The Aztec Empire was in the current day Mexico from 1345-1521 BCE
Aztec
Caroline Culp, Annika Brodt, Rachel Schoneman, Do Yun Park , James McGough
Tenochtitlan is the capital of the Aztec Empire.
Tenochtitlan is an island in lake Texcoco.
The City of Texcoco is also on the shore of Lake Texcoco.
The Aztec Culture was often grouped with the culture of the Nahuas because they spoke the same language.
Aztec architecture was very simple, yet very elegant. This combination created a unique variation that symbolized the Aztecs. They had their famous temples and shrines immersed with symbols. They had houses and a well developed capital.
Quiz
What Language did the Aztec Speak?
- Aztecan
- Nahuatl
- Spanish
Aztec religion was a very important part of their culture. They had numerous structures: temples, shrines, and palaces as places of worship. They believed in many gods and had perceptions in nature, time space, and cycles.
Did you know?
Aztecs Invented chewing gum using sap from the Sapodilla tree.
Aztec Temple
The Aztecs made many new leaps in the field of education. They were one of the first Western cultures where education was required.
Did you know?
Aztecs invented popcorn and used to decorate ceremonial clothing and head dresses.
Aztecs invented the agriculture form using man-made islands to farm. These were called Chinampas. There were many Chinampas surrounding the island of Tenochtitlan
Aztec warfare was very important in that they fought for resources, territory, and even sacrificial victims to honor their gods. Warriors trained from a young age and the Aztecs are well known for their combat prowess. They are led by the king and other war councils.
The Aztecs were also very advanced in mathematics. They made an extremely accurate calendar.
Did you know?
The Aztecs discovered how to make chocolate, and it was the main ingredient in their popular drink Xocolatl.
Aztecs were Mesoamerican people in central Mexico, in the Valley of Mexico. The aztec culture is grouped with culture of the Nahuas because they have the same language. They were a tribe that traveled a lot through northern Mexico. Aztec means “someone who came from Aztlan”.
Quiz
Review: What is the capital of the Aztec Empire?
- Tuxpan
- Tenochtitlan
- Hauxyacac
- Tehuantepec
The aztecs, like many other kingdoms, followed a strict and organized social hierarchy. This social structure consisted of nobles, commoners, serfs, and slaves. The noble class consisted of leaders, priests, and high lords. The commoners consisted of middle class workers such as merchants, farmers, and artisans. The serfs and slaves were at the bottom of the social structure; one became a slave through acts of punishment or to pay back debts. They had some rights: marriage, have children, buy their own freedom.
Aztec social structure
There are several theories surrounding the disappearnce of the Aztecs:
- Mass Sacrifices - Each year, the Aztecs sacrificed thousands of their own people for cultural purposes.
- Disease - Spanish brought lethal diseases when they arrived in the Western Hemisphere. Aztecs most likely caught the diseases from corpses and looting.
- Spanish invasion - The Aztec numbers continued to decrease as they fought countless battles; they ultimately surrendered in 1521,as the Last Aztec Emperor surrendered to the Spanish.