Aztec Empire

INTRO
In less than 100 years, the Aztec empire rose to power, only to collapse under the assault of Cortes. A warrior who has trained for war his entire childhood had been beaten up and dragged off the battlefield by an Aztec Noble from Tenochtitlan. Instead of being killed, he was worshiped by his captors as a god. After months of preparation, he would be given the ultimate honor.

AZTECS SACRIFICIAL RITUALS

At the top of the Great Temple, he would be greeted by the nobleman who’d captured him. Four priests would put him on a stone altar. The chief priest would then stab him in the chest, rip out his heart, and offer it to Tonatiuh, the sun god. This was a very common ritual in the Aztec empire because they believed the gods made humans with their own blood so in order to maintain the empire, they’d return the blood.

THE MEXICAS

The Mexica, also known as the Aztecs, lived in the Valley of Mexico, which was already inhabited by the Tepanecs, the Acolhuas, and the Culhuas. These tribes shunned the Mexica as “snake-eating barbarians”. The Mexica attempted to fight them by killing the daughter of the Culhuas king which led to years of punishment and isolation. They were forced the wander the wilderness until Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec warrior god, led the Mexica to an island in a swamp.

THE MEXICAS WAR WITH THE TEPANECS

The Mexica turned the swamp into what would soon become the capital of Tenochtitla. Until then, the Mexica worked as hired soldiers for the Tepanecs. The Tepanecs new king feared the Mexicas military skill and attacked them. In 1428, the Mexicas and their king Itzcoatl teamed up with two other city-states and defeated the Tepanecs. This Triple Alliance marked the beginning of Aztec civilization.

BATTLE STRATEGIES 

Itzcoatl and his feudal and religious changes in place, devoted the rest of his time conquering more Aztec city-states in the Valley of Mexico. Aztecs fought to kill, and most importantly they would take captives. For they believed that if men die in battle their souls rest with the gods. So they would take as many men as possible captive. In most battles worriers would fight one vs one. Generally using spears,or a unique sward that was wood with sharpened obsidian around it.

THE GODS

to justify an expanding empire, Itzcoatl altered the Aztec religion.The warrior God of the Mexica, Huitzilopochtli, was brought to the importance of representing the god of the sun Tonatiuh. Aztecs became kowm as the “chosen people of the sun.” Giving them the responsibility of keeping the world and the gods in order by a constant supply of human blood.The Aztecs and have always preformed human sacrifices as part of their religion, but Itzcoatl demanded mazive numbers of captive warriors to give their blood of Tonatiuh and  the other gods.

A NEW LEADER IN PLACE

Itzcoatl’s death was in 1440, and a group of Mexica royal advisers where to chose a new ruler. Moctezuma was to be the next leader of the Aztecs. he was A nephew and also close ally to former ruler he carried on the warlike policies of itzcoatl. he strengthened the tribute system  of Aztecs, and the construction of the Great Tenochtitlan temple. He issued a legal code that emphasized the huge difference between the nobility and commoner.

SCHOOLING 

Moctecezuma organized a system of schooling for all Mexica Children. The schools would teach of beliefs and rituals of the Aztec religion. Also Depending on their class, schooling would prepare boys to become priests, merchants, and craftsmen ad other jobs, and every boys were to be trained to battle in war. Girls learned of song, dance, and the skills to become mothers of Aztec boys and girls.

TRADING

Moctezuma I and Itzcoatl conquered many city states. Since warfare ended, market and trade began to slowly increase. There were many things that were traded like textiles, obsidian tools, medicinal herbs and dyes.

TEMPLES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

The Great Temple was done in 1487 and had two more temples on top of it. There were two stairs that lead to a place where human sacrifices were made. Everyone in the city states had to see these rituals made.
When Moctezuma II became the last ruler in 1502, city states began to accomplish a lot. New roads, better trading and marketing. Boys and girls were learning and everything was going good, but since there were so many wars and sacrifices that had to be done to the gods, the number of people began to decrease.

DEFEAT

In 1519, when Spaniard Hernando Cortes arrived to Tenochtitlan, he came to face with all the temples, houses, and people that were there.He attacked the Aztecs in 1521 and showed no fear while doing it. The war lasted 85 days and defeated the Aztecs.