Farming
The Aztecs had developed a vast irrigation system, but most of the land was swamps. As a result, they created chinampas (see left), woven platforms that floated. Covered in mud and vegetation, they acted as miniature farms. The canals in-between provided irrigation, transport and fish. The priests would then do mass sacrifices to their sun god in hopes of guaranteeing good weather and successful farming; allegedly they sacrificed over 80,000 prisoners in 1847. Hunting There was little game, and the Aztecs rarely hunted. Despite having domesticated a few small animals, they would have had little protein. There were occurrences of cannibalism, yet they were probably to a more religious purpose. |
Impact of Geography
The Aztecs lived in the present day Valley of Mexico. The climate ranged from dry to swampy, which they compensated for with chinampas and an irrigation system. Surrounding mountain ranges both isolated them and contained the lakes and rivers within the valley. As a result, the lakes were all connected, which made for easy travel and ferrying of goods by canoe, and the soil was extremely fertile. The capital city itself, Tenochtitlan, was built on a largely artificial island in the middle of a salt lake. Allegedly it was chosen when the high priests saw a eagle perched on cactus that was growing from a rock. They decided it was a great omen, and chose to found Tenochtitlan, Place of the Cactus Fruit. For more practical reasons, there was plenty of water and fertile land. Being an island, it was also highly defensible. The people simply had to cut connecting bridges in times of war. |
Trade and Economy
Traders and merchants were considered important and were relatively high in society. (Those who traveled far from their city were known as pochteca.) There was a major marketplace in every city, a Tianquitzli, where crops and goods such as jewelry and raw materials were traded. The largest marketplace was in the sister-city to Tenochtitlan, up to 60,000 people gathered there daily. Generally, the people would trade or use cocoa beans (the value of which depended on the quality) as a currency. Quachtli, a woven cloth, was also used as a currency, but was valued too high for everyday use. |
Culture
There was a clear social stratification among the Aztecs and it defined daily life. A persons clothing (which was generally loose and white) and role was determined by it. Education, however, was not divided and was mandatory for everyone. Religion, art and a persons role was a large part of daily life, as can be seen under Anthropology. There was also a famous ball game with both religious and political significance; Ullamaltzi. The court was approximately 36 by 146 metres wide and had vertical stone rings, 8 metres high. The objective was to get a rubber ball through the hoop without using your hands. The winners became near celebrities, and the losers were occasionally sacrificed to the gods. Government The Aztec governing system was similar to the feudal system from the European Middle Ages. An emperor was on top of the social pyramid, then the nobles, the commoners and the slaves. The noble class was formed of warrior leaders, officials and priests. |