Aztecs – c. 1350- 1550 A Continuation of the Olmec and Maya cultures

Location / Geography Central Mexico (not the Yucatan) Capital at Tenochtitlan (island) ‏ 500,000 people Total Pop: 10-20 million

Central Mexico (not the Yucatan)

Capital at Tenochtitlan (island) ‏ 500,000 people

Total Pop: 10-20 million

Politics Theocracy led by divine king/Priest Military – nearly constant brutal wars for conquest, collect tribute, captives for slaves and sacrifice

Theocracy led by divine king/Priest

Military – nearly constant brutal wars for conquest, collect tribute, captives for slaves and sacrifice

Economics Agriculturally based merchants are limited by what they can carry since they don’t have large pack animals Chinampas – huge floating islands for agriculture The great market – daily trade in the merchant section of large cities

Agriculturally based

merchants are limited by what they can carry since they don’t have large pack animals

Chinampas – huge floating islands for agriculture

The great market – daily trade in the merchant section of large cities

Chinampa

Religion Polytheistic Many Temples based on astronomy for worship, agricultural planning and sacrifice Each holiday included ceremonies involving human sacrifice/cannibalism Fatalistic and cyclical view of the world

Polytheistic

Many Temples based on astronomy for worship, agricultural planning and sacrifice

Each holiday included ceremonies involving human sacrifice/cannibalism

Fatalistic and cyclical view of the world

Social Large gap between upper/lower classes Role of Women – decide fate of prisoners, domestic chores (grinding maize), can inherit land Common people in constant fear of war/sacrifice/slavery

Large gap between upper/lower classes

Role of Women – decide fate of prisoners, domestic chores (grinding maize), can inherit land

Common people in constant fear of war/sacrifice/slavery

Intellectual calendar, numbers and pictorial writing similar but not identical to Maya Capital built on an island required great planning and coordination

calendar, numbers and pictorial writing similar but not identical to Maya

Capital built on an island required great planning and coordination

Art Temples Gold objects Sculpture Skull racks

Temples

Gold objects

Sculpture

Skull racks

Conquered by Spanish Spanish conquistadors led by Cortes crush the Aztecs during the 1530s More on that later

Spanish conquistadors led by Cortes crush the Aztecs during the 1530s

More on that later