Scribd
Upload
14 views3 pages

Copy of The Aztecs Control Central Mexico WS

The document outlines the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire, detailing its origins in the Valley of Mexico, the establishment of Tenochtitlán, and the role of religion in society. It highlights key figures such as Montezuma I and II, the formation of the Triple Alliance, and the military conquests that expanded the empire. The document also discusses the challenges faced by the Aztecs, including rebellion from conquered peoples and the impact of Spanish arrival.

Uploaded by

249695
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
14 views3 pages

Copy of The Aztecs Control Central Mexico WS

The document outlines the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire, detailing its origins in the Valley of Mexico, the establishment of Tenochtitlán, and the role of religion in society. It highlights key figures such as Montezuma I and II, the formation of the Triple Alliance, and the military conquests that expanded the empire. The document also discusses the challenges faced by the Aztecs, including rebellion from conquered peoples and the impact of Spanish arrival.

Uploaded by

249695
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Name _____________________________ Class _______________________ Date ____________

People and Empires in the Americas


Lesson 6

The Aztecs Control Central Mexico


Key Terms and People
obsidian hard, volcanic glass used by early peoples to make sharp weapons
Quetzalcoatl Toltec god
Triple Alliance association of city-states that led to the formation of the Aztec
Empire
Montezuma I ruler of the Aztec Empire from 1440 to 1469 who is known for
building up Tenochtitlán
Montezuma II ruler under whom the Aztec Empire weakened

Before You Read


In the last lesson, you read about Maya civilization.
In this lesson, you will read about societies that arose in central
Mexico, including the Aztecs.

As You Read
Use a chart to note reasons for the establishment and growth of the
Aztec Empire.

The Valley of Mexico dominated the city. By 750, Teotihuacán


What civilizations arose in the Valley was abandoned. The reasons why are not
of Mexico? clear.
The Valley of Mexico is more than a mile The next people to dominate the area
above sea level. It is a good place for were the Toltecs. They rose to power
people to settle because it has lakes and around 900 and ruled over central Mexico
fertile soil. An early city-state called for about 300 years. The Toltecs were
Teotihuacán (“City of the Gods”) arose in warlike and worshiped a
this area in the first century AD. The city warlike god.
had between 150,000 and 200,000 people One Toltec king, Topiltzin, tried to
at its peak in the sixth century. replace the warlike god with a different
The city was the center of a major trade one and change Toltec ways. This god was
network. The most important trade item called Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered
was obsidian. This green or black Serpent. Followers of the warlike god
volcanic glass was used to make sharp rebelled and chased Topiltzin away. The
weapons. The huge Pyramid of the Sun, Toltecs became warlike again. Over time,
which measured some 200 feet high and Topiltzin and Quetzalcoatl became one in
3,000 feet around its base, Toltec legends. In these legends,

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

190 Guided Reading Workbook


Name _____________________________ Class _______________________ Date ____________

Lesson 6, continued

someday Quetzalcoatl would return and rigidly structured within social, political, and
bring a new reign of peace. This legend religious hierarchies
lived on in central Mexico for centuries. 1.
What was Teotihuacán? An early city-state
called Teotihuacán (“City of the Gods”) arose
in this area in the first century AD.
Religion Rules Aztec Life What
role did religion play in Aztec life?
Religion played a major role in Aztec
society. Temples were built in cities for
the many different gods. Priests led
The Aztec Empire;
religious rituals. The most important
Tenochtitlán: A Planned City How
rituals were for the sun god. Priests made
did the Aztecs build an empire?
the sacrifice of human blood to make sure
Around 1200, the Toltecs were losing
that the sun god was happy, and the sun
control of the region. But another people
would rise every day. People taken
—the Aztecs—began to gain power. The
captive in war were sacrificed. The need
Aztecs founded a city and, in 1428, they
for a steady supply of victims pushed the
joined with two other city states to form
Aztecs to fight their
the Triple Alliance. The Triple Alliance
neighbors.
became the leading power of the Valley
of Mexico. It soon gained control over 3. Why and how did the Aztecs
neighboring regions. By the early 1500s, sacrifice to the sun god? heart-
the Aztecs extraction. The keep the sun
controlled a large empire that included moving across the sky and
somewhere between 5 and 15 million preserve their very lives
people. This empire was based on
military conquest and collecting tribute
from conquered peoples.
Military leaders held great power in
Aztec society. Along with government
officials and priests, they made up a Problems in the Aztec Empire What
noble class. Below them were weakened the Aztec Empire?
commoners—merchants, craft workers, Montezuma II became emperor in 1502.
soldiers, and farmers who owned their The Aztec Empire began to have problems
land. At the bottom of society were the during his reign. The Aztecs ordered the
slaves taken as captives in battle. At the other peoples they had conquered to hand
top was the emperor. He was treated as a over even more people to sacrifice. These
god as well as a ruler. other peoples finally rebelled against the
The capital city—Tenochtitlán—grew Aztecs. In the midst of this conflict, the
under the emperor Montezuma I. Built Spanish arrived and made contact with the
on an island in a lake, long causeways Aztecs for the first time. Some saw their
connected the city to the mainland. The arrival as the legendary return of
city contained between 200,000 and Quetzalcoatl.
400,000 people. It was well planned and 4. Why did conquered peoples rebel
had a huge religious complex at its center. against the Aztecs? The conquered
peoples resented the Aztec demands for
tribute and victims for the religious sacrifices
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
2. How was Aztec society organized?
191 Guided Reading Workbook
Name _____________________________ Class _______________________ Date ____________

Lesson 6, continued

As you read this lesson, note one or more reasons why the Aztecs took
each of the following actions.
1. The Aztecs first worked for local 2. The Aztecs joined two other
rulers poor nomads that to be city states to form a Triple
successful adopted the warlike ways Alliance.
of the city-states that controlled this
area. They waged war to gain control
of neighboring regions

3. In Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, 4. Aztec engineers built three


the Aztecs built hundreds of causeways over water and
temples and religious structures Marshland.
dedicated to the gods.
They needed to connect the island
worshiped many (1,000) Gods and city to mainland
religion played a major role in
Aztec society

5. Aztec priests sacrificed humans 6. The Aztecs built a calendar in the


atop the Great Temple. main ceremonial plaza of
Tenochtitlán.

That without regular offerings of To keep track of varied rituals and


blood to the sun God, the sun public ceremonies.
wouldn't rise and life wouldn't
parish

7. Some of the conquered 8. Montezuma II reduced the number


provinces rebelled against Aztec of public officials.
rule.

Due to increased demand for To reduce pressure on provinces


more tribute need by a growing being forced to pay high tributes
population in Tenochtitlan

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company


192 Guided Reading Workbook

You might also like