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The Aztecs

In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:

The Aztecs

Tenochtitlan

Religious Beliefs of the Aztecs

Aztec Human Sacrifice

Cortes

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The Aztecs lived in central Mexico.

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The Toltecs

• The Toltecs built an empire in central Mexico around the same time as the Mayas.

• Around 1160, the Aztecs destroyed the Toltec capital.

• The Aztecs built a new capital called Tenochtitlan.

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The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, wasbuilt on an island in Lake Texcoco in

1325.

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Tenochtitlan

• Over 200,000 Aztecs lived in the capital.

• At that time, the capital was about five times larger than London, England.

• The Aztec capital was a religious center as well as a bustling center for trade and commerce.

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The Aztecs believed in many gods.They were polytheists.

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Human Sacrifice

• The Aztecs worshipped many gods.

• The Aztecs believed that the god of the sun required human blood to rise.

• Human sacrifice ensured that the sun would rise.

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Aztec priestsregularly

engaged inhuman

sacrifice to ensurethat the

sun wouldrise.

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Aztec human sacrifice frequently occurred at the top of Aztec pyramids.

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Warfare

• For nearly 200 years, the Aztecs made war with neighboring ethnic groups.

• Sometimes the Aztecs engaged in warfare simply to acquire victims for human sacrifice.

• Skilled warriors were greatly valued in Aztec culture.

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Cortes, a Spaniard, conquered theAztecs in 1519.

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The Spaniardshad better

weapons andhorses.

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Ultimately, Aztec society was destroyedby the superior weapons of the Spaniards

and smallpox disease.

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Questions for Reflection:

• Who were the Aztecs and where did they live?

• Describe the Aztec capital.

• Why did the Aztecs engage in human sacrifice?

• Who was Cortes and what did he do?

• Why were the Aztecs defeated?