WESTERN

CIVILIZATION
AZTEC | MAYA
AZTEC EMPIRE
 The Empire
 The Mexicas, a group of people who was once nomadic,
build first city-states, Tenochtitlan. It became the largest
city in the world. Later they formed alliance with two
other cities, Texcoco and Tlacopan.

 This Alliance ruled the Valley of Mexico until the

Spanish arrived.
 The Life
 Family structure was important to the Aztecs. Society
was dominated by men.

 Husbands generally worked as farmer, warrior or

craftsman. Husbands may have more than one wife.

 Wives cooks for the family and weaves clothes. They

also were able to run businesses outside of their homes.

 Most kids attend school.

 The Religion
 Ancient Aztec religion was a complex interaction of
gods, humans and nature.

 They worship Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and

symbol of the sun, and Tlaloc, the god of rain and
fertility. They believed the gods needed blood to fight
against the darkness.

 As the empire grow, the sacrifices becomes more

common and frequent.
 The Ritual
 A temple at the top of great pyramid at Tenochtitlan is the
location for the sacrifices. The gods favours the hearts, which
are torn from the bodies as his offering.

 Each February, children are sacrificed to maize god on the

mountain tops. In March, prisoners fight to the death in
gladiatorial contest. In April, a maize goddess receives her
share of children. In June, there are sacrifices to the salt
goddess.

 Sacrifices victims rises from 10, 000 a year to 50, 000.

A picture taken from the Codex
Mendoza, created by native scribes
for the Spanish in 1541-1542,
showing a ritual Aztec sacrifice.
 The Temple
 Aztec temples were called Teocalli, the god houses.
Pyramidal structure with four sides, stairs up one side.
Flat top with a shrine at the top.

 A place to worship, to pray and to make offerings to the

gods to keep them strong and in balance.

 Some temples were built for the specific gods, some for
specific celebrations.
 The Temple
Templo Mayor, Tenochtitlan. Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan.
 The Art
Ceremonial Knife

An Aztec ceremonial knife with

cedar wood handle and flint blade.
The handle is covered in turquoise
and shell mosaic
The carving represent Aztec Eagle
Knight.
 The Art
Tlaloc Vase

Representing the head of Tlaloc, the

god of rain.
The vase was painted in bright blue,
goggle eyes and fearsome red fangs.
 The Art
Turquoise Mosaic Mask

Representing Xiuhtecuhtli, god of fire.

The mask is of cedar wood with
mother-of-pearl eyes, conch shell teeth
and once with gold leaf on the eyelids.
 The Art
Xochipilli Statue

Representing Xochipilli, god of flowers.

Xochipilli seated on a temple platform
decorated with butterflies, flowers and
clusters of four dots representing the sun.
He is wearing a mask, his body is covered
in flowers. Cross-legged and care-free,
happily singing and playing rattles,
symbol of all the good things in life.
 The Art
The Sun Stone

Also known as the Calendar Stone. 3.78m

in diameter, almost 1m thick.
Shows a solar disc which presents the five
consecutive worlds of the sun from Aztec
mythology.
Was once part of the Templo Mayor
complex of Tenochtitlan.