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Tenochtitlan

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Religion played a major role in Aztec life.

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Religious Practices: The Aztec performed elaborate public ceremonies designed to communicate with the gods. http://www.thelanguagetravelcompany.com/image2006/mexicocity3.j pg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Aztec_drums%2C_Florentine_Codex..jpg

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At the elaborate ceremonies, priests made offerings to the gods. The Aztec performed ritual dramas, songs, and dances. The Aztecs had a calendar full of festivals which changed depending on the god to be honored.

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Sacrifices for the Sun God The most important rituals involved a sun god, Huitzilopochtli. The Aztec believed that Huitzilopochtli made the sun rise every day. The Aztec believed that when the sun went down, Huitzilopochtli battled evil forces to make sure the sun would rise again. The Aztec believed that the only way to feed this god was through human blood.

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Aztec priests sacrificed thousands of people to Huitzilopochtli. They would cut out their beating hearts with knives made out of obsidian. (the people they sacrificed were still alive!) http://faculty.umf.maine.edu/walter.sargent/public.www/web%20103/aztec%20sacrifice.jpg http://namnezia.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/aztecsacrifice.jpg Sacrifices for the Sun God

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The Aztecs would sacrifice enslaved people and prisoners of war. The Aztec would make sure that they brought back prisoners ALIVE. Sacrifices for the Sun God

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Summary: Montezuma II took over the Aztec Empire and it grew and grew. As it grew, Montezuma II demanded more and more tribute and sacrifices. Soon it became too much and the people fought back. Montezuma II decided to be easier on the people, but by then it was too late. The empire soon fell The Fall of the Aztec Empire