Transcript Aztec Civilization

Mesoamerican Archaeology
Toltec
Aztec
Post-Classic
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Collapse of many of the great nations and cities of the
Classic Era, although some continue, such as in
Oaxaca, Cholula, and the Maya of Yucatán, such as at
Chichen Itza and Uxmal.
This is sometimes seen as a period of increased chaos
and warfare.
The Toltec for a time dominate central Mexico in the 11th
- 13th century, then collapse.
The northern Maya are for a time united under Mayapan.
The Aztec Empire rises in the 14th century and seems
on the path to asserting a dominance over the whole
region not seen since Teotihuacan, when Mesoamerica
is discovered by Spain and conquered by the
Conquistadors.
Tula and the Toltecs
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A.D. 900-1200
Development of city north of Teotihuacan after
its collapse in 900 A.D.
located on the Tula river and near the Lerma
rivers for easy communication with others.
this new capital was closer to the northern limits
of agriculture.
Toltec history embellished by Aztecs, Spaniards
and others after their collapse in 1200 A.D.
Toltec
Tula Grande
Was occupied during the prime phase of
Tula 950-1150 A.D.
 13 km in area, with a population of 3060,000 residents.
 craftspeople, tradespeople, religious
leaders, but not farmers.
 workshops included manos and metates
makers. toolmakers.
 city laid out on n-s axis.
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Tula
Atlantids
Rise of the Aztec
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From A.D. 1200 to A.D. 1370 the Basin of
Mexico was occupied by various central Mexican
peoples.
Chichimec people settled in the area from the
North and gradually overcame the people living
there at that time.
primarily due to Xolotl, who ruled a somewhat
barbaric horde.
Technically squatted in the area of Tenochtitlan
and were know as the Mixeca but today Aztecs
is more common.
The Chichimec Period
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The Aztec originated from somewhere in north
or northwest Mexico.
At that time the Aztecs (who referred to
themselves as the Mexica or Tenochca) were a
small, nomadic, Nahuatl-speaking aggregation
of tribal peoples living on the margins of
civilized Mesoamerica.
Sometime in the 12th century they embarked
on a period of wandering and in the 13th
century settled in the central basin of México.
The Chichimec Period
The Aztecs finally found refuge on small
islands in Lake Texcoco where, in 1325,
they founded the town of TENOCHTITLAN
(modern-day Mexico City).
 Other Chichimecs followed who were
more civilized but stole women and
practiced sacrifice.
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brought knowledge of the Maya calender
system, cultivated crops with irrigation,
constructed with stone.
Basin of Mexico
Aztec Empire
Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan Reconstruction
How were they all fed?
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Used the Chinampas (floating gardens) for
agriculture.
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25,000 acres of chinampas at the time of contact.
gardens never actually floated, but were created
by making use of the vegetaion in the swamps.
Floating water plants were used to build up
gardens and then were dragged onto shore for
chinampas.
They became anchored to the native cypress.
Lake mud was piled on and canals were built.
Chinampas
However, although chinampas were very
productive, the number of people living in
the area at the time of contact could not
keep up with subsistence and surplus food
demands.
 These marsh plots also brought in birds
and fish that could be gathered while they
were working.
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Chinampas
Ancient Aztecs tending to chinampas
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/aztec-society.htm
Cultural Innovations:
Trade, Economics, Market System
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Part of inter-related regions which
consisted of Morelos to the south, Puebla
to the east, Mezquital to the north, and
Toluca to the west.
although many crops the same, some areas
had their specialty crops.
 tropical fruits, cotton, cacao from Morelos,
beans from Puebla.
 flowers were also a big part of the economy
because one of the great pleasures was of
the smelling of flowers.
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Aztec Market (Tlateloco)
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Market days were held once each five days, four
times each month. Sometimes daily in larger
towns.
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reflected community craft specializations as well as
imported goods.
also slaves were traded, and dogs for food (400 on a
slow day).
Bernal Diaz de Castillo says that he didn’t even
have time to list how many things were offered
one day at the market of Tlateloco.
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commodities and goods exchanged by barter.
Cultural Innovations
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Writing
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Nahuatl language spoken at conquest, living
language today.
Many codices and glyphs to describe lifeways of
Aztecs, as well as Spanish accounts.
Several Significant Codices:
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Codex Borbonicus
Florentine Codex
Codex Mendoza
Codex Borbonicus
A scene from the Codex Borbonicus, which shows the
gods Tlachitonátiuh and Xolotl, while on the right are the
8 to 13 days of the sixteenth series of the ritual series.
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/aztecs4.htm
Florentine Codex
Human sacrifice
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/florentinecodex.htm
Codex Mendoza
Tribute
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/codex-mendoza.htm
Cultural Innovations
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Art
Stone carving to communicate ideas.
 Free-standing figures of Aztec deities.
 Aztec Calender stone.
 Atlantean figures and chocmools
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Metallurgy
acquired from Maya.
 Mostly gold, silver.
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Art
Obsidian vessel carved
in the shape of a
monkey
Polychrome terracota
plaque with molded and
apliquéd sculpture of a
human face
Stone box with representations
of corn cobs
http://www.mesoweb.com/features/jpl/99.html
Art
Obsidian vessel carved
in the shape of a
monkey
Polychrome terracota
plaque with molded and
apliquéd sculpture of a
human face
Stone box with representations
of corn cobs
http://www.mesoweb.com/features/jpl/99.html
Jewelry
Necklaces found in the
Great Temple at Tenochtitlan
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/aztec-jewelry.htm
Masks
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/aztec-masks.htm
Human Sacrifice
Skull Rack
Spanish Arrival: Cortes
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Spanish arrive in A.D. 1519 at Vera Cruz.
March inland to Tenochtitlan
 Received by Moctezuma II, who was then
held captive by Cortes and his men.
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Moctezuma II dies, replaced by nephew
(dies almost immediately from small pox),
replaced by another nephew: Cuahtemoc.
Moctezuma II
Mexico Revolts
The siege began on May 21, 1521 and
lasted for 85 days.
 Finally ended when the Spanish captured
the northeast section of the city and
eventually conquered the remaining Aztecs.
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 Cuauhtemoc
sets our from the city and
surrenders to Cortes sometime around
August 14, 1521.
Spanish Arrival: Cortes
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Spanish arrive in A.D. 1519 at Vera Cruz.
March inland to Tenochtitlan
 Received by Moctezuma II, who was then
held captive by Cortes and his men.
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Moctezuma II dies, replaced by nephew
(dies almost immediately from small pox),
replaced by another nephew: Cuahtemoc.
 Cuahtemoc is forced to surrender in AD
1521.
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