence as far south as Yucatan Built pyramids & temples Extremely warlike—CONQUEST 1000: Topiltzin – tried to change religion

End human sacrifice Worship different god (Quetzalcoatl – “Feathered Serpent”) Forced into exile (Yucatan)

Legend of Topiltzin/Quetzalcoatl – “I’LL BE BACK.”

II. The Aztec Empire

1200 CE: arrived in Valley of Mex. Contained city-states (Toltec) Known as the “Mexica” – poor, nomads, northern Mex. Adopted local cultures

Huitzilopochtli – god of sun & warfare Eagle perched on cactus w/snake in its mouth The place where the eagle screams,

where he spreads his wings;the place where he feeds,

where the fish jump, where the serpents coil up & hiss! ---from Cronica Mexicayotl

Lake Texcoco 1325: founded Tenochtitlan (modern Mex. City)

A. Aztecs Grow Stronger

1428: Triple Alliance: Aztecs, Texcoco, Tlacopan 1500s: controlled over 80,000 sq. mi. 38 provinces – pop. = 5-15 mill. Used military conquest Demanded tribute/taxes from conquered subjects

B. Nobles Rule Aztec Society

Noble class = govt. officials, military leaders Commoners = merchants, artisans, soldiers,

farmers who owned land Enslaved persons = lowest class EMPEROR = sat atop Aztec social pyramid

Power was absolute

C. Tenochtitlan

Early 1500s: 200,000 to 400,000 pop. Built on an island connected to mainland by 3 main causeways

(Lake Texcoco) Surrounded by smaller cities (connected by streets)

Canals intersected roads (canoes) Tlatelolco: huge market Chinampas: “floating gardens” The Great Temple: giant pyramid w/twin temples at top

Sun god = Huitzilopochtli Rain god = Tlaloc

III. Religion Rules Aztecs

Worshiped animistic spirits (natural forces) About 1,000 gods (adopted from other peoples)

Ex. = worshipped Quetzalcoatl (Toltec god) Winged serpent, but also a pale-skinned man w/a beard

A. Religious Practices

2 main calendars: Sacred calendar = 13 mos. of 20 days Solar calendar = 18 mos. of 20 days

Unlucky 5 day prd. = nemontemi

B. Sacrifices for the Sun God

Sun god = Huitzilopochtli (most important) Made sun rise everyday Battled forces of evil during the night Needed nourishment (human blood) for strength Otherwise, the world would plunge into darkness

Atop the Great Temple = sacrifices took place 1487: 80,000 victims over 4 days Needs for sacrifice motivated conquest

IV. Problems in the Aztec Empire

1502: Montezuma II became emperor Called for more tribute/sacrifice b/c of growing pops. Provinces rose up (prd. of unrest & rebellion) Tried to lessen pressure

Many predicted terrible things (bad omens) Lightning striking a temple Partial eclipse of sun Arrival of Spanish (return of Quetzalcoatl) (1519)

V. Comparison of Cultures

Aztecs = Mayas Romans = Greeks Aztec calendar, mathematics, & writing = Mayan

sources Roman philosophy & science = Greek models