The Aztecs A Policy Of Conquest Aztec Society, Religion and Life Cortes and the Spanish Conquest.

The Aztecs

A Policy Of Conquest

Aztec Society, Religion and Life

Cortes and the Spanish Conquest

Who were the Aztecs? Nomadic people from the

northwestern United States known as Aztlan, the Aztecs ventured to Mexico because of a vision

“Eagle on perched on a cactus, eating a snake”

A small island in Lake Texcoco will become the site of the Aztecs capital city Tenochtitlan in 1325

Surrounded by water, good soil and protective bridges

A Policy of Conquest 1st ruler Acamapichtli, “Handful of Arrows” 1376-1396 guided

early building of Tenochtitlan and launched first conquest of the region

Conquests sought to obtain natural resources needed for building materials, tools and prisoners for labor and sacrifices

“Policy of Conquest” after conquering a region Aztecs allow local leaders to stay in power but expect heavy tribute payments

Aztecs enter into a “Triple Alliance” with two powerful city-states, Texcoco and Tlacopan to expand into wealthy farmlands outside of the Valley of Mexico

Aztec empire will expand over an area of 78,000 miles

A Policy of Conquest “Policy of Conquest” led to

constant threat of rebellion from concqueroed people

5th ruler, Montezuma I, “Angry Lord, Archer of The Sky”, 1440-1469

Expanded the Aztec empire more than any other emperor through aggressive military expansion for economic gains

Increased trade in cocoa, rubber, cotton, fruits, feathers, and seashells

Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan, was an island

city covering an area of 5 miles surrounded by Lake Texcoco

Canals were used as streets and people traveled by canoe

Aqueducts brought fresh water and sewage was carried out in barges

Palaces, a royal zoo, gardens, city fountains, and open market greeted vistors

Tenochtitlan Chinampas were man made

islands of plants, trees and compacted lake mud

Served as floating agricultural gardens that provided food and a place to live for commoners

Possessed a 365 day calendar used to keep track of seasonal events and a 260 day religious calendar that used names for dates

Aztec Religion and Human Sacrifice Believed in over 1,6000

gods who controlled every aspect of Aztec life

Gods had to be pleased to make sure that crops grew, rain came and sun would rise

Believed gods had created the world through sacrifice and their blood

Aztec Religion and Human Sacrifice

Aztecs believed Huitzilopochtli, god of war demanded blood and human hearts for protection and aid

Warriors taken on battlefields were treated as gods then sacrificed

Hearts were removed and held high for approval and bodies were then thrown down steps

Aztec Society

Clothing determined social rank Nobles wore sandals and clothes of cotton Commoners wore clothes of coarse cloth Jewelry also was regulated to show social rank Education was highly valued but, wealthy received better than

the common Aztec Diet consisted of beans, sweet potatoes, avocados, onions,

tomatoes, turkey and dog Wealthy drank chocolatl and smoked tobacco During periods of poor harvest commoners turned to eating,

worms, tadpoles, slugs, and other insects to survive

Montezuma II

9th ruler, Montezuma II, “Angry Lord, The Younger”, 1502-1520 successful military ruler but religiously superstitious

Prophecies stated that Quetzalcoatl would return to rule over Aztecs

Lived a life of luxury with a 100 wives in a palace considered an architectural marvel

No one was allowed to look at him or touch

The Last Rulers of Tenochtitlan 10th ruler, Cuitlahuac

ruled after Montezuma II and died 80 days later of smallpox

11th ruler, Cuauhtemoc 1520-1525 Aztec empire ends with destruction of Tenochtitlan, and hanging of Cuauhtemoc by Spanish

Aztec Family Life Land was farmed by a family

groups Additional land was granted as

families grew or if father was a great warrior

Lazy families had land taken from them

Parents and elders expected to be respected

Children were punished by being pricked with a spine, beaten with a stick or forced to inhale burning chili peppers

Aztec Warriors Military training began at age

12 After killing or capturing four

opponents a warrior was given land and allowed to wear ceremonial clothes

Best became professional soldiers called Eagle or Jaguar warriors who became part of nobility

Warfare was based on taking prisoners and increasing land

Cortes and the Spanish Conquest

Hernan Cortes, Spanish conquistador who ventures to Mexico because of the gold and silver

1519 leads a military expedition to conqueror Aztec empire

Cortes conquerors the Tlaxcalan army of 50,000 with 400 Spaniards

Spanish steel, amour, and the horse win the day

Cortes and the Spanish Conquest

Aztec enemies join Cortes because it provides them the opportunity to defeat the Aztecs

Spaniards make it clear that they are there for gold and seize Montezuma as a prisoner

During negotiations for Montezuma’s freedom Aztec warriors stone the Spanish causing the death of Montezuma (strangled by Spanish?)

Cortes and the Spanish Conquest La Noche Triste, “Night of Sorrow” for Spanish when

they escaped Tenochtitlan but lost thousands of men 1519 smallpox and measles arrive with Spaniards and

spreads reducing Aztec population December 1920 Cortes returns to attack Tenochtitlan with

a navy and is victorious after 3 months Cortes used 13 warships and 200,000 canoes to attack the

Aztecs 500,000 people die during this battle due to disease,

polluted water or starvation The Aztec empire is no more