Transcript The Aztecs - Demarest School District

Migration Period
 During the 13th century (1200s), a small group of people
called the Mexica migrated from the North of Mexico into
the Mexican basin
 The Mexica were the predecessors of those who would
become “Aztecs”
Migration Continued (Problems in
the Neighborhood)
 Unfortunately, there
were many different
cultures present in
Mexico at this time…they
didn’t get along with the
Aztecs all that much
 Aztecs practiced ritual
sacrifice an would often
sacrifice their neighbors
to the Aztec gods
A warrior wearing flayed
skin of a conquered
warrior 
Finding a home
 In 1323, the Aztec leaders had a
vision of an eagle sitting on a
cactus eating a snake on a lake
and believed that was where
they should settle
 Two years late, they settled on
a small island on Lake Texcoco
and called their capital
Tenochtitlan
 Today, Mexico City sits on the
remains of Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan
 Became the most advanced city and populous in the New World
with 200,000 people on the 5 sq. mile island
 3 causeways (roads across water) led to the city
 A stone aqueduct brought in fresh water
 However, fertile land in this area was scarce, so they took over
those lands from other societies
 Chinampas – “Floating Gardens”
 A bustling city much like we have
today
Temple Mayor, large 170 ft temple oversaw city
 Throughout the 1370s-1420s the Aztecs
were under the control of other, more
powerful groups in the Mexican Basin
 Through a series of alliances and
assassinations, the Aztecs gained control
of the region
 With Tenochtitlan as the capital and
most powerful urban center, the Aztec
ruled Southern Mexico through:
1.
A strong army
2. Extreme wealth
3. Supreme military intelligence
4. A tribute system involving the sacrifice
of prisoners of war (P.O.W.) to the
Gods
Empire
Quick Quiz
1. Why did the Aztecs not get along
with other civilizations during the
migration period?
2. What were two major
characteristics of Tenochtitlan?
3. What were two ways though which
the Aztecs controlled the Mexican
Basin?