Download The Aztecs

The Aztecs
Created by Christina Dunne
Who Were the Aztecs?
• At first the Aztecs were a tribe of wanderers in
the southern part of North America.
• Eventually they settled in the Valley of Mexico
where Mexico City now stands. They built their
city around a lake called Lake Texcoco.
What was the land like in this area?
• The land was high in altitude.
• Mountains surrounded the lakes found in
this area.
• There was a lot of swampy marshland.
When did this civilization begin and
end?
• The Aztec civilization lived in Mexico for
more than three hundred years from 1200
to 1521.
• The Aztecs are considered the last and
greatest Indian Empire to have existed in
Mexico.
Where did they settle?
• The Aztecs settled on an island in the lake.
It was very swampy.
• To add to their land, they began to build
rafts. The rafts were covered with the rich
mud from the lake-bottom. They became
floating gardens known as chinampa.
What crops did they grow?
• Maize or corn was a major crop. They also
grew squash, tomatoes, peppers, beans,
and sweet potatoes.
• Meat was eaten only occasionally.
• Chocolate was a favorite drink but was
very expensive.
The Aztecs were builders.
• The Aztecs built dirt roads to promote trading.
They also used these roads to communicate
with others. Runners were used to carry letters
and goods. One road led from the Pacific Ocean
to the Gulf of Mexico.
Aztecs were builders and
engineers.
• To connect their island with the main land,
they built causeways. Causeways are
raised roads across wet ground or water.
• They also built movable bridges for flood
control and protection from enemies.
Aztecs built temples and pyramids
• The step pyramids were large layers of
stones that rose high in the sky.
• The Aztecs built step pyramids with two
staircases that led to a temple or shrine at
the top.
• At the shrine the Aztecs performed human
sacrifices to their gods.
What types of homes did the Aztec
live in?
• The wealthy lived in white stone or adobe
homes that were one story that had patios
and gardens.
• The poor lived in mud and grass huts.
Aztecs were builders and
engineers.
• They built an aqueduct to bring fresh water
to their city from a hill miles away.
How did the Aztecs transport
people and goods?
• The Aztecs used canals and canoes for
travel and transportation on water.
• They used the dirt roads they made to
journey on land.
The Aztecs were record keepers.
• The Aztecs kept careful records of their
history and legends.
• They made accordion style books.
• They used picture writing known as
hieroglyphics.
Hieroglyphics
Aztecs were warriors
• The Aztecs were powerful warriors. They
defeated many groups living in their region
and made them a part of their empire.
The Aztecs were craftsmen.
• They made decorative pottery by coiling or
shaping clay with their hands. They did
not use a pottery wheel.
What were some of their other
crafts?
• The Aztecs mined copper, gold, and silver
as well as gemstones such as emeralds.
They made beautiful and decorative
jewelry out of these materials.
Aztec Jewelry
What was Tenochtitlan?
• Tenochtitlan was the capital city of their empire. It was built on the
island in Lake Texcoco.
• The Europeans called it the “Venice of North America”.
• Europeans were amazed by the buildings and the riches that
abound.
• The city flourished until the year 1519 when Hernandez Cortes and
his Spanish army arrived.
Who Was Cortes?
• Cortes was a Spanish explorer who came to the land of
the Aztecs in search of gold.
• Once he learned of the riches of the Aztec Empire, he
wanted to conquer them and claim their gold for Spain.
• Hernando Cortes defeated five million Aztecs with less
than 1000 soldiers ending a civilization that had lasted
for more than three hundred years.