The Aztec Civilization PDF

By: Sadie, Riesling, Gabriella, and Alexandra First, in 1428, under their leader, Itzcoatl, the Aztecs changed a three-way alliance with the Texicans and the Tacubans to defeat their most powerful enemies for influence to their region, the Tepanec, and defeat their capital of Azcapotzalco. Itzcoatl...

By: Sadie, Riesling, Gabriella, and Alexandra First, in 1428, under their leader, Itzcoatl, the Aztecs changed a three-way alliance with the Texicans and the Tacubans to defeat their most powerful enemies for influence to their region, the Tepanec, and defeat their capital of Azcapotzalco. Itzcoatl substituted Montezuma (Moctezuma) “I, who took power in 1440, was a great soldier who was remembered as the father of the Aztec empire”. By the early 16th century, the Aztecs had come to take over up to 500 small states, and some 5 to 6 million people, either by conquest or commerce. Tenochtitlán was the most densely populated city ever to exist in Mesoamerica. Busy markets such as Tenochtitlan Tlatelolco, visited by some 50,000 people on major market days, drove the Aztec economy. The Aztec civilization was also highly made socially, brilliantly, and beautifully. It was a correctly built society of Aztecs with a strict caste system; at the top were nobles, while at the bottom were servants or laborers, indentured servants, and enslaved workers. To finalize, the Aztecs went into war for the expansion of their region. In the beginning, the Aztec faith shared many phases with other Mesoamerican religions, like that of the Maya, especially including the ritual of human sacrifice. In the great cities of the Aztec empire, magnificent temples, palaces, plazas, and statues visible the civilization’s unfailing love for the many Aztec gods, including Huitzilopochtli (god of war and of the sun) and Quetzalcoatl (“Feathered Serpent”), a Toltec god who served many important roles in the Aztec faith over the years. The shocking Temple, or Templo Mayor, in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was loyal to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, the god of rain. The Aztec calendar, common in much of Mesoamerica, was based on a solar cycle of 365 days and a ritual cycle of 260 days; the calendar played a main role in the religion and routines of Aztec society. To finalize, each temple was a representation for each god. At the start, the Aztec Empire was a modern and highly organized empire that flourished in central Mexico from the early 14th century until the Spanish overthrow in the 16th century. The civilization was founded in the city of Tenochtitlán, which was a marvel of urban planning with shocking structures like pyramids and palaces. It was ruled by an emperor and supported by nobility, while a caste system structured the empire into many classes such as warriors, priests, traders, farmers, and slaves. Also, the ruler, King Moctezuma was pursuing the empire's expansion, supervising the construction of new pyramids and enforcing a strict legal code that dictated social empire. Markets were a complex part of the economy, with guilds organizing sellers and markets caterers to different products. The Aztec legal system was strict, with severe punishments like execution by sharpening for cheating to selling thieves into slavery for the price of their theft. In the end, the Aztec religion was central to Aztec society, involving rituals like human sacrifices to please the gods, increasing the displeasure of neighboring city-states. The social organization was highly stratified, with commoners paying tribute and the best and most successful warriors living rich. The Aztecs developed modern agricultural practices by transforming swampy lands into productive farmland and became one of the supreme forces in the region through conflict, trade, and alliances. However, with the arrival of the Spanish, the empire faced internal contentment, which the Spanish cheated taking advantage of their resources. In conclusion, the Aztec Empire was very strict and built breathtaking structures. The Aztecs' staples of their diet were maize, beans, and squash. To these, they added chilies and tomatoes. They also harvested acociles, an abundant crayfish-like creature found in Lake Texcoco, as well as Spirulina algae which they made into cakes. Meat was eaten sparsely; the Aztec diet was primarily vegetarian with the exception of grasshoppers, maguey worms, ants, and other larvae. As time passed, the Aztecs began to use turkeys and ducks. Wild mushroom and other fungi were added to many dishes, including Huitlacoche – a mushroom which grows on ears of corn. This delicious fungus is gaining amazement in modern-day Mexican cooking! A surprising number of herbs and spices were used by the Aztecs to flavor foods. Also, the Aztecs knew how to preserve chiles by dehydrating and grinding them into powders, separating them by flavor – sweet, fruity, earthy, smokey, and hot. Other flavorings commonly used were achiote, epazote, hoja santa, garlic vine leaves, allspice and avocado leaves. To conclude, the Aztecs diet had a large and interesting variety of food. To end, The Aztec Civilization had good techniques and ways of doing things. The Aztec soldiers also had great power for fighting in war and ruling cities. Sadly, the Aztec population started to decrease until they became extinct.