Aztec Culture

Creation

100

In the Aztec creation story, the four gods first create water, other gods, and a sea monster called Cipactli. As they continue to create things, Cipactli eats all their work. So the gods kill Cipactli, and from her body create the world. Her head becomes the heavens, her middle becomes the earth, and her tail becomes the underworld. Like in the Norse myth, the murder of the creature that becomes the world is described as destruction that must occur before creation can truly begin.

First tlatoani/ruler Acamapichtli

Jan 1, 1375

Acampaitchtli started the imperial dynasty. After a beloved, but arguably mythological, chief on a council of elders died, the Aztecs were at a loss of who the leader would be. They didn't have anyone that "royal blood," as they were a new society. Acamapichtli had royal blood from both his mother (she was the daughter of a king and sister of a king) and his father (Mexica leader). So, they ended up electing him.

Hot chocolate

Jun 21, 1400

The Aztecs invented hot chocolate by grounding cocoa and mixing it with water, cornmeal, and other ingredients.

Xocotlhuetzi

Aug 12, 1400

The Mexican Day of the Dead is based on the Great Feast of the Dead. They honored dead people by offering flowers. They also worshipped their fire god, Xocotlhuetzi.

Aztec Army Began to Form

Jan 1, 1430

Men from allied and conquer states all wore padded cotton armor, carried a shield made with hide over it, and had weapons like a dart thrower, club, and a bow and arrow. They wore big feathers on their headdresses and wore certain animal skins to show what rank they were.

Tlacaxipehualiztli

Mar 6, 1435

It means the flaying of men. Priests ripped out hearts. They skinned people alive and the priests would walk around with their skin to symbolize growth.

Tecuilhuitontli (Little Feast of the Lords)

Jun 13, 1450

The month of June celebrates both salt and the coming of water. Along with that comes the growing of crops. The city is decorated with water flowers and they collect a woman sacrifice to be given to Huixtocihuatl. They have a dance for their goddess for ten days. They also had a festival called the Little Feast of the Lords where the ruler had to dance in the streets of the commoners and give out gifts. People drank and had a merry time. They also had even more sacrifices to ensure good crops.

Aztec Calendar stone

Jan 1, 1479

The Calendar stone was dedicated to their sun god. It was a 365-day agricultural calendar. It was also a 260-day sacred calendar.

Comet Spotting

Dec 11, 1517

The Aztec priests mark the sighting of a comet in the night sky. They believed that the comet was a sign of impending doom.

The Spanish Conquest

Feb 1, 1519

Hernado Cortes and his gang of Spanish explorers brought a violent end to the Aztec Empire. Montezuma II, the last Aztec ruler, welcomed the explorers with open arms and even offered them gifts of gold and other valuable items. However, Cortes only wanted power. He teamed up with who the Aztecs oppressed and destroyed the Aztec Empire by 1521. He ended up turning on the allies he made once he got what he wanted.