AZTEC

civiliz
Aztec Civilization

ation
• 1300 – Aztecs arrived in
Mexico.
• They found a sign sent to
them by their god
• HUITZILOPOCHTLI
Huitzilopochtli and they
• began
Aztec togod/deity
build theirofcity.
war, sun
and human sacrifice
• Patron god of Tenochtitlan
• Shown as a blue man fully
armed with humming feathers
on his head.
• AZTECS
• believed to have begun as a
northern tribe of hunter-
gatherers Aztlan (“White Land”)
• known as the Tenochca
(Tenochtitlan) or the Mexica
• Early 13th century - arrived in
Mesoamerica
• 15th century - emerged as the
dominant force in central
Mexico
• AZTECS
• worshipped gods who
represented the earth, rain and
sun
• believes that the water brought
rain, thunder and lightning
• believes that their gods must
be fed with human hearts and
blood
• it was a good way to die since
it helps their gods
• CALENDAR
• Combined a count of 365 days
based on the solar year with a
separate calendar of 260 days
based on various rituals
• Every 52 years both calendars
would overlap and a new cycle
would commence.
• Aztec astronomy – important
component of their calendar
• Reflected heavily on their
gods
Aztec Ball Game Volador (Flying Bird Game)
• Mandatory, universal
education
• one of the few in the
world to implement
mandatory education.
• Aztec education was for
everyone, regardless of
gender, rank or station.
ANTISPASMODIC MEDICATION PASSION FLOWER
medicine that could sedative and pain
prevent muscle spasms reliever
and relax muscles
NUMERICAL SYSTEM
• The Aztecs counted in
units of twenty instead of
tens. A flag represented
twenty so four flags
equalled eighty. They
used other symbols for
larger numbers, such as a
feather for four hundred.
CHINAMPAS
• artificial islands created for the
crops
TERRACING
• method that provides more
usable land
• walls of stone were created
in hillsides, then filled in to
create deeper soil that could be
used
TENOCHTITLAN
• main Aztec city,
which was actually built
on top of another city
Teotihuacan.
• ‘place of those who
have the road of the
gods’
• built around the
14th up to the 16th
Century
• Founded on June 20,
1325
Causeways
- transportation to and from the
city
- allowed the people to easily
travel over the swampy and wet
areas
Canals
- acted like water roads that
allowed people to easily travel
around the large city in boats.
Temple-pyramids
• Aztec temples usually
found at the top of
pyramids
• used for religious
ceremonies and sacrifice
• One of the largest pyramids
in the world is at Cholula,
near Mexico City.
• Represent their desire to
sacrifice to their gods and
their religion and beliefs.
PYRAMIDS

Twin Stair Pyramid Single Stair Pyramid Round Pyramid

WEAPONS
• many Aztec tools
were made with
obsidian and chert
• Axe blades - either
stone or copper
• drills - made with
reed or bone
Atlatl
• made it easier to throw a spear
• used to aid in fishing

Macuahuit
• wooden club containing sharp
pieces of volcanic glass, or obsidian
• used to disable an enemy or
opponent without killing him
CHEWING GUM CHOCOLATE POPCORN
DISEASE WEAPONS ALLIANCES
• the Spanish • The Spanish had • Alliances that the
brought many many advanced Spanish made with
deadly diseases weapons other tribes
(small pox) • Spanish used RELIGION
• weakened many armor, canons • Aztec Emperor,
people which gave and swords Moctezuma 2
thought Hernan
the Spanish an which
Cortes is a god. He
advantage while outmatched took this chance to
fighting and Aztec’s capture and kill the
spears and emperor
shields
Thank You!