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The AztecChapter 6 - Lesson 3
What was Tenochtitlan?
The Aztec’s powerful city-state built upon two swampy islands in Lake Texcoco.
How did the Aztecs use alliances to build their empire?
They formed alliances in order to help them conquer neighboring city-states.
What happened to the Aztecs?
The Aztec Empire ended when the Aztecs were conquered by the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortéz.
How was the Aztec civilization similar to other Mesoamerican civilizations?
They based their economy on…
➢ farming➢ building stone
monuments➢ polytheism
➢ mathematicians ➢ astronomers ➢ priests➢ farmers➢ built monuments
made of stone
What is one important way the Aztecs differed from other Mesoamerican civilizations?
The Aztecs built an empire.
What city is shown on the map?
Tenochtitlan
SummaryA Mesoamerican CivilizationThe development of the Aztec civilization was influenced by both the Olmec and Mayan civilizations.
Compare this map to the one on pg. 170. Did the Aztec and Mayan civilizations overlap?
No
What did the Mexica do before they ended their wandering and started a city?
They lived on the fringes of land settled by other Mesoamerican people and sometimes served as mercenaries.
What did the Mexica decide to do in order to improve their living conditions?
They build more islands for people to inhabit.
What do you think?
Good decision? Bad decision?
➢ This made current islands less crowded.
➢ They would erode overtime.
How did the forming of alliances affect the Mexica?
It expanded their power and helped them conquer other city-states.
SummaryEarly Aztec HistoryIn the mid-1300s the Aztecs, known as the Mexica, settled on 2 islands in Lake Texcoco, where they built their great city of Tenochtitlan. By the 1400s the Mexica grew in strength and power and conquered neighboring city-states. The Aztec Empire had begun.
Where was Aztlán located?
North of where they settled.
How do we know?
They had migrated from the north when they first came to the Valley of Mexico in the 1200s.
Why did the Mexica build their city on a swamy island in Lake Texcoco?
Other people had already settled on the good land.
How many years did Moctezuma I rule?
29 years
How did the Aztecs build a large empire? Explain.
➢ Through warfare➢ The emperors used the gold they collected to
build their empire.
Compare and contrast Columbus’ and Dias’ explorations to find a sea route to Asia.
➢ Similar: They both sailed from Europe.
➢ Different: Dias sailed south and east; Columbus sailed west.
SummaryThe Aztec EmpireDuring the mid to late 1400s, the Aztec Empire grew in size and wealth, controlling city-states from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.
How do you think European explorers might affect the Aztec civilization?
They might try to conquer them.
How were agriculture and religion related in Aztec culture?
➢ Many religious ceremonies were based on agricultural events
➢ Aztecs worshipped gods that represented certain crops and seasons.
What knowledge did the Aztecs most likely have about the sun?
It was important for crops and season.
How can you tell?
They made human sacrifices to the sun to be sure it would continue to move across the sky.
Why do you think the Aztecs believed the human heart was the most precious gift they could offer the gods?
➢ The heart is what keeps people alive.➢ The belief was that it is like giving a person’s
life force to the gods.
SummaryLifeAlthough agriculture was the basis of the Aztec economy, religion influenced every aspect of life in the Aztec culture.
Why did the Aztecs believe that they needed to practice human sacrifice?
To honor their god and fuel the sun.
How was religion related to the end of the Aztec Empire?
They believed that Cortéz was one of their gods.
What caused the end of the Aztec Empire?
Cortéz marched into the Aztec capital and conquered them.
Bonus QuestionDo you think the Aztec Empire would have
continued without the arrival of the Spanish?Student responses will vary - please make sure you include textual evidence.
SummaryA Violent EndIn 1519 the Spanish invaded Tenochtitlan; by 1521 they had conquered and put an end to the Aztec Empire.
