Major Civilisations and the Aztec Empire

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering major pre-colonial civilisations, Aztec social structure, religious practices, economic systems, and the Spanish conquest.

Out of Africa Hypothesis

The theory that modern humans evolved around $200,000$ years ago and migrated from Africa to find new hunting grounds.

Beringa

A land bridge between Asia and North America (now underwater) used by humans to migrate to the Americas between $40,000$ to $15,000$ years ago.

Incas

A civilisation in the Andes Mountains (Peru) that was the most powerful empire in the Americas by $1493$ CE, known for gold working and Machu Picchu.

Cuzco

The capital city of the Incan Empire, which stretched across $4000\,km$.

The Mayans

The oldest civilisation ($250$–$900$ CE) located in southern Mexico and northern Central America; experts in astronomy, mathematics, and writing with glyphs.

The Aztecs

A self-sufficient society in modern-day northern Mexico that comprised around $489$ city-states when the Spanish arrived in $1519$.

Montezuma II

The ruler of the Aztec Empire during its powerful peak from $1300$–$1521$ CE.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztecs, built on islands in Lake Texcoco.

Huitzilopochtli

The most important Aztec god (Sun God) who required bloody offerings to gain the strength to battle darkness and make the sun rise.

Chacmool

A ceremonial stone figure used during Aztec sacrifices to hold the removed hearts of victims.

Absolute Ruler

An individual who governs with supreme authority unrestricted by laws, such as the Aztec Emperor.

Great Speaker

A god-like title given to the Aztec Emperor who presided at the top of the social hierarchy.

Calpulli

Aztec districts or neighborhoods where commoners, craftspeople, and farmers lived.

Chinampas

Human-made farming islands used in Tenochtitlan to grow crops like corn, tomatoes, and beans.

Tlateloco

The site of the largest market in the Aztec world, which served as the economic heart of the empire.

Diego Rivera

A famous Mexican muralist who created vibrant scenes of Aztec markets to celebrate their history and sophistication.

Cacao Beans

Small beans used as a common currency for trading and smaller purchases in Aztec markets.

Quachtli

High-value cotton cloth used for larger purchases, worth approximately $300$ cacao beans.

Codex

An illustrated book, sometimes featuring Spanish annotations, such as the Codex Mendoza.

Pochteca

Professional long-distance merchants who traveled to obtain luxury and exotic goods.

Barter

A system of exchanging goods without using coins, which was the primary economic method for the Aztecs.

Gold, God, and Glory

The three main motivations for Spanish conquest: wealth/resources, spreading Christianity, and national/personal fame.

Hernán Cortés

The Spanish leader born in $1485$ who led the first voyage to the Yucatan region of Mexico in $1519$ with $600$ men.

Totonacs & Tlaxcalans

Groups that joined the Spanish during the conquest of the Aztec Empire.