The Rise and Fall of the Aztec Empire

Introduction

• Captivating History presentation
• Focus on the Aztec Empire, one of the largest ancient empires in the Americas
• Topics covered: origins, lifestyle, conquests, decline

Origins of the Aztecs

• Mesoamerican Civilization
  • Region: Current day Central America (Mexico to Costa Rica)
  • Capital: Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City) founded in 1325 CE
  • Likely related to the Toltecs (11th and 12th centuries)
  • Migration and founding of Tenochtitlan attributed to divine intervention (Aztec god Huitzilopochtli)
• Terminology
  • Called themselves the Mexica
  • Historians use the term "Aztecs" (derived from "Azteca," meaning people from Aztlan)

Government, City-States, and Expansion

• Timeline
  • Early Aztec era: began in the 12th century
  • Late Aztec era: started with founding of Tenochtitlan in 1325
• Political System
  • Despotic rule by kings and quasi-kings
  • 50+ city-states, bound by taxes and tributes
• The Triple Alliance
  • Formed in 1428 between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan
  • Aztec empire expanded through alliances and conquests

Key Conquests and Expansion

• Relations and Conflicts
  • Hostilities with Tepanec
  • Texcoco, Tlacopan, Tenochitlan, and Huexotzinco allied against Tepanec
• Major Conquests
  • Valley of Mexico, Morelos, Cuernavaca, Oaxaca
  • Moctezuma I expanded the empire significantly

Social Classes and Hierarchy

• Structure
  • Sovereign (Tlatoani), Dignitaries, Nobility
  • Commoners: defined by gender roles, early introduction to work
  • Landless peasants: grew due to constant warfare
  • Slaves: had potential for upward mobility and emancipation

Arrival of the Spanish and Decline of the Empire

• The Spanish Arrival
  • 1492: Columbus in the West Indies
  • 1519: Hernán Cortés arrives in Mexico
  • Cortés allies with Totonacs and Tlaxcalans
• Conquest of Tenochtitlan
  • Montezuma's initial welcome
  • Cortés takes Montezuma prisoner
  • Siege of Tenochtitlan (1521), facilitated by diseases like smallpox
  • Capture of Cuauhtémoc, fall of the Aztec Empire

Contributing Factors to the Fall

• Combination of Forces
  • Alliances with other native tribes
  • European diseases decimating the Aztec population
• Spanish Strategy
  • Utilizing native rivalries and resentment toward the Aztecs

Conclusion

• Further Reading
  • Book recommendation: "Aztec History: A Captivating Guide to the Aztec Empire, Mythology, and Civilization"
  • Available formats: e-book, paperback, audiobook
• Call to Action
  • Link to free Mythology bundle e-book
  • Encouragement to like and subscribe