The Aztec Lived in Central Mexico from About The1200s to the 1500S

The Aztec Empire

The Aztec lived in central Mexico from about the1200s to the 1500s

Tenochtitlan • Capital of the Aztec empire • Built on a swampy island in the middle of a large lake to help protect it from enemy attacks • Site of present-day Mexico City

Aztec Pyramid • Living space for the Emperor • Became his burial place when he died Buried with jewels, jewelry, food and many other things that were supposed to travel with him into the after life

Aztec Empire • About 5 million people • Society who used advanced concepts like a calendar to help with planting and harvesting crops • Used mathematical systems to keep up with their empire • Used irrigation systems to water their crops • Good with metal-working and pottery making • Worshipped many gods • Sacrificed humans and animals to gain favor with their gods • Conquered neighboring tribes and made them pay taxes and provide humans for sacrifices Montezuma II • Aztec ruler from about 1500 to 1520 • Popular with his own people but highly feared by his enemies Hernan Cortes

• Spanish conquistador • Sailed into Mexico in 1519 in search of gold, silver, and other valuable resources • His expedition had about 600 men, horses, guns, and canons • Created an alliance with enemies of the Aztec and had about 1,000 natives join him in his fight against the Aztec

Fall of the Aztec Empire

• Montezuma and the Aztec mistakenly thought Cortes was a god at first • Cortes captured Montezuma and held him prisoner • Cortes and his men defeated the Aztec and Montezuma was killed • In time the Spanish sent more troops to Mexico and destroyed Tenochtitlan • Thousands of natives died in a massive smallpox epidemic because they had never been exposed to the disease and had no immunity built up like the Spanish did • The Spanish built Mexico City where Tenochtitlan had been