SMART Notebook 8.122/10/2003 19:1622/10/2003 20:13Aztecs lived in Mexico in the sixteenth century. The Aztec people, led by their Lord Montezuma, ruled over a huge, rich empire. Their capital, Tenochtitlan, was one of the worlds largest cities. In 1519 the Spanish attacked and destroyed the Aztec Empire. We know something about how Aztecs lived from ruins of buildings, and remains of pottery, jewellery, and other artefacts which have been found. Archaeologists are people who piece together history from this sort of evidence. Often evidence is buried deep under the ground. Aztecs lived in Mexico in the sixteenth century. The Aztec people, led by their Lord Montezuma, ruled over a huge, rich empire. Their capital, Tenochtitlan, was one of the worlds largest cities. In 1519 the Spanish attacked and destroyed the Aztec Empire. 22/10/2003 18:57The Early AztecsWhere did the Aztecs come from?22/10/2003 19:50Permanent settlements seem to have first appeared in coastal areas around 1500 BC, marking the beginning of a succession of highly developed and eventually interdependent cultures that would continue to 1500 AD. The various civilizations of Mesoamerica are distinguished from others elsewhere in the New World by a variety of common cultural developments including hieroglyphic writing, commerce and trade, an extensive knowledge of astronomy, a highly accurate calendar system, and fascinating religious beliefs featuring a complex pantheon, a ritualistic ball game, and human and animal sacrifices.22/10/2003 22:151325 Aztecs found Tenochtitlan on a marshy island in Lake Texcoco.2. 1485-1547 Life of Hernando Cortez3. 1502 Montezuma crowned Emperor of the Aztecs4. 1519 Cortez follows Coloumbus' route to the Americas and lands in Mexico.5. 1520 Death of Montezuma6. 1521 Tenochtitlan conquered by Spaniards led by Cortez.7. 1528 Cortez returns to Spain22/10/2003 22:16Important PeopleMontezuma II Hernando Cortez22/10/2003 22:18Montezuma II By the time Montezuma the second became ruler in 1502, Tenochtitlan was a huge city and most of it's neighbouring cities were already part of the Aztec empire. Conquering new lands meant longer and longer journeys. The warriors complained but the leaders wanted more power and more tributes to support their huge population. Their priests urged the leaders to conquer new lands to keep the gods happy with blood offerings. The ruler Ahuitzotl had to pay money to the warriors to make them fight. When he died, the empire was at it's most powerful, yet their was always danger of rebellion from those paying tribute The headdress of Montezuma king of the Aztecs, is made from precious stones and feathers from a tropical bird, the quetzal. The Aztec rulers built up their wealth as they conquered more lands. By the time the Spaniards arrived, the king lived in a magnificent palace and wore fine clothes and jewellery. He had a treasure house of gold. No one was allowed to look the king in the face. Even the nobles had to go barefoot in front of him. 22/10/2003 18:59