Background
Essential Question
Visual Summary
How did the Aztecs build their empire and make it work for them?
Agents, our reports about the Aztecs are nearly impossible to believe. For example, the system says that they built a giant empire on top of a lake – that can’t be right. There must be some major Fractures here. We’ve already seen how many mistakes we made with the Mayans but why would someone be trying to change this specific point in history?
The Aztecs
Mission Summary: Conquest
Conquest
Episode 4:
Rise of the Aztecs
Geography
Tenochtitlan
Aztec capital built on a small island in the middle of a lake in Mexico.
Technology
Adaptations
Chinampas – Floating gardens made to expand their limited land.
Society
Religion
Built around war and large sacrifices of enemy warriors to please the gods.
Huitzilopochtli�God of Sun and War
Aztec history says that during one religious ceremony 20,000 people were sacrificed in 4 days.
Government
The Aztecs grew in size by conquering their neighbors making them hated by other tribes.
Aztec Conquest
Tribes had to pay tribute* and provide slaves or the Aztecs would attack.
*“Tribute items included warrior’s uniforms, animal skins, building materials, pottery, and firewood… gold and copper, feathers, incense, paper, and cocoa beans.”
- Blood and Tribute: The Rise and Fall of the Aztec Empire, Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Ball Game
They also played the ball game like the Mayans – but sacrifice was a much bigger part!