Aztec

Religion and
Culture
Here is where your
presentation begins
Culture of
Agriculture
Most Aztecs were
farmers.

They grew corn, beans,

peppers, squash,
tomatoes, tobacco, and
cotton.

Other Aztecs were

traders and craftsmen.
 Language
The Aztecs spoke a language
called Nahua. Many Aztec
words were later incorporated
into the Spanish language.

Some of these words, such as

chocolate, tomato, ocelot,
coyote, and avocado, have also
become part of the English
language.

The Aztecs had no alphabet of

their own, but they used
picture writing to record their
 Other Aspects of Culture

Art Architecture Fashion

 Religion
Religion was very important to
the Aztec. They worshipped
several gods who represented
the forces of nature.

Among the most important

Aztec gods were Huitzilopochtli,
a sun god and the god of war;
Tonatiuh, another god of the
sun; and Tlaloc, the god of rain.

Quetzalcóatl was the god of

learning and a symbol of death
and rebirth.
Rituals
The Aztecs performed elaborate
rituals and ceremonies to obtain
help from the gods.

Human sacrifice, or the killing of

people for religious reasons,
played an important part in the
rites.

The Aztecs believed that because

life was humankind’s most
precious possession, it was the
most acceptable gift for the
gods.
Content
Warning
Details and images of
human sacrifice on the
next slide!
 Festivals

Rain The New Fire God Xipe Totec

Festival Human sacrificed Human sacrificed and
Child Sacrifice and fire started skin worn for 20 days
inside the chest