Aztec

1
Aztec

• The Aztec civilization moved often until they
  settled in the Valley of Mexico.
• Once they settled there, they built their capital
  city of Tenochtitlan in 1325 CE.
• Tenochtitlan was built on an island in the middle
  of a lake.

2
Aztec Cities

• Artists images of the ancient city of
  Tenochtitlan.

3
Aztec Culture

• The Aztec grew corn, squash, chili peppers, and
  avocados.
• They made jewelry, pottery, and tools.
• They created art that often focused on their
  religion.
• They traded these items for goods such as cotton.

4
Aztec Architecture

• Aztec architecture included religious temples
  that were pyramids.
• If a new temple was to be built, it was built
  over the old one.

5
Aztec Society

• A major part of their society was the calpulli,
  which was a family unit that included extended
  family and later was a term used for a large
  political group.
• There were different social classes in Aztec
  society
• The pipiltin were the noble class and were born
  into their class.
• The pochtecas were the merchant class.
• The macehualles were the common people.
• The mayenques were slaves.

6
Aztec Government

• The empire was made up of city-states.
• They had a complex government structure.
• The calpulli formed political units with their
  own governing councils.
• The leaders of the Calpulli councils met and
  formed tribal councils.
• These councils each chose a chief.
• From these chiefs, one emperor was chosen for all
  of the Aztec.

7
Aztec Religion

• The Aztec were similar to the Maya.
• They worshipped nature gods.
• Huitzilopochtli was their sun god.
• Tlaloc was the rain god.
• Quetzalcoatl was the god of wind and learning.
• Their religion centered around human sacrifice.
  One ruler sacrificed 20,000 people to honor the
  gods when he built his new temple.

8
Aztec Astronomy

• The Aztec created a calendar similar to the Mayan
  one.
• The Aztec Sun Stone calendar is a circle with
  carvings representing the days and months.
• The Sun Stone was twelve feet wide and three feet
  thick.
• It weighed about 25 tons.
• It shows the years 1427-1479, during which it was
  created.