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The Aztecs Legacy
by Octavio Martinez
Who were the Aztecs?
• American indigenous people
• An ethnic group who settled in the central valley
of Mexico
• One of the most important and advanced preHispanic civilizations in the Americas
• Their empire was destroyed during the Spanish
Conquest
Pre-Hispanic Civilizations
• Maya civilization
– Oldest and lengthiest
– Peak (AD 250 to 900)
• Inca civilization
– Greatest in extension
– Peak (AD 1438 to 1533)
• Aztec civilization
– Largest capital
– Peak (AD 1325 to 1521)
History of Mexico
Conquest
Aztecs
Independence
Spanish Colony
Revolution
Mexico
Modern
Mexico
time
1325
1519
1810
1910
• Three major periods: pre-Hispanic, Spanish
Colony and independent nation
• Three major civil wars: Conquest, Independence
and Revolution
Origin of the Aztecs
• Ancestors were seminomad tribes wandering
areas of southern USA
and northern Mexico
• Their ethnic group was
called Nahuas who spoke
nahuatl dialect
• Aztecs is a nahuatl word
meaning “people from
Aztlan”
Legacy: Nahuatls
• 30% of the total
population has direct
indigenous inheritance
• There are 2.5 million
Nahua living in Mexico
• Nahuatl is spoken by 1.5
million people
• Most of Nahuas live in
the central states of
Mexico
Huitzilopochtli myth
• Main Aztec God
• God of the Sun and
War
• Means “left-handed
hummingbird”
• Son of Coatlicue
• Brother of
Coyolxauhqui and the
400 surians
• “Guided” nahuas to
the promised land
Legacy: Coyolxauhqui Stone Disk
• Found in 1978 during the
excavations for new metro
line, next to the National
Palace and Cathedral
• A stone with a shape of a
disk weighing 8 tons and
3.25m of diameter
Aztec Pilgrimage
• Travelled south of Aztlan looking for the
promised land to build a powerful empire
• There were already other tribes living in the
valley and had confrontations
• Discovered the abandoned city of Teotihuacan
– Followed architectural style
– Adopted Gods (Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc)
Legacy: Ancient City
• Teotihuacan stands for
“Birthplace of the
Gods”
• Built by Toltecas (100
BC-250 AD) and later
abandoned (700 AD)
• It is located 50 km
north east of Mexico
City
• Highlights are
pyramids of the sun
and moon and temple
of Quetzalcoatl
Foundation of Tenochtitlan
• Originally an island in
Lake Texcoco
• Founded in AD 1325
• Location was signalled by
an ancient prophecy
• Its name means “Among
the prickly pears that
grow in the rocks”
Legacy: National Identity
• The location of the Great
City would be signaled by an
eagle eating a snake while
standing on a prickly pear
cactus
• Legend represents the Coat
of arms of the Mexican flag
• Name of the country derives
from the nahua tribe that came
from Aztlan, the MEXIcas
• CO is a nahuatl word meaning
place or city
City of Tenochtitlan
• The main city was built
on an island within a lake
• City was connected to
mainland via 4 causeways
• Streets were wide and
straight
• Population was around
200,000 people
• People transported in
canoes
Legacy: Mexico City
• Rebuilt after the Conquest
following Spanish
architectural standards
• In 1585 AD changed its
name to Mexico City
• Mexico City’s downtown
lies over Tenochtitlan
• One of the largest cities in
the world with over 20
million people
City of Tenochtitlan
• Extended with “Chinampas”
or floating gardens for
agriculture needs
• In the centre, there were
palaces, public buildings and
schools
• Schools were divided in
“Calmecac” for nobility and
“Telpochcalli” for common
people
• Army was compulsory and
had ranks according to
achievements
Legacy: Xochimilco Lake
• Located in the southern
suburbs of Mexico City
• Remainder of what used
to be the massive
Texcoco Lake
• System of canals for
colorful boats named
“trajineras”
• Some chinampas have
been recreated
Aztec Cuisine
• The basic ingredients were
corn, beans, zucchini and
chilli
• Tlaxcalli or Tortilla was
always accompanying meals
• Meat was usually Hueyxolotl
(turkey), Xoloitzcuintli (dog),
iguana and fish
• Main drinks included Pulque
(fermented maguey) and
Atolli (corn porridge)
Legacy: Xocolatl
•
•
•
•
Consumed as early as 1900 BC in Mexico
Aztecs used it in religious events
Cacao beans were accepted as currency
Taken by the Spaniards to Europe to mix it with sugar and milk
Government
• Ruled by a king called
“Tlatoani” who represented
God and “Huetlatoani” or
next level governors.
• A tribute system was
established in which 32
provinces contributed and 27
only with consent
• Tenochtitlan joined Texcoco
and Tlacopan to form the
“Triple Alliance” thus
becoming the Aztec Empire
Aztec Calendar
• The most famous stone
of the Aztec empire
• Consisted of a 365-day
calendar and a 260-day
ritual calendar
• Altogether they form 52
years
• For every 52 years a new
sun will rule the Universe
Ritual Calendar
•
•
•
•
20 day signs
13 day coefficients
20x13 = 260 days
Each 13-day set
was associated
with a deity
• For example 1jaguar to 13-death
is Quetzalcoatl
Aztec Gods
• There were more than
100 Aztec Gods
• Gods were mainly
associated with nature
elements
• Other Gods were related
to human stages,
activities and feelings
• Huitzilopochtli and
Tlaloc were main Gods
Human Sacrifices
• Required to preserve the
balance of the Universe
• Aztec Gods fed on
human hearts and blood
• After the sacrifice, bones
and skin were honored
and decorated
• Respectful death was
also considered during
war or while giving birth
Legacy: Templo Mayor
• One of the main Aztec
temples in Tenochtitlan
• Destroyed by the
Spanish and covered
over by a new city
• Excavations in the early
20th century unveiled it
• Templo Mayor was used
for sacrifices
The Conquest
• Aztecs had premonitions
of bad times coming
ahead
• Spanish conquistadores
arrived in the east coast
of Mexico
• Strategy, alliances with
rivals and deceases,
causes of Aztec defeat
• Spanish conquered
Tenochtitlan in 2 years
To know more…
• Visit Teotihuacan,
Anthropology museum,
Xochimilco and Templo
Mayor in Mexico City
• Books: “The True
History of the
Conquest of New
Spain” by Bernal Diaz
del Castillo and “The
Broken Spears” by
Miguel Leon Portilla
• Movie “Apocalipto”