Download The Aztecs

The Aztecs
World History - Libertyville HS
Rise of the Aztecs
• Migrated around
1200 AD from
northern Mexican
deserts
• Hired out as
mercenaries, for
Toltecs
• Achieved
independence by
1300
Tenochtitlan
• In 1325, they
founded a town on
an island in Lake
Texcoco, at the site
of modern Mexico
City
• City grew quickly
– By 1500, population
was 3-400,000
– Larger than any
except cities in
China
– Ringed by suburban
cities
Political Development
• Warrior based elite
• Elite soldiers were
called Eagle
Warriors
• Priests were just
below Emperor in
social status
Systematic Slavery
• Aztec warfare was
directed towards
capture, not killing
• Prisoners of war
were sacrificed to
gods
• But if captive had
useful trade or
skill, they were
spared
Aztec Religion
• Practiced human
sacrifice
• Justification
– Gods gave things
to humans only if
humans nourished
the Gods
– Aztecs practiced
bloodletting and
human sacrifice
(bloodletting)
Aztec Religion
• Priests taught
that gods were
best nourished by
living hearts of
sacrificed captives
• The braver the
captive, the more
nourishing the
sacrifice for the
Gods
Aztec Religion
• Why the need for
human sacrifice?
– Aztecs believed that
gods were in constant
conflict, opposition
with each other
– Aztec gods needed
blood to fight against
each other
– Belief led to
widespread wars
• Search for sacrificial
victims
• Tribute paid in both
food and victims
Aztec Religion
• Wars led to
widespread
resentment!
• Process
– Some sacrifices
were minimal (1-2
POWs)
– Some were
spectacular in scope
(1000s at a time, for
hours or days)
Aztec Religion
• Victim held down by
four priests on an
altar at top of pyramid
• Priest made incision
below rib cage w/
razor sharp obsidian
knife, pull out living
heart
• Heart then burned in
brazier, corpse pushed
down steps
• Very noble carried
down
Aztec Religion
• Aztecs believed
they absorbed gods
of conquered
people into their
own pantheon
• More gods on your
side, the better!
• Led to need for
more sacrifices for
more gods
Aztec Culture
• Aztec Law
– Simple, harsh, effective
– Most punishments
resulted in death or
mutilation
• Social hierarchy
• Only boys were
educated
– Depended on social class
– Parent’s profession
generally dictated kid’s
training
– Women were subordinate
to men
Aztec Technology
• Stone and bone
technology
• Sophisticated
writing system
that has been
translated
Decline of Aztecs
• Montezuma II (r.
1502-1522)
– Ruled huge empire,
but empire filled with
revolts by subject
people
– Demanded more
tribute and sacrifices
– Subject people of
Aztec Empire HATED
Aztecs
– Some tribes allied
with Spaniards
Decline and Fall of Aztecs
• Aztecs had legend
involving white
skinned Gods who
would return from
the East
• Spaniards were
initially regarded
as Gods, by Aztecs