Download Aztec PPT notes with answers

The Aztec Empire
The Aztec lived in central Mexico from about the1200s to the 1500s
Tenochtitlan
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Capital of the Aztec empire
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Built on a swampy island in the middle of a large lake to help protect it from enemy
attacks
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Site of present-day Mexico City
Aztec Pyramid
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Living space for the Emperor
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Became his burial place when he died
Buried with jewels, jewelry, food and many other things that were supposed to travel with him
into the after life
Aztec Empire
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About 5 million people
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Society who used advanced concepts like a calendar to help with planting and harvesting
crops
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Used mathematical systems to keep up with their empire
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Used irrigation systems to water their crops
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Good with metal-working and pottery making
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Worshipped many gods
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Sacrificed humans and animals to gain favor with their gods
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Conquered neighboring tribes and made them pay taxes and provide humans for
sacrifices
Montezuma II
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Aztec ruler from about 1500 to 1520
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Popular with his own people but highly feared by his enemies
Hernan Cortes
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Spanish conquistador
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Sailed into Mexico in 1519 in search of gold, silver, and other valuable resources
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His expedition had about 600 men, horses, guns, and canons
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Created an alliance with enemies of the Aztec and had about 1,000 natives join him in his
fight against the Aztec
Fall of the Aztec Empire
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Montezuma and the Aztec mistakenly thought Cortes was a god at first
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Cortes captured Montezuma and held him prisoner
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Cortes and his men defeated the Aztec and Montezuma was killed
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In time the Spanish sent more troops to Mexico and destroyed Tenochtitlan
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Thousands of natives died in a massive smallpox epidemic because they had never been
exposed to the disease and had no immunity built up like the Spanish did
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The Spanish built Mexico City where Tenochtitlan had been