The Aztecs

The Aztecs

Introduction

Aztecs , an Indian people who dominated Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest 1521 . Their capital city was Tenochtitlan which is now Mexico City . They called themselves Technocas or Mexica . The term Aztec ' comes from the name of their legendary home . In a broader sense , Aztec ' is applied to their civilization , which flourished in Mexico during the 15th , 15th , and early 16th centuries (Stuart , 1981

The Aztecs were short , sturdy people with almond- shaped eyes , dark coarse hair , and brown skin . They spoke Nahuatl , a language of

the Uto- Aztecan Family . Descendants of the Aztecs form a large part of the Indian Population in and around Mexico City , and the Nahuatl language is still spoken (Fagan , 1984

Discussion

Culture

Aztec culture was largely derived from that of the Toltecs , Mayas , and other peoples of Mexico . The Aztecs had an accurate calendar , made from fig- tree bark , and a system of hieroglyphics or picture writing Skilled craftsmen made pottery , wove , carved stone sculptures , cut gems worked metals , and created intricate designs on clothes and banners by tying feathers into fabrics during weaving . Master architects designed aqueducts , dikes , and huge stone pyramids topped by temples . City planners laid out the streets and canals of the capital in an ly grid pattern (Davies , 1980

Most boys attended local schools where they studied history , religion and crafts and received military training . Some boys and girls attended special religious schools , studying to be priests and priestesses

Like earlier Mexican peoples , the Aztecs never made use of the wheel and did not use animals to pull or carry loads . Their only domesticated animals were dogs , turkeys , and perhaps ducks , geese and quail . Trade was by barter . Sometimes cacao beans were used as small change ' in major transactions to balance the exchange . Most tools and weapons were made of stone or wood . Gold , silver , and copper were used mainly for ornaments , along with jade , turquoise , emeralds , and shells (Stuart 1981

Empire

At the time of the Spanish invasion in 1519 , the Aztecs dominated an area extending east to the Gulf of Mexico , southwest to the Pacific Ocean and southeast to the present Mexico- Guatemala b . The northern boundary ran approximately through the present cities of Tampico and Guadalajara . The population of the Aztec Empire is estimated to have been 5 ,000 ,000 to 11 ,000 ,000 . The Aztec Empire was a loose organization of independent towns rather than a united kingdom . Subject cities were allowed to rule themselves and retain their own goods and customs . Every six months , tax collectors from the capital gathered tribute in clothing , precious stones , cotton , rubber , chocolate , food and feathers (Harris , 1986

Social Organization

Society was composed of 20 groups called calpullis , which were something like clans or extended families . Land was owned by the calpullis rather than by individuals . Calpulli representatives formed a council that selected two men as rulers . The emperor , the chief of men ' was responsible for external affairs , such as wars and alliances...