The Aztecs

World History - Libertyville HS

Rise of the Aztecs

• Migrated around 1200 AD from northern Mexican deserts

• Hired out as mercenaries, for Toltecs

• Achieved independence by 1300

Tenochtitlan• In 1325, they

founded a town on an island in Lake Texcoco, at the site of modern Mexico City

• City grew quickly– By 1500,

population was 3-400,000

– Larger than any except cities in China

– Ringed by suburban cities

Political Development• Warrior based

elite

• Elite soldiers were called Eagle Warriors

• Priests were just below Emperor in social status

Systematic Slavery• Aztec warfare

was directed towards capture, not killing

• Prisoners of war were sacrificed to gods

• But if captive had useful trade or skill, they were spared

Aztec Religion• Practiced

human sacrifice• Justification

– Gods gave things to humans only if humans nourished the Gods

– Aztecs practiced bloodletting and human sacrifice (bloodletting)

Aztec Religion• Priests taught

that gods were best nourished by living hearts of sacrificed captives

• The braver the captive, the more nourishing the sacrifice for the Gods

Aztec Religion• Why the need for

human sacrifice?– Aztecs believed that

gods were in constant conflict, opposition with each other

– Aztec gods needed blood to fight against each other

– Belief led to widespread wars• Search for sacrificial

victims• Tribute paid in both

food and victims

Aztec Religion• Wars led to

widespread resentment!

• Process– Some sacrifices

were minimal (1-2 POWs)

– Some were spectacular in scope (1000s at a time, for hours or days)

Aztec Religion• Victim held down by

four priests on an altar at top of pyramid

• Priest made incision below rib cage w/ razor sharp obsidian knife, pull out living heart

• Heart then burned in brazier, corpse pushed down steps

• Very noble carried down

Aztec Religion• Aztecs believed

they absorbed gods of conquered people into their own pantheon

• More gods on your side, the better!

• Led to need for more sacrifices for more gods

Aztec Culture• Aztec Law

– Simple, harsh, effective

– Most punishments resulted in death or mutilation

• Social hierarchy• Only boys were

educated– Depended on social

class– Parent’s profession

generally dictated kid’s training

– Women were subordinate to men

Emperor-God

Generals, priests

Merchants / Craftsmen

Landowning farmers

Slaves

Aztec Technology

• Stone and bone technology

• Sophisticated writing system that has been translated

Decline of Aztecs• Montezuma II (r.

1502-1522)– Ruled huge empire,

but empire filled with revolts by subject people

– Demanded more tribute and sacrifices

– Subject people of Aztec Empire HATED Aztecs

– Some tribes allied with Spaniards

Decline and Fall of Aztecs• Aztecs had

legend involving white skinned Gods who would return from the East

• Spaniards were initially regarded as Gods, by Aztecs