Aztecs & Spanish 8 (full)

Aztec Empire

Civilization in the Valley of Mexico (13th-16th centuries).

Tenochtitlán

The Aztec's capital city founded on Lake Texcoco

Chinampas

Man-made islands for agriculture

Lake Texcoco

Where the Aztecs lived for years using it as a natural defense.

Sierra Madre Oriental

Mountain range providing protection, sacred to Aztecs.

Sierra Madre Occidental

Western mountain range flanking Aztec settlement.

Central Plateau

High plateau with diverse ecosystems, fertile land.

Yucatán Peninsula

East region influencing Aztec trade and culture.

Gulf of Mexico

Enabled maritime trade and resource access.

Migration

Movement south to establish civilization in Mexico.

Eagle and Cactus

Symbolic sign for founding Tenochtitlán.

Tenochtitlán Geography

Swampy area drained for urban development.

Sun Stone

Carved stone depicting Aztec cosmology and calendar.

Tonatiuh

Aztec Sun god depicted on the Sun Stone.

Farming Calendar

365-day calendar for rituals and agriculture.

Religious Calendar

20-name calendar with 13-day weeks.

Divine Sacrifice

Gods' self-sacrifice to sustain the cosmos.

Calendar Alignment

Two calendars synchronized every 52 years.

Cempoala

Landing site of Hernán Cortés in 1519.

Pico de Orizaba

Largest active volcano near Mexico City.

Cultural Isolation

Protection and preservation versus limited trade.

Geographical Challenges

Swampy terrain complicated city construction.

Empire Expansion

Aztecs grew empire impacting neighboring tribes.

When did the Aztecs begin their journey?

1168

How did the Aztecs stop flash floods

Building Dans

How was Tenochititlan divided and what did it symbolize?

Divided into 4 sections representing the 4 directions

What was the most significant temple in the Aztecs?

The Great Temple located in the centre of the city, forming a large square

Why did the Aztecs kill people and give human blood to gods?

Killing people and giving blood was seen as devotion and nourishment

What were Aztec aqueducts and why?

Built systems that would bring fresh water from mountains since the water around them was brackish

How many days did the farming calendar have?

260

How were the 4 eras destroyed?

1 - jaguars ~ 2 - hurricanes ~ 3 - fiery rain ~ 4 - flood

Calendars

Farming - solar

Religious - sacred

How could Aztec move up a rank?

Military service
Capturing Prisoners
Demonstrating exceptionals skills

What was the emporers name?

Huey Tlatoani

What was Huey Tlatoani’s responsibilities?

Military commander

Head of state

Final decision-maker

Consults priests and nobles

What were artisans?

Highly respected

• maskmaking, goldsmithing, featherworking

What were status indicators?

House size, clothing patterns and quality, specific achievement

What were the types of Aztec schools?

Calmecac (nobles)

Telpochcalli (commoners)

How was the early childhood of Aztecs?

Pampered till 3

after age 3 - “stone hear, stone face, strong discipline”

• strict discipline

What were Aztecs Codices?

Picture-based educational book

Taught about:

• society

• religion

• cultural practices

What were family clans called?

Calpolli

Fast ways to rise in Aztec Society?

Capture prisoners for sacrifice

Bring 4 enemy prisoners

What are glyphs?

Picture-based writing system

What was the male birth ritual?

Umbilical cord wrapped around shield, buried in battle field

What were female birth rituals?

Umbilical cord wrapped around wood, buried under hearth

What were merchants in Aztec society?

Travelled often, acted traders and spies

What does Huey tlatoani mean?

Great speaker

Who was Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand?

The catholic monarchs of Spain (united the country)

• funded Columbus

• Support the Reconquista

• Spread of Christianity

What was the Reconquista?

Series of wars between Catholics kingdoms in Spain fought to take land back from Muslim rule- ended in 1492 in Granada

What were the Crusades?

Religious wars where European Christians tried to take control of Holy Land from Muslims

How and when did Hernan Cortes conquer the Aztecs?

In 1521- Cortes formed alliances with enemies, used superior weapons, brought smallpox, captured Montezuma

What was the new fire ceremony?

A sacred ritual every 52 years to mark the end of a calendar cycle- new fire was lit to symbolize rebirth and renewal

Who was Marco Polo?

Italian explorer who traveled to Asia in 1200s about his journey to China- his stories inspired Europeans to explore and trade with asia

Who was Christopher Columbus?

Italian explorer funded by Spain who sailed west in 1492- discovered the americas

Who were the mestizo?

A person of mixed Spanish (European) and indigenous (native American)- major part of population in New Spain

What was the codex system?

A way the Aztecs recorded information with pictures and symbols

What was the encomienda system?

Spanish colonial system where Spanish settlers were given control over indigenous people