The AztecsThe Aztecs

The Aztecs finally found refuge on The Aztecs finally found refuge on small small islands in Lake Texcocoislands in Lake Texcoco where, in 1325, where, in 1325, they founded they founded the town of TENOCHTITLAN the town of TENOCHTITLAN (modern-day Mexico City). (modern-day Mexico City). Other Chichimecs followed who were Other Chichimecs followed who were more civilized but stole women and more civilized but stole women and practiced sacrifice.practiced sacrifice.– brought knowledge of the Maya calender brought knowledge of the Maya calender

system, cultivated crops with irrigation, system, cultivated crops with irrigation, constructed with stone.constructed with stone.

The Chichimec PeriodThe Chichimec Period

Basin of MexicoBasin of Mexico

Chain of interconnected lakesChain of interconnected lakes– Lake TexcocoLake Texcoco

deepest and water flowed from it to other lakesdeepest and water flowed from it to other lakes

the Basin is about 3,000 sq miles and about the Basin is about 3,000 sq miles and about 15% of that is covered by water.15% of that is covered by water.

Population estimates at around Population estimates at around A.D.1519 are between 1 to 1.2 million.A.D.1519 are between 1 to 1.2 million.

Aztec EmpireAztec Empire

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

How were they all fed?How were they all fed?

Used the Chinampas (floating gardens) for Used the Chinampas (floating gardens) for agricultureagriculture..– 25,000 acres of chinampas at the time of contact.25,000 acres of chinampas at the time of contact.– gardens never actually floated, but were created gardens never actually floated, but were created

by making use of the vegetaion in the swamps. by making use of the vegetaion in the swamps. – Floating water plants were used to build up Floating water plants were used to build up

gardens and then were dragged onto shore for gardens and then were dragged onto shore for chinampas.chinampas.

– They became anchored to the native cypress.They became anchored to the native cypress.– Lake mud was piled on and canals were built.Lake mud was piled on and canals were built.

ChinampasChinampas

However, although chinampas were very However, although chinampas were very productive, the number of people living in productive, the number of people living in the area at the time of contact could not the area at the time of contact could not keep up with subsistence and surplus food keep up with subsistence and surplus food demands.demands.

These marsh plots also brought in birds These marsh plots also brought in birds and fish that could be gathered while they and fish that could be gathered while they were working.were working.

ChinampasChinampas

Ancient Aztecs tending to chinampas

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/aztec-society.htm

Cultural Innovations:Cultural Innovations:Trade, Economics, Market SystemTrade, Economics, Market System

Part of inter-related regions which Part of inter-related regions which consisted of Morelos to the south, Puebla consisted of Morelos to the south, Puebla to the east, Mezquital to the north, and to the east, Mezquital to the north, and Toluca to the west.Toluca to the west.– although many crops the same, some areas although many crops the same, some areas

had their specialty crops.had their specialty crops.– tropical fruits, cotton, cacao from Morelos, tropical fruits, cotton, cacao from Morelos,

beans from Pueblabeans from Puebla..– flowers were also a big part of the economy flowers were also a big part of the economy

because one of the great pleasures was of because one of the great pleasures was of the smelling of flowers.the smelling of flowers.

Aztec MarketAztec Market

Market days were held once each five daysMarket days were held once each five days, four , four times each month. Sometimes daily in larger times each month. Sometimes daily in larger towns.towns.– reflected community craft specializations as well as reflected community craft specializations as well as

imported goods.imported goods.– also slaves were traded, and dogs for food (400 on a also slaves were traded, and dogs for food (400 on a

slow day).slow day).

Bernal Diaz de Castillo says that he didn’t even Bernal Diaz de Castillo says that he didn’t even have time to list how many things were offered have time to list how many things were offered one day at the market one day at the market commodities and goods exchanged by barter.commodities and goods exchanged by barter.

Human sacrifice http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/florentine-codex.htm

Cultural InnovationsCultural Innovations

ArtArt– Stone carving to communicate ideas.Stone carving to communicate ideas.– Free-standing figures of Aztec deities.Free-standing figures of Aztec deities.– Aztec Calender stoneAztec Calender stone..

MetallurgyMetallurgy– acquired from Maya.acquired from Maya.– Mostly gold, silver.Mostly gold, silver.

ArtArt

http://www.mesoweb.com/features/jpl/99.html

Obsidian vessel carved Obsidian vessel carved in the shape of a in the shape of a monkey monkey

Polychrome terracota plaque with molded and apliquéd sculpture of a human face

Stone box with representations of corn cobs

JewelryJewelry

Necklaces found in the  Great Temple at Tenochtitlan

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/aztec-jewelry.htm

MasksMasks

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/aztec-masks.htm

Social StructureSocial Structure

Basic unit of social organizationBasic unit of social organization– calpulli (clan) calpulli (clan) – not all lineages within the clan were equal.not all lineages within the clan were equal.

Membership by birth.Membership by birth.– families traced their descent through fathers, families traced their descent through fathers,

which is a lineage, and these lineages make which is a lineage, and these lineages make up a calpulli.up a calpulli.

– marry within the calpulli.marry within the calpulli.– one lineage provides leader of that calpulli.one lineage provides leader of that calpulli.

Four principle social categories:Four principle social categories:

Pipiltin- rulerPipiltin- ruler– ruler of the city state and his relatives.ruler of the city state and his relatives.– only ones to own their own landonly ones to own their own land

Macehualtin-commonerMacehualtin-commoner clan. clan.– serfs who worked others land.serfs who worked others land.

Pochtea-merchantPochtea-merchant clan. clan. – owned communal land.owned communal land.

Tlacotin-slavesTlacotin-slaves..– no land, no rights.no land, no rights.– Irreversible status.Irreversible status.

Political OrganizationPolitical Organization

Divine King or ruler of AztecDivine King or ruler of AztecEach city (other than Tenochtitlan) ruled by a petty-Each city (other than Tenochtitlan) ruled by a petty-king selected from the pipiltin.king selected from the pipiltin.Dual leadership-military and religiousDual leadership-military and religious– supreme leader chosen from special lineage, with brother supreme leader chosen from special lineage, with brother

succeeding brother.succeeding brother.– court which ruled over military, justice, treasury, and court which ruled over military, justice, treasury, and

commerce.commerce.

Moctezuma II http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/florentine-codex.htm

Moctezuma II and CortesMoctezuma II and Cortes

Moctezuma’s priestly training, particularly in the old Toltec Moctezuma’s priestly training, particularly in the old Toltec traditions, was his downfall as he traditions, was his downfall as he believed the return of believed the return of Quetzalcoatl to be incarnated in CortesQuetzalcoatl to be incarnated in Cortes, it paralyzed him , it paralyzed him and his vast armies until it was too late for the Aztecs.and his vast armies until it was too late for the Aztecs.He believed it was his destiny to preside over the Aztecs He believed it was his destiny to preside over the Aztecs while a total destruction of the Mexica civilization occurred.while a total destruction of the Mexica civilization occurred.Moctezuma was considered a skilled statesman and many Moctezuma was considered a skilled statesman and many references were made by the Conquistadors to their references were made by the Conquistadors to their admiration for him. admiration for him. While a captive of Cortes he lost his stature among the While a captive of Cortes he lost his stature among the general population of Tenochtitlan and was hit in the head general population of Tenochtitlan and was hit in the head by a stone thrown by his former subjects and died while a by a stone thrown by his former subjects and died while a captive of Cortes captive of Cortes