history: aztecs and spanish conquest

what was a chinampa

it was a technique of farming which relied on small rectangle areas of fertile farmland to grow crops

what was the Aztec social hierarchy

emperor

nobles

warriors

commoners(farmers, artisans and merchants)

serfs

slaves

what was the capital called

Tenochtitlan

when did the Spanish arrive

early 16th century

what where some of the reasons the Spanish won

• disease: the Spanish brought diseases like smallpox into the Aztec empire that decimated their population

• better weapons: the Spanish had guns and fought on horseback which gave them an advantage in battle

• native tribes: native tribes around the Aztecs didn’t like the Aztecs so cortes recruited them to help fight the Aztecs

when did cortes arrive in Mexico

1519

what was delivered to tenochitlan every year

• 7000 tonnes of corn

• 4000 tonnes of beans

• 400 tonnes of amaranth grain

• 2,000,000 cotton cloaks

What role did religion play in Aztec society?

Religion influenced government, warfare, festivals and everyday life.

Were the Aztecs polytheistic?

Yes. They worshipped many gods.

Why did the Aztecs perform religious rituals?

They believed rituals helped maintain balance and please the gods.

Who performed important religious ceremonies?

Priests carried out ceremonies and helped maintain religious traditions.

How was religion connected to warfare?

Warfare could provide captives for religious sacrifice.

Why did the Aztecs practise human sacrifice?

They believed sacrifices could honour and please the gods and help maintain the world's balance.

How were religion and government connected?

Rulers used religious beliefs and ceremonies to support their authority.

How did religion affect everyday life?

Religious beliefs shaped festivals, ceremonies and people's understanding of the world.

what happened after the Spanish had conquered Mexico?

• Spanish rule replaced the Aztec Empire, and Tenochtitlan was rebuilt as the center of Spanish power.

• Disease caused enormous population loss and disrupted families, farming and communities.

• Spanish colonial rule brought forced labor and major changes to everyday life

when was Tenochtitlan founded and why did they choose that location

1325 and they would build their civilization in the location where they saw an eagle land on a cactus

what were aqueducts for

aqueducts were made to bring fresh water into the city

what crops were mainly farmed

maize

beans

squash

amaranth

tomatoes

chilies

avocados

how did they sacrifice humans

they would lay out the victim on a table have 4 priests grab their arms and legs and then a fifth priest would remove their heart and throw their body down the temple’s stairs

what were the three reasons the Spanish conquered Mexico

god

glory

gold

what was the festival the Aztec’s performed every spring.

Every spring the priests flayed (skinned alive) and sacrificed victims to Xipe Totec and then paraded in their skins. This symbolized the annual spring renewal of vegetation, or the renewal of the Earth’s skin.

emperor

a military man elected within the royal family, no-one could look directly at him

nobles

A hereditary noble class that included judges, high-ranking priests, military leaders, and administrators. They enjoyed privileges such as land ownership, fine clothing, and exemption from certain taxes.

warriors

warriors: a position in the army that can bring great wealth and fame

warrior

a position in the army that can bring great wealth and fame

commoner

• Farmers cultivated maize, beans, squash, and other staples.

• Artisans produced textiles, pottery, jewelry, and weapons.

• Merchants held higher status than typical commoners due to their economic importance and intelligence-gathering roles

serf

serfs: worked land owned by nobles and were tied to estates.

slave

were at the bottom of the hierarchy but had rights unusual in other societies:

• Slavery was not hereditary.

• Slaves could own property.

• They could buy their freedom.
  Most slaves were war captives or individuals who entered slavery due to debt.

what where some Aztec gods and what were they the gods of

Huitzilopochtli God of the Sun and of war

Tlaloc God of rain, agricultural fertility and water

Xipe Totec God of springtime and new crops

Quetzalcoatl God of nature, earth and air

Tezcatlipoca God of the night sky, giver and taker of all life on Earth

Mictlantecuhtli God of the dead

Xiuhtecuhtli God of fire