unit 3 part 2

The Codex Mendoza

1540 BCE

The Codex Mendoza was created to document the history, governance, and tribute system of the Aztec Empire. Commissioned by the Spanish, it provides valuable insight into Aztec society before European influence.

Resistance and Rebellions

1530 BCE

Even after the fall of Tenochtitlán, indigenous groups, including former Aztecs, resisted Spanish rule. There were multiple uprisings against the Spanish, though they were ultimately suppressed.

The Spread of Christianity

1526 BCE

Spanish missionaries worked to convert the Aztecs to Christianity, often destroying indigenous religious symbols. The Virgin of Guadalupe legend emerged as a way to merge indigenous beliefs with Catholicism

Execution of Cuauhtémoc

1525 BCE

The last Aztec emperor, captured by the Spanish after the fall of Tenochtitlan, was initially supposed to be spared but later executed by Cortés.

Destruction of Tenochtitlán and the Building of Mexico City

1522 BCE

The Spanish demolished much of Tenochtitlan. using much of it ruins, they built Mexico City. Temples were replaced with Spanish architecture, including churches, palaces. Maaking this place called New Spain.

The Siege of Tenochtitlan

1521 BCE

The most significant and final battle of the Aztec empire occurred in 1521 when cortes and his Spanish forces, joined by indigenous allies , laid Siege to Tenochtitlan. the Aztecs fought hard to defend their city but the combination of disease, famine, and the advanced weaponry of the Spanish. this event marked the fall of Aztec Empire.

The Encomienda System and Forced Labor

1521 BCE

After the conquest, the Spanish implemented the encomienda system, forcing the indigenous population to work for Spanish landlords. Many former Aztecs were enslaved, while others suffered under harsh labor conditions.

La Noche Triste (The Night of Sorrows)

1521 BCE

Following Moctezuma's death, the Aztecs revolted, forcing the Spanish and their allies to flee Tenochtitlán. Many Spaniards drowned in Lake Texcoco while trying to escape with stolen treasures.

smallpox epidemic

1520 BCE

a devastating smallpox outbreak, brought by the Spanish, spread through the Aztecs' population, with no immunity to the foreign disease. Ten of thousands of Aztecs, including emperor Cuitláhuac, died. leaving the Aztecs valuable to Spanish attacks.

Massacre at the Templo Mayor

1520 BCE

While Moctezuma II allowed the Spanish to stay in Tenochtitlán, tensions escalated when the Spanish, led by Pedro de Alvarado, attacked an unarmed Aztec festival at the Templo Mayor. Hundreds of nobles and priests were killed. This event would have the Aztecs not trusting the Spaniards and eventually go to war with them.

The First Encounter with the Spanish

1519 BCE

The Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernan Cortes. arrived on the eastern shores of Mexico. at first the aztecs thought of the Spanish as possible gods or allies. especially how strange their appearance was. however this would led to the downfall of the aztecs due to misunderstandings and conflict

The Coronation of Moctezuma 2

1502 BCE

Moctezuma 2 became the emperor of the Aztecs in 1502 and look over the empire during a period of prosperity. his reign saw internal stability and external threats mostly from the Spanish. his region attempts to both maintain the Aztec way of life while navigating the pressures of foreign power.

Expansion of the Empire under Ahuitzotl

1486 BCE

Ahuitzotl a military leader. presided over the Aztec empire at its peak extending its reach across central and southern Mesoamerica.

The Great Famine

1450 BCE

A severe drought led to widespread famine, devastating the Aztec population. Many people resorted to selling themselves into slavery or migrating to other regions to survive. The crisis also intensified human sacrifices. to try to have the gods forgive them.

The Great Flood

1449 BCE

A massive flood struck the valley of Mexico. Severely damaging the city of tecnochtitlan. The flood destroyed most of the infrastructure, including the Templo mayor and agricultural areas. The Aztecs thought of this as a divine punishment. they eventually rebuilt the city.

The Reign of Moctezuma 1

1440 BCE

Moctezuma was one of the most important rulers of the Aztec Empire, overseeing its expansion. Under his leadership, the empire's territories expanded significantly through military campaigns. He is also credited with promoting the Aztec calendar and religious practice that would later define the culture of the Aztecs.

The Rise of the Triple Alliance

1428 BCE

The Aztecs, along with the Texcoco and Tlacopan city states. They formed the Triple Alliance, an important military and political union. This alliance helped the Aztecs dominate the valley of Mexico. the military expansion of the alliance played a major role in the Aztec empire's rise to power.

The Tribute system of the Aztecs

1400 BCE

The Aztecs established a tribute system with conquered people, forcing them to send valuable resources such as gold, textiles, cacao, and food =. this system helped sustain the large population of the Tenochtitlan.

Founding of Tenochtitlan

1325 BCE

The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was founded on the island in Lake Texcoco. guided by a prophecy that their gods would direct them to a place where an eagle perched on a cactus was holding a snake in its beak. This was seen as a divine sign, so they established their city on that spot. Over time, they would grow a metropolis and become the heart of the Aztec empire.

Construction of the Templo Mayor

1325 BCE

The Templo Mayor, the main temple in Technotitlan, was one of the most sacred and important structures in the Aztec Empire. Dedicated to the gods of Huitzilopochtil and Tialoc. It was a center of religious and ceremonial practice. Human sacrifices were made as rituals.