2. •Aztecsexisted during the 12th
through16th century
•Theycontrolled the valley of
Mexico and much of central
America during the late 12th
century-15th century
•The Aztecs began in 1427 after
their leader defeated the
Tepanecs and gained control of
the Mexican basin from 1427-
1521

3. •Lived in a huge oval basin surrounded by snowcapped volcanoes,
located in the center of Mexico
•According to the Aztec legend the gods told them to search for an
eagle on top of a cactus holding a snake in its mouth. They saw a sign
in a swampy lake near lake Texaco.
•They soon built their city which was called Tenochtitlan which is now
called Mexico City.
•They expanded their territory by a fierce conquest and shrewd
alliance, they spread their rule across mostly all of Mexico.
•From the Gulf of Mexico on the east to the pacific ocean on the west
•By the 1500’s there were about 30 million people.

4. •Like any culture, the Aztecs were influenced by their
environment
•Their basic form of clothing that an Aztec wore was
breechcloth, which was called quot;maxtlatl.“
•Feathers were and large amount of gold was worn , which
showed the power and strength of their empire

5. •Primarilypolytheistic-believed in
more than one god.
•One of their gods,
Huitzilopochotti, was a war god
& represented the sun.
•The Aztecs did rituals, they
believed this pleased the gods
and prevented droughts or other
bad things.
•Chief god was Huitzilopochtli.
He was the sun god. He battled
the forces the darkness each
night and reborn each morning.
To make sure the sun would
come up everyday the Aztecs
offered human sacrifices.
•The Aztecs believed that illness
was a punishment from the
gods.

6. •Established the great city of Tenochtitlan, which is Mexico
City today
•Tenochtitlan had at least 200,000 to 300,000 habitants

7. •Theydevised a accurate
calendar.
•Were extremely adept (highly
skilled) at military matters and
among the best and fiercest
warriors ever seen in Mexico
•They created amazing
architecture such as statues,
pyramids, and temples.
Aztec Calendar - Sun
•Were the first to make Stone
popcorn! The popped corn was
eaten along with being an
ornament of the headdresses

8. •Highofficials lived in great
palace complexes, which
were reserved for the ruler
or huei Tlatoami, meaning
greater speaker
•Housesof ordinary people
were generally plastered
with mud, and roofed with
thatch
•They had frequent human
sacrifices. Such as heart
sacrifices which they then
offered to their gods.

9. •Theyhad superior
knowledge in treatment of
wounds and many other
diseases.
•Cornwas cultivated
extensively along with
beans, avocados,
squashes, potatoes, and
tomatoes.

10.  A founder and leader named,
Xokonoschetletl
 Descendants can be found in several
different countries :El Salvador,
Guatemata , Honduras, Mexico,
Nicaragua, the U.S, & part of Belize

11. Aztec ruins of Teotihuacan:
Temple of the Sun
•Aztec ruins were built and used over a 200-year period,
some have stood for over 800 years.
•700 yard trail leads visitors through the west ruin, an
excavated great house the had at least 400
interconnected rooms built around an open plaza massive
sandstone walls over 30ft

12. •Mexico by Michael D. Coe
and Rex Koontz (Published in
the U.S.A ,1984)
•http://www.aztec-
history.net/aztec_achieveme
nts
•http://www.nps.gov/azru/
•http://media.photobucket.c
om/image/aztec%20major%2
0achievements/Pinchak/azte
cTOT.jpg
•http://media.photobucket.c
om/image/aztec%20major%2
0achievements/Chicanindio/
Azteca/aztec_calendardisk-
1.jpg