The Aztecs originated in northern Mexico in the early 13th century and established their capital city of Tenochtitlan in 1325. Under the leadership of Itzcoatl in the 15th century, the Aztecs formed alliances that allowed them to defeat rivals and establish the Aztec Empire, collecting taxes from 371 tribes. The Aztec Empire was highly structured society with a strict caste system and complex religion and mythology centered around temples in Tenochtitlan. However, in 1521 the Aztec empire was conquered by the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes.

1. Social Studies

2. The Aztecs originated asanomadic tribein
northernMexico
 arrived in Mesoamerica around the
beginning of the13th
century
 akaTenochca or Mexica
 their emblem isan eagleon acactus
with asnakeon itsmouth, which isalso
Mexico’snational emblem today
 established thefoundationsof their
capital city, Tenochtitlan, in 1325, in
themiddleof alakenortheast of Mexico

3. The Aztec Empire Aztec peoplewerewarlike
 Itzcoatl ––– Aztec leader – in 1428, they formed an
alliancewith theTexcocansand theTacubansto defeat their
most powerful rival, theTepanec, and conquer their capital
of Azcaputzalco
 in 1440, Montezuma (Moctezuma) I, successor of
Itzcoatl, wasagreat warrior who wasremembered asthe
“father” of the Aztec empire. Hecollected taxesfrom
371 tribesand becametherichest Aztec emperor
 Tenochtitlan, with morethan 140,000 inhabitantsby the16th
century, wasthemost populated city ever to exist in

4. Itzcoatl
Montezu
ma I

5. The Aztec Empire markets, such asTenochtitlan’sTlatelolco, droveAztec’s
economy
 civilization washighly developed socially, intellectually, and
artistically
 highly structured society with astrict castesystem: noblesat the
top, serfsat thebottom
 mythology and religion wererelated for theAztecs
 thefounding of Tenochtitlan wasbased on thebelief that people
from Aztlan (“Land of White Herons” and origin of nameAztec)
had first settled in theValley of Mexico
 theAztec pantheon wasamix of older Mesoamerican godsand

6. Valley of
Mexico

7. Huitzilop
ochtli
Tlaloc

8. The Aztec Empire other important godsincluded: Tezcatlipoca (supreme
god at Texcoco)
Xiuhtecuhtli (god of fire)
Ometeotl (creatorgod)
Mictlantecuhtli (god of the
dead)
Quetzalcoatl (“feathered
serpent” and whitegod)
 thesun wasagreat significancefor theAztecsasthey
believed that theworld went through aseriesof cosmic

9. Aztec Sun
Stone

10. Aztec Empire as the Most
Cruel Empire most cruel of all theAmerican tribes
 cruelty extended to children, and even to royalty
 develop their strength and couragethrough human
sacrifices and blood
 believethat theAztec king gavehisblood asan
offering to thegodsin thepyramid temple, thesame
isexpected from thequeen
 human sacrifices, even children, wererequired from
thepeople. Thesacrificewould walk beforethe

11. The Aztec Empire had knowledgeof writing, language, math, and simple
science
 theAztec language, Nahuatl, wasthedominant language
in central Mexico by themid-1350s
 they built pyramids and palaces
 they had plenty of silverand gold
 green jade wasthemost valuableasit wasrare
 they had decorative arts in textiles, pottery, and
jewelry

12. The Aztec Empire Aztec royalty enjoyed special treatsnot availableto other people
fo r example, cho co late was regarded as a ro yaldelicacy
 word ‘chocolate’ comesfrom theAztec
 had awrittencalendar: famousstonecalendarsmeasuring 3.7 meters
which isdisplayed in theNational Museum in Mexico City
 Aztec call their king, Tlatoani, meaning “speaker”
 controlled some11 million people
 in 1515, they wereheavily defeated by theTlaxcala and Huexotzingo
 during theruleof Cuahtemoc, Hernando Cortes, aSpaniard, conquered
theempireon August 13, 1521

13. Cuahtem
oc
Hernan
Cortes

14. Timeli
ne1200– theAztecsarrivein theValley of Mexico
1325– thecity of Tenochtitlanisfounded and becomesthe
capital of theAztec Empire
1375– thefirst dominant ruler, Acamapichtli, comesinto power
1427– Itzcoatl becomesthefourth ruler and founder of theAztec
Empire
1428– theAztecsform atriple alliance with Texcocans and
Tacubans to defeat Tepanecs
1440– Montezuma Ibecomesthefifth leader and hisruled
marked theheightsof theAztec Empire

15. Acamapic
htli
Montezu
ma II

16. Templo
Mayor

17. Timeli
ne1519– Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortesarrivesin
Tenochtitlan. Heistaken asan honored guest but later takes
MontezumaII asprisoner
1520– Cuahtemoc becomesthetenth ruler of theAztecs.
Meanwhile, Cortesformsan alliancewith Tlaxcalaand
attackstheAztecs
1521– CortesdefeatstheAztecsand takesover thecity of
Tenochtitlan
1522– theSpanish begin to rebuild thecity of Tenochtitlan
then renamesit to Mexico city and becomesthecapital of

18. New Spain

19. Mexico City