By: Laurence, Jarrad, Grant, Cameron B., Chase, and Matt.

Geography of Mexico

• Mexico is a rugged mountainous land

• It has two major mtns. Ranges that form a V with a plateau in the middle

Central Plateau

Climate of Mexico

• Northern Mexico is mostly arid or lacking rainfall

• Most rainfall lies in the southern half of the region

Early Settlement

• The Valley of Mexico was first settled by farming peoples

• They settled down and formed a number of small city-states

• The last people to arrive were the Mexica who arrived from Aztlan

• We call these people the Aztecs

Aztec Empire

• They settled in Mexico in 1325 and called their settlement Tenochtitlan

• The Aztecs had a reputation as fierce warriors and mercenaries, or soldiers for hire

• They believed their chief god had told them to settle in Tenochtitlan, a small island in the middle of Lake Texcoco

Tenochtitlan

• The island was ideal for farming and rich in food

• They created floating gardens called chinampas

• On these gardens they planted corn, tomatoes, potatoes, chili peppers, and squash

• The island was good for travel, transport, and defense

Aztec Expansion

• Early 1400’s they started to expand

• They joined two other city-states in a pact called the Triple Alliance

• By 1440 they had an empire that included most of the Valley of Mexico

• They were rarely defeated in battle

• They used wooden shields, cotton padding, and favored a spiked club

The Empire at its Height• The Aztec empire reached its height under

Moctezuma, covered most of central Mexico and was home to around ten million people

• When Spanish invaders came into the Valley of Mexico they were surprised to see the cities and villages built on water, however their arrival started the downfall of the Aztecs

Aztec Empire

Aztecs Weapons

Aztec’s Chinampas