Transcript War is made with combat, come adhere to us!

The Early History of the Aztecs
• In Aztec legends their original home was
Aztlan, “The Place of Reeds”
• The Aztecs left this place in 1168 and
wandered for many years
• Settled for a while in Coatepec, “The Hill of
the Snake”
• They arrived in Central Mexico after 1200 and
called themselves “Mexica”
• Their meeting with Coxcoxtli, ruler of
Culhuacan
“The Place of the Cactus”
• The Aztecs settled where they saw an eagle
with a snake in its grip sitting on a cactus
• Tenochtitlan was founded in 1325, a small
island in Lake Texcoco
• Advantages of an island city
• The Empire Develops
This image depicts how Tenochtitlan might have
looked like before the Spaniards invaded
• The creation of chinampas, floating gardens, is where
the Aztecs grew maize, beans, squash, chili peppers,
tomatoes, and amaranth
• People even built cane and thatch houses on their
floating gardens
Aztec Emperors
• The Aztecs called their chief leader Huei
Tlatoani meaning “Great Speaker”
• His main work was the lands of his empire
• Emperors were elected from among the
available “royals” by a group of nobles,
priests, and generals
• Often brothers were elected, rather than sons
of the previous ruler
Aztec Emperors
• Itzcoatl – Aztec leader from 1426 broke free from the
Tepanecs
• Montezuma I – Elected in 1440, Itzcoatl’s nephew,
empire grew fast under his rule
• Ahuitzotl – Elected 1490, led his army on long
expeditions, built the temple to Huitzilopochtli
• Montezuma II – Elected 1502, great nephew of
Ahuitzotl
• Cuitlahuac – Elected 1520, ruled 80 days, died of
small pox
• Cuauhtemoc – Elected 1520 died 1521
The Aztec Religion
• Ometeotl – The creator god, “the dual god”
who was both male and female
• The gods of the four cardinal directions: Black,
White, Red, and Blue Tezcatlipoca
• The World of the Fifth Sun
• The Cult of Huitzilopochtli
• Human Sacrifice
• The Calendar System
• The Aztecs had two (2) calendars one was a sacred calendar named
tonalpohualli which had a 260 day year. The days of the year were
made up from a combination of 20 day-names (months) and each month
had 13 days
• The xuhitl or solar calendar was used to measure the agricultural
seasons and was very similar to the calendar we use today. However, it
had 360 day year with eighteen 20 day months. A five day period at
year’s end was thought to be unlucky time
Aztec Templo Mayor
This temple was
dedicated to
Huitzilopochtli, god of
war and Tlaloc, god of
rain & agriculture
Aztec Art & Music
• For most Aztec artists, their works were not
meant to express feelings or thoughts
• Art was entirely in the service of their religion
• Sculpture of the gods was considered
necessary to worship
• Aztec Jewelry
• Music and Dance used to please the gods
rather than to listen
Eagle Warrior
Duality Figure
Figure holding
cacao bean
Serpent
Eagle
Jaguar
Feathered Shields
Shell Necklaces
Ring
Earrings
Aztec Wooden Drum huehetls
Moctezuma II Throne
Language & Writing
• The Aztecs spoke Nahuatl
• Their form of writing entailed making pictures
as symbols or glyphs
• The Codices – Codex Mendoza & Florentine
Codex
• Nahuatl Literature
• Poetry was abundant in Aztec life and central
to their culture
• This is a page of the Codex
Mendoza
•This page depicts an Aztec
account of the founding of
Tenochtitlan in the year
1325
• In the center of the drawing
is an eagle perched on a
cactus
Florentine Codex
Human Sacrifice
The birth of Huitzilopochtli
Warfare
Hymn to Huitzilopochtli
Huitzilopochtli, the young warrior,
he who acts above, moving along his way.
"Not in vain did I take the raiment of yellow
plumage,
for it is I who made the Sun appear."
Portentous one, who inhabits the region of
clouds,
you have but one foot!
Inhabiter of the cold region of wings,
you have opened your hand!
Near the wall of the region that burns,
feathers come forth.
The Sun spreads out,
there is a war cry....
My god is called Protector of Men.
Oh, now he advances, comes well
adorned with
paper,
he who inhabits the region that burns,
in the dust, in the dust, he gyrates.
Our enemies are those of Amantla;
come adhere to us!
War is made with combat,
come adhere to us!
Our enemies are those of Pipiltlan:
come adhere to us!
War is made with combat,
come adhere to us!
Daily Life of the Aztec
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Marriage & Family
Growing Up Aztec
Education
Housing
• Food
• Clothing &
Adornment
• Law & Order
• Medicine