Chapter 8-10 Key Terms

Tenochtitlan

Capital city of the Aztecs, located on an island in Lake Texcoco, known for its complex architecture and vibrant culture.

Mexica

Original term for Aztecs

Toltecs

Mesoamerican civilization after the Mayans, included a sacrificial cult. Destroyed by nomadic invaders

Aztecs

Rose to power after the Toltecs, won the fight for dominance (unlikely winner), began as an organization of small tribes

Flower wars

Wars waged specifically to capture war captives that would be used as sacrifices for Aztec deities

Aztec deities

Over 128 major deities for many traditional things such as rain, corn, water, fire, etc. with each having a male and female form

Divided into 3 major categories: creator deities, agriculture and fertility deities, and war deities

Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli

Leading Aztec deities of the agriculture (rain) and war (tribal) categories

impacts of silver

became the global currency, many countries relied on it and used it to collect taxes - helped Europe rise to power somewhat

colombian exchange

exchange of food, goods, diseases, and slaves - led to changes in environmental conditions to due soil erosion and mass deforestation

Calpulli

The original 7 clans who eventually became social classes and divisions - inequality between the clans, but even the most noble were soon overshadowed by military or Aztec nobility

Pipitlin

Aztec nobility

Ayllus

several related Quechua-speaking clans

split inheritence

politcal power and titles went to the assigned heir, but all wealth, land, and possessions went to the male descendants who used them to support the cult of the dead ancestors

cult of the ancestors

dead ancestors were mummified and used to communicate with the gods or to help give advice on certain matters

Cuzco

location of the Inca imperial court, as well as the temple of the sun gods they worshipped

curacas

local leaders of inca conquered territories

tambos

way stations along inca built roads

Conquered Inca subjects

Expected to pay tribute, which was determined on whether the nation surrendered or resisted during the conquest, but also conscripted to armies and rewarded with new goods - not expected to pay tribute but rather contribute labor

gender roles in inca/aztec societies

women expected to deal with the children and weave cloth - men expected to fight and provide

property passed down through both gender lines

yanas

a class of people in Inca society who were removed from their ayllus to serve as artisans, slaves, or servants

inca developments

land/water management, road systems, architecture, public works, metalworking, quipu, pottery and cloth