Aztec
The Aztec Empire
By Melody Nguyen
The Beginning
Aztec groups were organized into groups call calpullis, a community that shared lands and elected a leader who took orders from king. When they went South, all the farm land was taken so they settled on a swampy island in the middle of Texcoco. War was critical for the rise of power and they formed an alliance with people on Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs made people pay tax with gold, cotton, or food.
Trade
Aztec controlled a huge trade network. Merchants were used as spies and they brought goods to the markets. As the Aztec controlled war, trade, and taxes they became rich. By the 1500 the Aztecs took over most of Mesoamerica. Farmers were bottom class but they could improve their position by becoming a warrior. Farmers lived a hard life when they payed taxes. The ones who suffered the most were the slaves. They were captured in battles and were sold to laborers to nobles or merchants.
Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan was a wealthy city. The location of the city was difficult for trade and travel so they connected the island to the shore. The lake they had was so dirty that they built a stone aqueduct to get fresh water. Aztec farrmers built floating islands and farmed from boats they had made. Tenochtiitlan was the greatest city. It had huge temples, busy markets, clean streets, and a huge palace. Europeans were stunned by the work they have done. 200,000 people lived in this city but soon where destroyed by Europeans.
Cortez Conquers
In 1400 conquistadors came for gold and to spread Christianity. Cortez ended up in Mexico in 1519 in search for gold. Moctezuma II was tricked by Cortes. Moctezuma thought of him as a god that returned. Moctezuma gave gold to Cortes as a gift. When Cortes went to Tenochtitlan, he was treated as a god while Moctezuma was taken as a prisoner. Moctezuma died while fighting between Indian and Spanish forces.
Defeat
A woman from a Spanish allianced tribe, helped Cortes work with others who disliked paying taxes. Guns were brought up to the Aztec by trade in Europe, and China. Horses were also given to the Aztecs by the Spanish. The Spanish blocked bridges and causeways, which caused the block off of drinking water. The decline of water caused thousands of starving people. Another things that brought the decline of Aztecs were small pox that spread through the Spanish. The Aztec not being able to fight both the Spanish and the small pox at the same time caused a huge decline in population.