Teotihuacan and the Toltec Empire

• Several civilizations developed in the Valley of Mexico (northern Mesoamerica) before European arrival.
• Teotihuacan existed from about 100 BCE to 600 CE and means "Birthplace of the Gods."
• Teotihuacan was the most sophisticated city-state before the Aztecs.
• Teotihuacán was a major city, referred to as "place of the gods," located near Mexico City.
• Teotihuacán was built during the 1st century C.E. and had 125,000 residents at its height.
• Central Teotihuacán was the avenue of the dead, lined with 20 pyramids.
• The Pyramid of the Sun was the largest pyramid, over 200 ft tall and 3,000 ft wide.
• People in Teotihuacán lived in apartment-block buildings around the main avenue.
• Most residents of Teotihuacán were farmers.
• Teotihuacán was a center of a trading network where obsidian was a valuable item.
• The city of Teotihuacán was abandoned by 750 C.E.

Toltec Empire

• The Toltec dominated central Mexico from 900-1200 C.E.
• Tula was the center of the Toltec empire.
• The Toltec were war-like, worshiped a fierce war god, and demanded blood and human sacrifice.
• Toltec characteristics included pyramids, palaces, tall pillars in shapes of warriors, and the legend of Quetzalcoatl.
• Through trade and conquest, the Toltec ruled as far as the Yucatan peninsula.
• The Toltec greatly influenced late-Mayan culture.

Aztecs Origins and Empire

• The Aztecs originated in the Southwestern United States and migrated to the Valley of Mexico in the 1300s.
• The Aztecs called themselves "Mexica", which became the name for the country of Mexico.
• The Nahuatl language is still spoken by almost 2 million people today.
• The Aztecs migrated to the Valley of Mexico in the 12th century C.E.
• The Valley of Mexico includes a mountain basin, several large, shallow lakes, accessible resources, and fertile soil.
• The Aztecs built their capital, Tenochtitlan, on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco in 1365 C.E.
• The Aztecs took conquering spirit of the Toltec to the extreme and placed war at the center of government and religion.
• The Aztecs ruled until the 1500s when conquered by the Spanish.
• In the 1300s, the Aztecs created a new city on an island in a lake, known as Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City).
• The Aztecs built Chinampas (man-made islands) to extend their city for living and farming.
• The lake gradually filled with Chinampas, and the population of the city grew to about 200,000 people by 1500.
• Chinampas allowed the Aztecs to adapt to the environment.
• Because of their population size and military strength, the Aztecs dominated the region.
• Aztec’s god of war and of the sun would provide a sign to show where journey would end.
• Attack from other peoples drove them into the swamps in 1325.
• Tenochtitlan was built in the area where they saw the sign.
• It took 100 years to build Tenochtitlan.
• While building the capital, warriors conquered modern Mexico.
• The Aztec empire included a collection of semi-independent territories governed by local lords.
• Conquered territories were tributary states

Aztec Political Structure

• By 1500, 4 million lived in Valley of Mexico
• The monarch had the power and was claimed to be descended from gods.
• The ruler was assisted by council of lords and government officials.
• The Aztecs formed a Triple Alliance with other leading city states.
• Aztecs power was based on military conquest and tribute states.
• Local rulers could rule tribute states.
• Tributes were demanded such as gold, maize, cacao beans, cotton, jade, and other products.
• Rebellious villages were destroyed, or people were captured and made slaves if they did not pay tribute.
• The Aztec Empire at the time of the Spanish conquest, ruled over 38 provinces.
• The empire stretched from Central Mexico to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
• The estimated population of the empire was between 5 and 15 million.
• The Aztec conquered their neighbors and established the only empire in Mesoamerica.
• The Aztec Empire included a large portion of Mesoamerica, its government was a Theocratic Monarchy.
• Aztecs did not organize conquered territories into provinces and did not rule them directly.

Aztec Social Structure

• The monarch/ emperor had absolute power.
• Nobles included council of lords, government officials, military leaders, and religious leaders.
• Commoners included farmers (most people), warriors, craftspeople, and merchants (elite).
• Indentured workers were landless laborers.
• Slaves were captured in war.
• Boys were warriors from birth.
• Girls were not equal to men, but could inherit property and enter into contracts.
• Most girls worked at home, raised children, and wove textiles.
• Some girls became priestesses.

Aztec Tributary Empire

• All conquered people paid tribute.
• The Aztec controlling method was similar to the Mongol Empire.
• The Aztec were conquered by the Spanish in 1521 by Hernan Cortes.
• The Spanish were helped by thousands of subjects of the Aztec who resented Aztec rule.
• Tenochtitlan became the capital of New Spanish Empire and millions of Native Americans in North and South America died of diseases brought by the Europeans.

Aztec Religion and Culture

• Religion was an important part of Aztec life where many beliefs were adopted from the Toltec.
• Religious practice centered on elaborate public ceremonies, designed to communicate with and win favor of the Gods.
• The Aztec were polytheistic, with over 1000 gods.
• Most important rituals involved Sun God, Huitzilopochtli.
• Human blood made the sun rise everyday.
• Human sacrifice was carried out on a massive scale involving thousands led to altar atop the Great Temple.
• Priests carved out hearts using obsidian knives.
• People thought day of reckoning was coming, so human sacrifice would delay it.
• Captives were captured and captured slaves were required in battle using different battle tactics to capture live prisoners.
• The feathered serpent was Quetzalcoatl
• Legend of a Toltec prince, whose return from exile would be proceeded by a sign of an arrow in a sapling
• The Aztec saw the sign, the cross, on the Spanish and thought it was Quetzalcoatl returned