Tenochtitlan and the Aztec Empire Overview

Tenochtitlan was a city so spectacular and beautiful that when Cortes's men came upon the city for the first time, Bernal Díaz de Castillo described Tenochtitlan as a magnificent city built on water with impressive buildings and temples, so astonishing that he compared it to an enchanted vision from a fairy tale, saying he had never seen or heard of things like these before, and that some soldiers even questioned if it was a dream. He was deeply impressed by its grandeur and unique construction on the lake. They also stated that it would take many accomplished writers and much time to truly describe the city. Remarkable words from the same men who would later be responsible for destroying the city. The capital of the Aztec Empire, Tenochtitlan, at its height, governed over 5 million people within the city's borders and various surrounding city-states. The city itself was situated in the middle of Lake Texcoco, boasting incredible architecture such as a market in the city, twice as large as Salamanca, and the Great Temple. or Templo Mayor, standing 197 feet tall. The city itself was home to an estimated 200,000 farmers, artisans, merchants, soldiers, and priests. Much of what we know about the Aztecs and Tenochtitlan is from a series of codices written by the Spanish that were taken from oral accounts. Due to the adversarial nature of these two cultures, one must read these accounts with a healthy dose of skepticism. The Spaniards were keen to making themselves look good. good on official records and accounts as these would end up being reported to Queen Isabella and the Aztecs were known in destroying even their own history for very ritualistic purposes and even because it did not make them look good. What you are looking at here is an image of modern day Mexico which was built directly on top of the ruins of Tenochtitlan. As we move the slide over you will begin to see what Tenochtitlan could have possibly looked like. The heart of the city was built right on top of Templo Mayod. While it is not entirely certain how the first humans came to populate Mesoamerica, scientists through DNA testing and conventional archaeology have two main theories. In reality, there's probably a hundred or so theories of how this came, but I'm only going to mention two. A decrease in sea levels allowed for the crossing from Asia to Alaska on the Bering Land Bridge. The other theory implies that a Pacific coastal migration from Asia is more likely to have occurred. The Kelp Highway, as it was called, due to the abundance of food provided by the sea to those migrating, allowed for travelers to easily travel along the Pacific coast and into North America. Allowing for an ice-free corridor, the Kelp Highway flooded during the last ice age, and as time passed on and as the glaciers melted, these hunter-gatherers began to migrate south. which is likely where our Aztec friends came from. Mesoamerica identity began to form around 2000 BCE around Mexico and Central America. Until about 10,000 BCE, Mesoamerica civilization consisted primarily of hunter-gatherers and fishermen. By 4000 BCE, meat consumption fell to about 21%, maybe even lower due to a dramatic change in nature. Instead of eating meat collected from big hills, they were now forced to eat small insects, bugs, and anything else edible. Although it is not certain when the domestication of corn began, we do know that by 2000 BCE it became one of their main sources of consumption. Maiz was particularly important to one specific civilization's culture, that civilization being the Mayans. Early Maya civilization dates to about 18,000 BCE which puts it at around the pre-classic or formative Mesoamerica period. At their height, the Mayan civilization had about 40 cities with the population of anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 people in each city. It is believed that at their peak, their total population may have reached between 2 million to 10 million people. Like every other civilization in Mesoamerica, the Mayans were heavily religious and worshipped several deities. The Mayan Popol Vuh, which can be described as the Mayan Bible, describes the creation of the earth which took several tries to perfect mankind. The gods would eventually create a form of mankind that would not live up to the name of the Mayans. to their expectations and so they created a flood that destroyed the world. The image that you're seeing now is from the Dresden Codex which depicts that moment of the flood. In the Popo Vo it is described that the creation of the man started with water being turned into blood. The Mayis both yellow and white were used to make up different parts of the human body. The Mayans worshiped Mayis and it was very sacred to them not only because they were created from it but it was seen as a gift from the gods. The story goes that Maiz was discovered under a mountain of rock by marching ants who were the first to discover its existence because only they could fit through a small opening, allowing them to carry the grains out of the rock. The fox was next to find out as he was naturally nosy and soon afterwards man became aware of his existence. Man then asked the rain gods for help in breaking the rock so they too could have access to Maiz. The rain gods tried and failed several different times and then they asked the chief rain god who at first declined in helping them. Soon the chief rain god sent a woodpecker to find the weakest point of the rock and once the woodpecker was able to find the weakest point, the chief rain god instructed the woodpecker to hide behind a tree for safety the chief rain god then threw as hard as he could a thunderbolt at the rock's weakest point causing it to break the woodpecker who did not listen picked out of the tree just as a thunderbolt hit the rock and a piece of it flew towards the woodpecker hitting it in the head and causing it to bleed this according to my legend is how the woodpecker came to have a red head the maize itself also became discolored because of the heat where it was once white it now was black, red, yellow, and white. The Mayan civilization began to decline around 750 CE and by 900 CE many would migrate towards the North Yucatan Peninsula. Teotihuacan is considered one of the greatest cities during early Mesoamerica and was the largest city prior to the Aztecs. Not much is known about the creation of the city but it is clear that its influence is spread across Mesoamerica. One theory suggests that a migration of different cultures came together to build the city. Another is that the Toltecs are responsible for its creation. What we do know is that the city was given its name by the Aztecs meaning place of the gods. The Aztecs believe the creation of all things began in Teotihuacan by the gods. We also know that Teotihuacan is the earliest time where Quetzalcoatl or the feathered serpent is mentioned. Teotihuacan, located in the Valley of Mexico, also served as a buffer between the nomadic hunter-gatherer northern tribes and the more civilized southern tribes. Evidence has suggested that Teotihuacan may have fallen due to a fire within a city that may have been created from a war or rebellion. Nevertheless, this meant the end of a great city as well as a buffer zone that once existed. With the buffer zone gone, many of the northern and southern tribes began to migrate into the area except for the Aztecs who were the last to enter the area. One of the most successful to take control were the agricultural Toteca Chichimeca led by a skilled warrior Mexicoto. After the establishment of Cujoacan, Mexicoto was assassinated by his brother and so Mexicoto's wife fled and would eventually give birth to their child Topitzen. After becoming a devout of the god Ptolemy, Quetzalcoatl he took after his name and became Topitzen Quetzalcoatl. After becoming an adult, Topitzen Quetzalcoatl killed his uncle in combat and took leadership of the Toltecs. He moved their capital into modern day Mexico and renamed it Tula. Tula would become one of the most important cities until Tenochtitlan. Like Teotihuacan, Tula played an important role in trade especially in obsidian as obsidian was used for many things including the fabrication of weapons. The Toltecs are known for several traditions that would follow into Mesoamerican culture, one being religious gods and the others human sacrifices and the conquering of neighboring states. Droughts and warfare led to the collapse of Tula, which then again opened the doors for the nomadic tribes in the north to enter the Valley of Mexico. Over time, several tribes entered and would set up successful cities. The word Aztec is derived from Nahuatl. which was the language of the Aztecs and several other tribes, including the Toltecs, who are suspected to be from Aztlan. While Nahuatl was the language of Mesoamerica during the 7th century CE, many variations of Nahuatl dialects exist. The word Aztec literally means people from Aztlan. What you are looking at here is the first published map of the Aztecs'suspected migration by Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Carreri, done in 1704. The migration, which lasted approximately 250 years, depicts their migration from Aztlan into Chapultepec, which is estimated to have started at around 1065 CE. While the map may be a little difficult to read, the start of their migration and the end can easily be found. Aztlan is at the top right near the lake and Chapultepec is where the grasshopper is sitting on top of a mountain. They remain the last group to enter the Valley of Mexico. the Aztecs who called themselves Mexica were not fondly looked upon. By the time they arrived, many cities had been established and they were seen as outsiders. They were especially disliked because of their aggressive sacrificial practices and their hostile behaviors which included the stealing of wives. From the beginning, the Aztecs believed that they were destined to become great as they believed they were chosen by their god, the god of war, José Lopichite. or hummingbird on the left. Between 1270 to 1319, they lived on a hill in Chapultepec. And after the death of their chief and daughter, who were sacrificed by neighboring states due to their aggressive behaviors, the survivors were given land in a gully and allowed to live peacefully. Throughout all of this time, the one thing that many noticed about the Aztecs was their warrior abilities and they were given a chance at a greater piece of land in exchange for their mercenary assistance in taking out her rival chief. This was not the first or the last time the Aztecs would be recruited for their skills in combat. After bringing Coxcox the role of Cuacan, Sax of 8,000 years from the town of Oxumalico, and afterwards they were granted more land. Then, at the request of the Aztecs, Coxcox gifted the Aztecs his daughter as a wife. What Coxcox did not realize was that the Aztecs intended to sacrifice her. The myth surrounding this event is that the Aztecs believed sacrificing a princess would transform her into a god. During a ceremony in which Coxcox was present, a dancer came out draped in the skin of his daughter, and of course disinfuriated Coxcox and resulted in a war that would drive the Aztecs to the lake of Texcoco. At this very lake, the Aztecs are said to have been given a sign by Huatzalopitli that they were to build a city where they saw an eagle standing on a cactus with a snake in its mouth. The image that is shown here is from the Codex Mendoza which depicts that moment where the Aztecs saw this premonition. The construction of Tenochtitlan began to bring awareness to a neighboring ruler who had previously used the Aztec skills for mercenary work. Eventually they were allowed to establish a royal dynasty and in 1377 Acomapitli became the Aztec ruler. Like the Toltecs before, The Aztecs ruled by conquering other cities, expanding their empire, and growing their tributes. Those warriors who were captured were then used for sacrificial purposes. And over time, as the Triple Alliance grew, so did the Aztecs'dominance. Both Tenochtitlan and the Aztecs came to represent a powerful force. The following rulers after Acomapitli would continue to expand the Aztecs'rule over Mesoamerica until its destruction by Hernan Cortes.

The city itself was situated in the middle of Lake Texcoco, boasting incredible architecture such as a market in the city, twice as large as Salamanca, and the Great Temple. or Templo Mayor, standing 197 feet tall. The city itself was home to an estimated 200,000 farmers, artisans, merchants, soldiers, and priests. Much of what we know about the Aztecs and Tenochtitlan is from a series of codices written by the Spanish that were taken from oral accounts. Due to the adversarial nature of these two cultures, one must read these accounts with a healthy dose of skepticism.

The Spaniards were keen to making themselves look good. good on official records and accounts as these would end up being reported to Queen Isabella and the Aztecs were known in destroying even their own history for very ritualistic purposes and even because it did not make them look good. What you are looking at here is an image of modern day Mexico which was built directly on top of the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

As we move the slide over you will begin to see what Tenochtitlan could have possibly looked like. The heart of the city was built right on top of Templo Mayod. While it is not entirely certain how the first humans came to populate Mesoamerica, scientists through DNA testing and conventional archaeology have two main theories. In reality, there's probably a hundred or so theories of how this came, but I'm only going to mention two.

A decrease in sea levels allowed for the crossing from Asia to Alaska on the Bering Land Bridge. The other theory implies that a Pacific coastal migration from Asia is more likely to have occurred. The Kelp Highway, as it was called, due to the abundance of food provided by the sea to those migrating, allowed for travelers to easily travel along the Pacific coast and into North America.

Allowing for an ice-free corridor, the Kelp Highway flooded during the last ice age, and as time passed on and as the glaciers melted, these hunter-gatherers began to migrate south. which is likely where our Aztec friends came from. Mesoamerica identity began to form around 2000 BCE around Mexico and Central America.

Until about 10,000 BCE, Mesoamerica civilization consisted primarily of hunter-gatherers and fishermen. By 4000 BCE, meat consumption fell to about 21%, maybe even lower due to a dramatic change in nature. Instead of eating meat collected from big hills, they were now forced to eat small insects, bugs, and anything else edible.

Although it is not certain when the domestication of corn began, we do know that by 2000 BCE it became one of their main sources of consumption. Maiz was particularly important to one specific civilization's culture, that civilization being the Mayans. Early Maya civilization dates to about 18,000 BCE which puts it at around the pre-classic or formative Mesoamerica period.

At their height, the Mayan civilization had about 40 cities with the population of anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 people in each city. It is believed that at their peak, their total population may have reached between 2 million to 10 million people. Like every other civilization in Mesoamerica, the Mayans were heavily religious and worshipped several deities.

The Mayan Popol Vuh, which can be described as the Mayan Bible, describes the creation of the earth which took several tries to perfect mankind. The gods would eventually create a form of mankind that would not live up to the name of the Mayans. to their expectations and so they created a flood that destroyed the world.

The image that you're seeing now is from the Dresden Codex which depicts that moment of the flood. In the Popo Vo it is described that the creation of the man started with water being turned into blood. The Mayis both yellow and white were used to make up different parts of the human body. The Mayans worshiped Mayis and it was very sacred to them not only because they were created from it but it was seen as a gift from the gods.

The story goes that Maiz was discovered under a mountain of rock by marching ants who were the first to discover its existence because only they could fit through a small opening, allowing them to carry the grains out of the rock. The fox was next to find out as he was naturally nosy and soon afterwards man became aware of his existence. Man then asked the rain gods for help in breaking the rock so they too could have access to Maiz. The rain gods tried and failed several different times and then they asked the chief rain god who at first declined in helping them. Soon the chief rain god sent a woodpecker to find the weakest point of the rock and once the woodpecker was able to find the weakest point, the chief rain god instructed the woodpecker to hide behind a tree for safety the chief rain god then threw as hard as he could a thunderbolt at the rock's weakest point causing it to break the woodpecker who did not listen picked out of the tree just as a thunderbolt hit the rock and a piece of it flew towards the woodpecker hitting it in the head and causing it to bleed this according to my legend is how the woodpecker came to have a red head the maize itself also became discolored because of the heat where it was once white it now was black, red, yellow, and white.

The Mayan civilization began to decline around 750 CE and by 900 CE many would migrate towards the North Yucatan Peninsula. Teotihuacan is considered one of the greatest cities during early Mesoamerica and was the largest city prior to the Aztecs. Not much is known about the creation of the city but it is clear that its influence is spread across Mesoamerica.

One theory suggests that a migration of different cultures came together to build the city. Another is that the Toltecs are responsible for its creation. What we do know is that the city was given its name by the Aztecs meaning place of the gods.

The Aztecs believe the creation of all things began in Teotihuacan by the gods. We also know that Teotihuacan is the earliest time where Quetzalcoatl or the feathered serpent is mentioned. Teotihuacan, located in the Valley of Mexico, also served as a buffer between the nomadic hunter-gatherer northern tribes and the more civilized southern tribes.

Evidence has suggested that Teotihuacan may have fallen due to a fire within a city that may have been created from a war or rebellion. Nevertheless, this meant the end of a great city as well as a buffer zone that once existed. With the buffer zone gone, many of the northern and southern tribes began to migrate into the area except for the Aztecs who were the last to enter the area.

One of the most successful to take control were the agricultural Toteca Chichimeca led by a skilled warrior Mexicoto. After the establishment of Cujoacan, Mexicoto was assassinated by his brother and so Mexicoto's wife fled and would eventually give birth to their child Topitzen. After becoming a devout of the god Ptolemy, Quetzalcoatl he took after his name and became Topitzen Quetzalcoatl.

After becoming an adult, Topitzen Quetzalcoatl killed his uncle in combat and took leadership of the Toltecs. He moved their capital into modern day Mexico and renamed it Tula. Tula would become one of the most important cities until Tenochtitlan. Like Teotihuacan, Tula played an important role in trade especially in obsidian as obsidian was used for many things including the fabrication of weapons.

The Toltecs are known for several traditions that would follow into Mesoamerican culture, one being religious gods and the others human sacrifices and the conquering of neighboring states. Droughts and warfare led to the collapse of Tula, which then again opened the doors for the nomadic tribes in the north to enter the Valley of Mexico. Over time, several tribes entered and would set up successful cities. The word Aztec is derived from Nahuatl.

which was the language of the Aztecs and several other tribes, including the Toltecs, who are suspected to be from Aztlan. While Nahuatl was the language of Mesoamerica during the 7th century CE, many variations of Nahuatl dialects exist. The word Aztec literally means people from Aztlan.

What you are looking at here is the first published map of the Aztecs'suspected migration by Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Carreri, done in 1704. The migration, which lasted approximately 250 years, depicts their migration from Aztlan into Chapultepec, which is estimated to have started at around 1065 CE. While the map may be a little difficult to read, the start of their migration and the end can easily be found. Aztlan is at the top right near the lake and Chapultepec is where the grasshopper is sitting on top of a mountain. They remain the last group to enter the Valley of Mexico. the Aztecs who called themselves Mexica were not fondly looked upon.

By the time they arrived, many cities had been established and they were seen as outsiders. They were especially disliked because of their aggressive sacrificial practices and their hostile behaviors which included the stealing of wives. From the beginning, the Aztecs believed that they were destined to become great as they believed they were chosen by their god, the god of war, José Lopichite.

or hummingbird on the left. Between 1270 to 1319, they lived on a hill in Chapultepec. And after the death of their chief and daughter, who were sacrificed by neighboring states due to their aggressive behaviors, the survivors were given land in a gully and allowed to live peacefully.

Throughout all of this time, the one thing that many noticed about the Aztecs was their warrior abilities and they were given a chance at a greater piece of land in exchange for their mercenary assistance in taking out her rival chief. This was not the first or the last time the Aztecs would be recruited for their skills in combat. After bringing Coxcox the role of Cuacan, Sax of 8,000 years from the town of Oxumalico, and afterwards they were granted more land. Then, at the request of the Aztecs, Coxcox gifted the Aztecs his daughter as a wife. What Coxcox did not realize was that the Aztecs intended to sacrifice her.

The myth surrounding this event is that the Aztecs believed sacrificing a princess would transform her into a god. During a ceremony in which Coxcox was present, a dancer came out draped in the skin of his daughter, and of course disinfuriated Coxcox and resulted in a war that would drive the Aztecs to the lake of Texcoco. At this very lake, the Aztecs are said to have been given a sign by Huatzalopitli that they were to build a city where they saw an eagle standing on a cactus with a snake in its mouth.

The image that is shown here is from the Codex Mendoza which depicts that moment where the Aztecs saw this premonition. The construction of Tenochtitlan began to bring awareness to a neighboring ruler who had previously used the Aztec skills for mercenary work. Eventually they were allowed to establish a royal dynasty and in 1377 Acomapitli became the Aztec ruler. Like the Toltecs before, The Aztecs ruled by conquering other cities, expanding their empire, and growing their tributes.

Those warriors who were captured were then used for sacrificial purposes. And over time, as the Triple Alliance grew, so did the Aztecs'dominance. Both Tenochtitlan and the Aztecs came to represent a powerful force. The following rulers after Acomapitli would continue to expand the Aztecs'rule over Mesoamerica until its destruction by Hernan Cortes.

Transcript for:Tenochtitlan and the Aztec Empire Overview

Transcript for:
Tenochtitlan and the Aztec Empire Overview