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The Aztecs arrived in Central Mexico around 1200 CE and settled in the Valley of Mexico, establishing their capital city of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco in 1325. Over time, the Aztecs built a powerful empire through military conquest and demanded tribute from conquered peoples. Religion was extremely important to the Aztec society, and they practiced human sacrifice on a large scale, sacrificing prisoners of war to please the sun god and ensure the continuation of the world. However, this practice led to unrest and rebellion against Aztec rule. When the Spanish arrived in 1519, bringing disease and advanced weapons, it contributed to the fall of the powerful Aztec empire.
The Aztecs arrived in Central Mexico around 1200 CE and settled in the Valley of Mexico, establishing their capital city of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco in 1325. Over time, the Aztecs built a powerful empire through military conquest and demanded tribute from conquered peoples. Religion was extremely important to the Aztec society, and they practiced human sacrifice on a large scale, sacrificing prisoners of war to please the sun god and ensure the continuation of the world. However, this practice led to unrest and rebellion against Aztec rule. When the Spanish arrived in 1519, bringing disease and advanced weapons, it contributed to the fall of the powerful Aztec empire.
The Aztecs arrived in Central Mexico around 1200 CE and settled in the Valley of Mexico, establishing their capital city of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco in 1325. Over time, the Aztecs built a powerful empire through military conquest and demanded tribute from conquered peoples. Religion was extremely important to the Aztec society, and they practiced human sacrifice on a large scale, sacrificing prisoners of war to please the sun god and ensure the continuation of the world. However, this practice led to unrest and rebellion against Aztec rule. When the Spanish arrived in 1519, bringing disease and advanced weapons, it contributed to the fall of the powerful Aztec empire.
Although Europeans were unknowingly headed on a crash course with an unknown world, other high cultures were evolving in Central Mexico. These people were the Aztecs! The most powerful empire in Mesoamerica! The Aztec Origins The Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico around 1200 CE. They referred to themselves as the Mexica. They were fierce and ambitious people who often fought in return of money from local rulers. The Aztecs They claimed to have lived in the area first. They were actually nomads from the North. They wrote history to suit their purposes. Lake Texcoco In 1325, the Aztecs settled down at Lake Texcoco and they founded their own city, Tenochtitlan. Aztecs As time went on, the Aztec influence and power grew. The Aztecs had a reputation as strong warriors and religious fanatics! The Aztecs were experts at military conquest. Aztecs grow stronger The Aztecs let local rulers govern their own regions for a small price. The Aztecs did demand tribute in the form of gold, maize, cacao beans, cotton, jade, and other products. If local rulers resisted the Aztecs responded brutally. Sacrifices for the Sun God The most important rituals involved the sun god. In dedication to the sun god and as a way to please him, the Aztecs sacrificed thousands of people every year. Typically prisoners of war. Religion: Bloodletting Rituals Shedding of human blood makes gods send rain Bloodletting involved both war captives and Aztec royals Very brutal process The Great Temple Religion played a great role in the Aztec society. The Aztecs had approximately 1,000 gods. Aztec beliefs centered on huge ceremonies that communicated with the gods to win their favor. The Sun God and Sacrifice 52 year cycle of the world required blood to escape destruction A certain amount of people had to be sacrificed in this 52 year cycle or the world may end! sacrifice for sacrifice The gods need nourishment Those crazy Aztecs This pushed the Aztec military to carry out new conquests. In fact, the Aztecs often went to war not to conquer new lands, but simply to capture prisoners to sacrifice. This made the Aztecs be seen as terrorist. Effects of Human Sacrifice Surrounding areas began to rise against the Aztecs. This began a period of unrest and rebellion, which the military struggled to put down. The most worrying event was the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. For many Aztecs, these strangers from across the sea brought to mind the legend of Quetzalcoatl. The Fall of the Aztecs 20 million people would be killed or sent into slavery. This was thanks to the appearance of the Spanish Disease and European military technology led to the fall of the great Aztecs.