The Aztec EmpireThe Aztec Empire

Great EmpiresGreat Empires

The Valley of MexicoThe Valley of Mexico

a mountain basin 7,000 feet above sea level

several large, shallow lakes at its center, accessible resources, and fertile soil

supported a population between 5 and 15 million people

a mountain basin 7,000 feet above sea level

several large, shallow lakes at its center, accessible resources, and fertile soil

supported a population between 5 and 15 million people

Aztecs Build an EmpireAztecs Build an Empire

arrived 1200 A.D. the Mexica - a poor, nomadic people from the harsh deserts of northern Mexico

arrived 1200 A.D. the Mexica - a poor, nomadic people from the harsh deserts of northern Mexico

Aztecs Build an EmpireAztecs Build an Empire

arrived 1200 A.D. the Mexica - a poor, nomadic people from the harsh deserts of northern Mexico

the sun god, Huitzilopochtli, told them to found a city of their own

arrived 1200 A.D. the Mexica - a poor, nomadic people from the harsh deserts of northern Mexico

the sun god, Huitzilopochtli, told them to found a city of their own

Aztecs Build an EmpireAztecs Build an Empire

“look for a place where an eagle perched on a cactus, holding a snake in its mouth”

“look for a place where an eagle perched on a cactus, holding a snake in its mouth”

Aztecs Build an EmpireAztecs Build an Empire

Lake TexcocoLake Texcoco

1325 – founded Tenochtitlan on a small island in Lake Texcoco, at the center of the valley

1325 – founded Tenochtitlan on a small island in Lake Texcoco, at the center of the valley

Tenochtitlan: A Planned CityTenochtitlan: A Planned City

by early 1500s a large urban center population of 200,000 people larger than London or any other European capital of the time

island connected to mainland by three raised roads (causeways) over the water and marshland

by early 1500s a large urban center population of 200,000 people larger than London or any other European capital of the time

island connected to mainland by three raised roads (causeways) over the water and marshland

A Voice from the PastA Voice from the Past

“When we saw all those cities and villages built in the water, and other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded. These great towns and pyramids and buildings rising from the water, all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision. Indeed, some of our soldiers asked whether it was not all a dream.” BERNAL DÍAZ, The Conquest of New Spain

“When we saw all those cities and villages built in the water, and other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded. These great towns and pyramids and buildings rising from the water, all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision. Indeed, some of our soldiers asked whether it was not all a dream.” BERNAL DÍAZ, The Conquest of New Spain

7 Steps to Controlling an Empire

7 Steps to Controlling an Empire

1. divide the empire into provinces

2. base power onmilitary conquest

5. let local rulers govern their own regions as long asthey paytribute

4. Exercise loose control over much of the empire

7. Destroy villages, capture or slaughter the inhabitants if they don’t pay

the early 1500s,the Aztecs controlled a vast Mesoamerican

empire, which stretched from centralMexico to the Atlantic and

Pacific coasts.

6. respond brutallyto local rulers who fail to pay tribute

3. demand tribute from conquered people in the form of gold, maize, labor

Problems in the Aztec EmpireProblems in the Aztec Empire

1502 – Montezuma II, crowned emperor

demands for tribute and sacrificial victims from the provinces created unrest and rebellion

Montezuma attempted reforms with little success

1502 – Montezuma II, crowned emperor

demands for tribute and sacrificial victims from the provinces created unrest and rebellion

Montezuma attempted reforms with little success

Problems in the Aztec EmpireProblems in the Aztec Empire

as domestic problems worsened, the Spanish arrived

many believed the strangers from across the sea to be the return of the god Quetzalcoatl

this legend foretold the destruction of the Aztecs

as domestic problems worsened, the Spanish arrived

many believed the strangers from across the sea to be the return of the god Quetzalcoatl

this legend foretold the destruction of the Aztecs

The Arrival of CortezThe Arrival of Cortez

The Arrival of CortezThe Arrival of Cortez

The Arrival of CortezThe Arrival of Cortez

The Arrival of CortezThe Arrival of Cortez

Aztec Power and DeclineAztec Power and Decline