3.2 Aztec Civilization

The Aztecs

Open Ended

What do you know about the Aztec Civilization?

The Aztecs Build an Empire

● 1st Aztecs were farmers

-Settled on an Island in Lake Texcoco
-1325 Started building an Empire

Savvas - Bounce Video Click Here

After watching the video - What is one thing that you found interesting in the video?

The Aztecs Build an Empire

● Aztecs used war to rise to power

-Conquered people had to pay tribute

-tribute was a payment to the Aztecs

-cotton, gold, food

● War, tribute, and trade were key factors to the Aztec rise

-1400 most powerful tribe in Mesoamerica

-Capital was Tenochtitlan which was an Island

Multiple Select

How did war and tributes contribute to the power of the Aztec?

• War gave them more land, resources, and people

• They were fierce warriors who were feared.

• Tributes created wealth and power for the Aztec.

• The more conquered territories they gained, the more tributes were paid.

The capital of the Aztec empire was built on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco.

What would the advantages and disadvantages of this be?

Tenochtitlan

The Aztecs Build an Empire

● Many challenges to build Tenochtitlan

-Built causeways & Canals
-Chinampas which are floating gardens
- Pyramids for religious ceremonies

Multiple Choice

What are Chinampas?

• a form of chimpanzee

• a roadway made of water

• floating gardens

• a fruit

Life in the Empire

Government
● Emperor was most important person

-Central government controlled everyone

● Trusted Nobles-Tax collectors and judges
Complex social structure (many classes)
● Emperor
● Warriors and Priests-Led ceremonies, calendars, when

to plant

● Merchants & Craftspeople
● Farmers - most of the people
● Slaves (conquered people) - lowest in society

Reorder

Reorder the following Social Classes from highest to lowest

• Emperor

• Warriors and Priests

• Merchants and Crafts people

• Farmers

• Slaves

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Life in the Empire
Religion & rich culture

Aztecs worshipped many Gods (Religion)

-Made Human sacrifices -10,000 a year (battle captives)

Accomplishments

-Studied Astronomy and had written records

- Medicine

Multiple Choice

Aztec religion was

• polytheistic - many gods

• monotheistic - one god

Cortes Conquers the Aztecs

● Late 1400’s Spanish arrive-adventure, riches, converts to

Catholicism

-Led by Hernan Cortes

● Aztec Emperor was Moctezuma II

-Thought Cortes was a God called Quetzalcoatl

-Welcomed Spanish and gave them gifts

Cortes Conquers the Aztecs

● Cortes wanted more and fought the Aztecs

-Took Moctezuma II prisoner (died in fighting)

-Aztecs won

● Less than a year later Cortes returned with other natives and

defeated Aztecs

-Other natives groups helped Cortes because they

hated the Aztecs

-1521 Aztec empire ends

Open Ended

What is something that you learned about the Aztecs today?

Poll

If you had to pick one...

• Skiing

• Boating

• Video Games

• Horseback Riding