IB History HL Unit 1: Aztec Vocabulary

Nahuatyl!

Huey

This Nahuatl 3-letter prefix is used to designate something of a higher order, though literally translated means "elder"

Macehualtin (singular: Macehualli)

"One deserving of land", the most common social class of The Aztecs

Calpulli

A neighborhood, ward, residential block, barrio

Tlatoani

A local dynastic ruler

Altepetl

A city-state ruled by a local dynastic ruler

Chinampa

Floating island created by the Aztecs to maximize agricultural output

Nepantla

"The middle path", the Aztec philosophy of avoiding extremes in all things

Pochteca

The Merchants

Tenochtitlan

"Place of Cactus Fruit", the eventual seat of power of The Aztec Empire

Quetzalcoatl

This Aztec deity is represented most commonly referred to as "The Feathered Serpent"

Pipiltin

The noble elite class in Aztec society. They filled high-ranking government positions, military leadership, and the priesthood, and were exempt from paying tribute.

Tribute System

The primary economic driver of the empire. Subjugated city-states were required to send periodic tribute (grain, textiles, precious stones, military supplies, and captives) rather than being directly governed.

Tequitl

Mandatory collective labor service performed by commoners for public works, infrastructure, and temples.

Huitzilopochtli

The patron deity of the Mexica/Aztecs; god of the sun, war, and sacrifice. The Aztecs believed human blood was required to nourish him so the sun would rise each day.

Tlaloc

The ancient Mesoamerican deity of rain, water, and agricultural fertility.

The Triple Alliance (1428)

The political-military alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan that established the Aztec Empire after overthrowing the Tepanecs.

Flower Wars

Staged, ritualistic warfare between the Aztecs and rival states (such as Tlaxcala) aimed not at land conquest, but at taking live prisoners for religious human sacrifice and military practice.

Tlaxcala

A powerful, independent Mesoamerican confederacy that successfully resisted Aztec conquest and later formed a critical military alliance with Hernán Cortés.

Moctezuma II

The Huey Tlatoani who ruled at the time of Spanish contact (1502–1520).

Hernán Cortés

The Spanish conquistador who led the 1519–1521 expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.