The Aztecs lived in the Valley of Mexico, with their capital city of Tenochtitlan built on an island in Lake Texcoco and connected to the mainland by causeways. They built an empire through conquest and required conquered peoples to pay tribute. The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice on massive temples and pyramids dedicated to their gods like Huitzilopochtli. However, the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes conquered Tenochtitlan in 1521, defeating the Aztecs and taking control of their land and gold.

2. Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations Aztecs Mayas Incas

3. 1200 CE – 1521 CE

4. Aztecs

5. Where did the Aztecs live? The Aztecs lived in what is known as the Valley of Mexico in central Mexico.

6. Location: Central Valley of Mexico Tenochtitlan was the capital

7. Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the Aztec Empire.

8. Legend of Tenochtitlan The gods told the Aztecs to search for an eagle holding a snake in its beak perched atop a cactus. This is where they were to build their capital city. The Aztecs saw this sign on a swampy island in lake Texcoco.

9. Legend of Tenochtitlan

10. How did the Aztecs build a city in the center of a lake? Tenochtitlan was built on an island It was connected to the mainland by causeways leading north, south, and west of the city. The city was interlaced with a series of canals, so that all sections of the city could be visited either on foot or by canoe.

11. Tenochtitlan Today, Tenochtitlan is Mexico City

12. Aztec View of Tenochtitlan

13. Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americas

14. Government The Aztecs created an empire through conquest Conquered people and local rulers had to pay tribute to the Aztecs The Aztecs had an emperor The Aztec Emperor’s main job was to lead in war

15. Ruins of the City Center, Tenochtitlan

16. Wall of Skulls, Tenochtitlan

17. The Aztecs Were Fierce Warriors

18. Religion: Sun God- most important, needed human blood to help rise everyday, massive number of sacrifices Human sacrifices were offered to give the sun strength to rise each day Used captured warriors and Aztecs for sacrifices

19. Religion & Mythology Polytheistic Huitzilopochtli was the main Aztec god. (weets se lo poch tlee) The Aztecs built massive temples and pyramids dedicated to their gods

20. Religion & Mythology Pyramid of the Sun Pyramid of the Moon

21. Heart Sacrifice on an Aztec Temple Pyramid

22. Human Sacrifice Human sacrifice was a common political & religious practice of the Aztecs. For the re-consecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed 84,400 prisoners over the course of four days.

23. Aztecs Sacrifice Neighboring Tribes to the Sun God

24. Achievements: Astronomy Mathematics-counting system Accurate calendar Floating gardens (chinampas) used to make up for lack of farmland, could harvest 2-3 crops per year

25. Aztec Chinampa or Floating Garden: 15ft. to 30ft. wide

26. Tenochtitlan - Chinampas

27. Aztec Math Aztec Writing

28. Aztec Sun Stone -- Calendar

29. Possible Reasons for decline: Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes mistaken for Aztec god. Spanish take control of Aztecs, their gold, their land Spanish had superior weapons (guns)

30. Aztec Gold

31. What happened to the Aztecs? Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes conquered Tenochtitlan and defeated the Aztecs in 1521.

32. Aztec Video Clips “ Engineering An Empire” http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=6255 “ What the Ancients Did For Us” http://www.watchknow.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=10964