TheThe AztecsAztecs

What do you remember about What do you remember about thethe

Aztecs?Aztecs?

The Aztecs: People The Aztecs: People of the Sunof the Sun

Aztec Empire:Aztec Empire:Present Day MexicoPresent Day MexicoDates: Dates: 1325 – 15211325 – 1521

The AztecsThe AztecsWhat do we need to know about What do we need to know about

the Aztecs?the Aztecs? When? Where?When? Where? What were the most important What were the most important

features of their customs, rituals, features of their customs, rituals, and social life?and social life?

Most important (types of) leaders?Most important (types of) leaders? Describe life in Describe life in TenochtitlanTenochtitlan, their , their

capital city? capital city?

CustomsCustomsAztec MarriageAztec Marriage

When a boy is in his late teens or When a boy is in his late teens or early 20’s, his family invited his early 20’s, his family invited his teacher to dinner.teacher to dinner.

Parents gave the teacher an ax – Parents gave the teacher an ax – to symbolically “cut” the boy to symbolically “cut” the boy free from school!free from school!

Now the boy can marry!Now the boy can marry!

Aztec MarriageAztec Marriage (cont.) (cont.) Marriages were Marriages were

arranged.arranged. Bride: red paint on Bride: red paint on

her face; red feathers her face; red feathers pasted on arms and pasted on arms and legs.legs.

Strongest/oldest Strongest/oldest femalefemale relative relative carried her to the carried her to the man’s house for the man’s house for the wedding.wedding.

Their clothes were tied Their clothes were tied together!together!

Now they are married.Now they are married.

Aztec MarriageAztec Marriage (cont.) (cont.)The Marriage VowsThe Marriage Vows

Bride told to trust her husband, Bride told to trust her husband, take care of him, and obey him.take care of him, and obey him.

Groom told to be hardworking, Groom told to be hardworking, thoughtful, and to think of her thoughtful, and to think of her and her family before himself.and her family before himself.

He can take other wives later, but He can take other wives later, but the first is his most importantthe first is his most important

AztecAztec Crime & Punishment Crime & Punishment Laws: Based on religionLaws: Based on religion

– Polytheistic; Gods of nature (mostly)Polytheistic; Gods of nature (mostly) Crime not a big problem since people Crime not a big problem since people

didn’t want to offend the godsdidn’t want to offend the gods Elders were Elders were mostmost respected. respected.

– They were the judges!They were the judges! If guilty, punishment happens right If guilty, punishment happens right

awayaway And what might that punishment be?!And what might that punishment be?!

Aztec Crime & Punishment Aztec Crime & Punishment (cont.)(cont.)

What were some examples of What were some examples of punishments for specific crimes?punishments for specific crimes?

Sold poorly made goods?Sold poorly made goods?– Goods taken and destroyed!Goods taken and destroyed!

Stole something?Stole something?– Pay back 3 times the price or become a Pay back 3 times the price or become a

slave!slave! Keep committing crimes?Keep committing crimes?

– Death! Could be drowned or skinned alive!Death! Could be drowned or skinned alive!

Then….Then….

There were the There were the sacrifices to the sacrifices to the Sun Gods!Sun Gods!

Aztecs: People of the SunAztecs: People of the Sun SacrificesSacrifices

The Sun needed to be The Sun needed to be given blood to survivegiven blood to survive

Victim could be drowned, Victim could be drowned, beheaded, burned, skinned beheaded, burned, skinned alive oralive or

Heart could be cut out! Heart could be cut out! And it needed to be still And it needed to be still beating!beating!

At times, the man who was At times, the man who was sacrificed had his body sacrificed had his body painted white and wore a painted white and wore a black mask signifying the black mask signifying the star-studded night. It was star-studded night. It was believed that he would believed that he would reinforce with his life the reinforce with his life the life of the sun. life of the sun.

AztecAztec Recreation Recreation Most popular game Most popular game

was…was… Ollamaliztle: Ollamaliztle:

Combination of soccer Combination of soccer and basketball.and basketball.

Could only touch the Could only touch the ball with thighs, ball with thighs, knees, buttocksknees, buttocks

Sometimes…the Sometimes…the losers would be killed!losers would be killed!

AztecAztec Warfare Warfare Aztecs honored war Aztecs honored war

and its warriorsand its warriors From age 12, boys From age 12, boys

taught how to fight.taught how to fight. At age 17, Aztec boy At age 17, Aztec boy

in army for 5 years at in army for 5 years at no pay!no pay!

More enemies More enemies captured, more captured, more rewards.rewards.

Idea was to capture Idea was to capture enemy if you could; enemy if you could; not to kill him. Why?not to kill him. Why?

AztecAztec Education Education Two kinds of schoolsTwo kinds of schools ‘‘OneOne run by priests for run by priests for

the sons of nobles. the sons of nobles. – Taught to be rulers Taught to be rulers

and high priestsand high priests Another Another for the sons for the sons

of peasantsof peasants– Taught to be Taught to be

warriorswarriors Girls stayed at home.Girls stayed at home.

AztecAztec Social Classes Social Classes Seven different social Seven different social

classes – in this order – classes – in this order – top to bottom:top to bottom:

The ruler, his family, and The ruler, his family, and other nobles.other nobles.

priestspriests warriorswarriors middle class merchantsmiddle class merchants craftsmencraftsmen peasantspeasants slavesslaves

Review of the Review of the AztecsAztecs In what part of the world was it? ___________In what part of the world was it? ___________ When was it? __________________When was it? __________________ Who were the most important leaders? Who were the most important leaders?

__________________ What was unique (special) about What was unique (special) about

Tenochtitlan,Tenochtitlan,its capital city? _________________________its capital city? _________________________

What was the Aztec religion? _______________What was the Aztec religion? _______________ What were some of their customs and daily What were some of their customs and daily

activities? activities? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What was their education like? What was their education like? __________________________________________________________________________