e. napp the aztecs in this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms: the aztecs...
TRANSCRIPT
E. Napp
The Aztecs
In this lesson, students will be able to define the following terms:
The Aztecs
Tenochtitlan
Religious Beliefs of the Aztecs
Aztec Human Sacrifice
Cortes
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The Aztecs lived in central Mexico.
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The Toltecs
• The Toltecs built an empire in central Mexico around the same time as the Mayas.
• Around 1160, the Aztecs destroyed the Toltec capital.
• The Aztecs built a new capital called Tenochtitlan.
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The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, wasbuilt on an island in Lake Texcoco in
1325.
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Tenochtitlan
• Over 200,000 Aztecs lived in the capital.
• At that time, the capital was about five times larger than London, England.
• The Aztec capital was a religious center as well as a bustling center for trade and commerce.
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The Aztecs believed in many gods.They were polytheists.
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Human Sacrifice
• The Aztecs worshipped many gods.
• The Aztecs believed that the god of the sun required human blood to rise.
• Human sacrifice ensured that the sun would rise.
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Aztec priestsregularly
engaged inhuman
sacrifice to ensurethat the
sun wouldrise.
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Aztec human sacrifice frequently occurred at the top of Aztec pyramids.
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Warfare
• For nearly 200 years, the Aztecs made war with neighboring ethnic groups.
• Sometimes the Aztecs engaged in warfare simply to acquire victims for human sacrifice.
• Skilled warriors were greatly valued in Aztec culture.
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Cortes, a Spaniard, conquered theAztecs in 1519.
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The Spaniardshad better
weapons andhorses.
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Ultimately, Aztec society was destroyedby the superior weapons of the Spaniards
and smallpox disease.
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Questions for Reflection:
• Who were the Aztecs and where did they live?
• Describe the Aztec capital.
• Why did the Aztecs engage in human sacrifice?
• Who was Cortes and what did he do?
• Why were the Aztecs defeated?