Wings like an eagle’s
are fixed to the armsAztecs
The Aztec, or Mexica, people founded
a powerful empire that ruled Mexico
from around 1325 to 1521, when a
Spanish invaion caused it to collapse.
The Aztecs were farmers, warriors,
and builders of great cities.
Helmet
shaped like
an eagle’s
open beakWHERE WAS THE CITY IN THE LAKE?
In 1325, a band of migrating Aztecs came to a large
island in Lake Texcoco. When their priests saw an
eagle land on a cactus there, they declared that
this was the place to build a splendid new city,
Tenochtitlán. This is now the site of Mexico City.
EAGLE WARRIOR 3
This statue shows an
Eagle warrior, an elite
military order, ready to do
battle for Huitzilopochtli,
the Aztec god of war.1 AN AZTEC HISTORY
This is part of a codex, or manuscript, painted after the Spanish
conquest. The blue square represents Lake Texcoco, and the eagle and
cactus represent Tenochtitlán. The shield is a badge of Aztec power.
HOW DO WE KNOW ABOUT
AZTEC LIFE?
After the Spanish invaded Tenochtitlán,
they described many aspects of Aztec
life, such as law, schooling, farming,
and. HUMAN SACRIFICE. Many
artefacts from the Aztec Empire have
also survived, including feather cloaks,
jewellery, pottery, and knives.Human sacrifice is the killing of
people for religious reasons. The
Aztecs believed that the gods had
sacrificed themselves for their people.
They wished to repay that debt.HUMAN SACRIFICE
TEMPLE OF DEATH 3
The emperor or his
priest cuts the living
heart from the victim
with a sharp knife.
Blood pours down
the steps of the
temple pyramid.
WHY DID BLOOD FLOW SO FREELY?
Being sacrificed was believed to be a
great honour for the victims. Even so, the
victims were often captured enemy troops
who were taken to the capital to be killed
on the pyramid of the Great Temple. At a
four-day ceremony in 1487, tens of
thousands of captives were sacrificed.Shin
guards
represent
eagle’s talonsFIND OUT MORE. Ancient Religions 282 • Conquistadors 405 • Maya 381
Aztecs