Aztec Midterm Exam

Acamapichtli (Fistful of Reeds)

[A-cahm-a-PEECH-tli]

First official tlatoani of Tenochtitlan, as he was the one to have them settle on a swampy island.

Born of Aztec father and Culha woman. He was the bridge between these two enemies.

Father of Huitzilihuitl and Itzcoatl.

Axayacatl

[as-she-YAHK-at]

King of Tenochtitlan after Itzcoatl.

Impressed by Quecholcohuatl's singing enough to invite him into his bed and improve relations with Chalco.

Had war with Tlatelolco and won.

Supported Nezahualpilli's rule by killing or bribing his brothers.

He died after 24 years. One brother takes over and was a coward; dies. Second brother takes over and dies. Instead of going to other branch of family his son Moctezuma II rules.

Chalchiuhnenetzin (Jade Doll)

1. Axaycatl's sister. Married off to the Tlatelolco tlatoani and was humiliated (possibly abused). Able to escape.

2. Axacatl's daughter. Married to Nezahualpilli. She and her supposed lovers were killed (accused of cheating)

Chimalpahin

Chronicaler/historian in 1600s Mexico.

Chimalxochitl (Shield Bearer Flower)

[Chi-mal-SHO-cheet]

Her ancestors were Chichimec (barbarians)

Her father was Tlatoani and angered Culhacan king Coxcox [COSH-cosh]. There was a war and her people lost and taken. She was forced to stand naked before her people. She ordered Culha to bring her chalk, used to cover her body. Before she set herself on fire she said "People of Culhuacan, I go to where by god lives. My people's descendants will be great warriors, you will see!"

Her descendants were Aztecs of Tenochtitlan

Cuauhtemoc

[kwow-TAY-moc]

Tlatoani after Moctezuma, resisted Spanish capture

Itzcoatl (Obsidian Serpent)

[eetz-CO-wat]

Father was Acamapichtli, and mother was enslaved; therefore, he was not meant for the throne.

Was a loyal warrior while his brother Huitzilihuitl ruled.

His nephew Chimalpopoca was killed by Maxtla, and his heir Xihuitl Temoc died shortly after. So he "usurped" the throne for himself.

Triple alliance with the Tepanec people of Tlacopan and the Acolhua people of Texcoco (specifically Nezahucoyotl). Became unofficial powers of central basin: calendars, flower wars, tribute system. Brought wealth and population growth to Tenochtitlan.

Altered the line of succession to swing back and forth between the family lines.

Malintzin

Enslaved women turned translator for Cortes. Hated the Mexica who caused her initial enslavement.

Called Daughter Child/Elder Daughter while enslaved. Baptized as Marina. Nauha called her Malintzin (honorific), then Spanish started calling her Malinche as she is often known in history.

Moctezuma the Elder

Father was Huitzilihuitl. Mother was Miyahuaxihuitl (said she swallowed a rock).

Destined to rule over the Mexica and tens of thousands of others.

Moctezuma the Younger

Axaycatl's son. His uncles attempted to rule and died. Instead of swinging back to other branch of the family, he was made Tlatoani.

Created a tightly organized bureaucracy in the calpollis. Military garrisons. Peak of Tenochtitlan.

Would be the Tlatoani who faces Cortés.

Nezahualcoyotl (Hungry Coyote)

[nez-ah-wal-CO-yot]

Tlatoani of Texcoco.

Allied with Itzcoatl in the Triple Alliance

Had 118 kids, but his heir was 9-year-old Nezhualpilli.

Nezahualpilli (Hungry Prince)

[nez-ah-wal-pilli]

9-year-old heir of Nezahualcoyotl.

Succession secured by Itzcoatl.

Married to Axayacatl's daughter, whom he had killed for (accused) cheating.

Another one of his women was from Tula, whom he also had killed for her poetry.

Quecholcohuatl (Flamingo Snake)

[ke-chol-CO-wat]

Chalcan nobleman (note: Chalco was previously destroyed by Mexica)

He (and others) sang "The Chalca Woman's Song" to Axayacatl, who was so impressed invited him into his bed and treated Chalco better.

Tecuichpotzin

Daughter of Moctezuma II.

Given to Cortes and his men, but not treated as a wife as intended. Baptized as Isabel.

Was eventually rescued by her people only to witness the widespread desolation caused by smallpox. Would marry Cuauahtemoc to legitimize his rule.

Tezcatlipoca

God of night, trickery, sorcery, change, and chaos.

Counterpoint of Quetzalcoatl.

Quetzalcoatl

Creator deity, god of wind and knowledge.

Linked to priests, poets, and civilization.

Symbol of balance and rebirth.

Tlaloc

Rain and fertility god.

Benevolent but feared.

Agricultural renewal.

Huitzilopochtli

Tutelary god. Also god of war, sun, and human sacrifice.

Patron god of Mexica. Daily battle keeps the sun moving.

The story of how he burst through his mother's womb and killed his sister Coyolxahqui.

Alcolhua

Ethnic group of Texcoco and Teotihuacan

Altepetl

"Water Mountain" - meaning and symbol

City state

Calmecac

Elite school for priests and rulers

Calpolli

"Great House"

Neighborhoods that contained extended kin groups with a leading noble (pilli)

Chichimec

"Dog people"

(from the north) Nomadic barbarian ancestors of Shield Bearer Flower and following Mexica.

Chicomoztoc

"Seven Caves"

Origin myth location.

Chinampa

Floating gardens in Tenochtitlan.

Inspiration came from Flower Field People.

Chontal Maya

"Phoenicians of Mesoamerica"

Where Malintzin was brought and enslaved before being given to Cortes (who was defeating them in war).

Inhueltiuh

"their Elder sister" (kin term)

Macehualli

Those deserving of land. Paid tribute to pilli.

Mexica

Ethnic group of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco.

Nochtli

Prickly pear fruit that was especially nutritious.

Pilli

Leading noble family of Calpolli

Quauhpilli

"eagle nobleman."

A nobleman by virtue of deeds/merit rather than by virtue of birth.

Promoted

after success on the battlefield, or sometimes noblemen brought in from other altepetls.

Tenochtitlan (Stony Prickly Town)

Great city located on island in Central Basin

Teotihuacan

[tay-oh-tee-WA-kahn]

"the place of people who became gods" or "the place of people who had great gods"

Seen as birth place of the world, specifically of the 5th Sun.

Tepanec

Subsets of these people joined Triple Alliance because they were displaced by Maxtla.

Texcoco

Part of Triple Alliance

Later side with Cortes

Tlatoani

[tla-to-WAN-ee]

"he who speaks"

Independent king of cheif of an alteptl.

Tlacxitlan

"the place at the foot [of something]"

High court at the foot of the ruler.

Tilli in Tlapalli

"the black and red"

Painted texts of the scribes. Folded accordion style.

Xicallanco

A city near where the Olmec lived (Gulf Coast). The merchants here facilitated trade for luxury goods.