Aztec Midterm

Acolhua

A Nahuatl-speaking ethnic group inhabiting the territory of the east of the great lake in Mexico's central basin in the 14th and 15th centuries. The group lived in places such as Texcoco and a town in Teotihuacan.

Altepetl

Nahuatl term for any state, like "city-state." Comes from Alt (water) and tepetl (mountains/hills), comes from the idea that you must have water and hills in a town.

Calmecac

A school for the sons of Aztec nobility where they would receive rigorous training in history, calendars, religion, law, etc.

Calpolli

"Great house." A key constituent part of an altepetl. We might think of a combined political ward and religious parish.

Chichimec

"Dog people." Used in Nahuatl to refer to "wild" or nomadic, nonfarming peoples who lived primarily by hunting. The Mexica were proud of their Chichimec heritage.

Chicomoztoc

"Place of the Seven Caves." The place of origin for many of the Nahua peoples, including the Aztec/Mexica, from which their ancestors emerged.

Chinampa

A farmable field built in swampy ground by constructing a basketry-style fence and filling it with earth---nothing could be less movable. They were "hanging gardens."

Chontal Maya

A Maya people of the Mexican state Tabasco. The "Phoenicians of Mesoamerica." They were a powerful people, for their nobles, nearly all of whom were merchants, were extremely wealthy.

Inhueltiuh

"Their Elder Sister." A woman in a noble family that came from the line that would bear the heirs.

Macehualli

Indigenous commonor. Sometimes used by indigenous people to refer to themselves as a group in opposition to Spaniards. Referred to those deserving of land. These families supported the noble families by paying them tribute.

Mexica

The ethnic group that dominated central Mexico at the time of the arrival of the Spaniards. Most often referred to as the "Aztecs." They established and lived in Tenochtitlan.

Nochtli

The edible fruit of a prickly pear cactus. It was grown in Tenochtitlan.

Pilli

Indigenous nobleman. A family that took responsibility for organizing labor and war parties in support of the chief.

Quauhpilli

"Eagle nobleman." A nobleman by virtue of deeds or merit rather than by virtue of birth. These were sometimes commoners promoted after success on the battlefield, or sometimes noblemen brought in from other altepetls.

Tenochtitlan

Originally a small established by the Mexica on an island in Lake Texcoco. Eventually, the capital of a great state. After the conquest, the site of the founding of Mexico City. The people of the city were called the Tenochca.

Teotihuacan

A city located in a sub-valley of the Valley of Mexico. The city rose out of the vacuum to such a height of power that even centuries after it fell, its ruins were known to the Mexica. It was a valley perfect for farming, and had great ruins (pyramids) that were a holy place. It was where Shield Flower's ancestors ended up and what inspired them to create Tenochtitlan.

Tepanec

A Nahuatl-speaking ethnic group inhabiting the territory to the west of the great lake in Mexico's central basin. The group contained several distinct altepetls, including Azcapotzalco and Tlacopan.

Texcoco

A major Acolhua city-state on the eastern shore of Lake Texcoco that became the second most important city in the Triple Alliance.

Tlacopan

A Tepanec/Mexica altepetl on the western shore of Lake Texcoco. The third member of the Triple Alliance.

Tlatoani

"One who speaks," and implicitly, one who speaks on behalf of a group. A dynastic ruler of an altepetl, like "king."

Tlacxitlan

"The place of the foot [of something]." Implicitly, the foot of the ruler. They were officials who handled commoners' grievances and those of the nobility, as well as a sort of high court that supervised both.

Tlilli in Tlapalli

"The black and the red." A metaphor for writings, especially early writings and paintings, such as codices.

Xicallanco

A coastal town, near Maya territory, where numerous Nahua merchants lived. They facilitated trade with the eastern realms, buying textiles and cocoa, shells, plumages of rare birds, as well as other luxury goods. They sold these in exchange for the goods made by Tenochtitlan's craftsmen.

Acamapichtli

The first tlatoani of Tenochtitlan. Father of Huitzilihuitl.

Axayacatl

The 6th king of Tenochtitlan after Moctezuma the Elder. He enjoyed music and dancers. Was swayed by Quecholco to reinstate Chalco.

Chalchiuhnenetzin (Jade Doll)

She was Axayacatl's full sister. She was married to the Tlatelolco tlatoani. He started some drama and insisted that she was no longer his primary consort. When Axa hear this, he sent his sister rich gifts. Her husband then took them and mistreated her. But she escaped to Tenochtitlan to tell her brother that the Tlatelolco was waging war.

Chimalpahin

From the conquered town of Chalco, was a famous indigenous historian. He wrote before and after the Spanish came.

Chimalxochitl

The infamous wanderer who's people founded Tenochtitlan. She was taken by the Culhua. She was taken and raped. She said, "Why do they not sacrifice me?" She said to the Culhuas that they dishonored themselves by delaying, as if they had no courage for the deed. She was placed on a pyre, and she screamed, "People of Culhuacan, I go to where my god lives. My people's descendants will all become great warriors, you will see!"

Cuauhtemoc

He was the last king of Tenochtitlan. He became ruler after Moctezuma the Younger. During his rule, he mounted defenses against the Spanish. But it was all too much so he gave himself and his wife Tecuichpotzin up.

Itzcoatl

He was the son of the first ruler and a slave girl. Was the 4th king. He helped his family line rise to prominence. He defeated Maxtla and ended the Tepanec domination. He made people burn all historical codices. He was a military warrior at first, but after the great crisis, he decided that they should align with those who were ousted by the Tlaxcaltecs. The triple alliance formed under him.

Malintzin

She was the translator for the Spanish as she was originally Nahua. She was considered their holy virgin, "Maria." Didn't like the Mexica because they had abandoned her, made her a slave.

Moctezuma the Elder

The 2nd ruler of Tenochtitlan. During his rule, there was a lot of expansion. He brought all the altepetls together. During his rule, there was a great flood/famine, and it was then that the Mexica realized that they needed to rule the world.

They needed more food, more people to take from basically.

Moctezuma the Younger

He was the ruler when the Spanish originally arrived. He greeted Hernan Cortés and had to deal with them when they originally came. He was killed when the Spanish attacked.

Nezahualcoyotl

A scholar, warrior, poet, king of Texcoco. He led to the fall of Azcapotzalco and the rise of the Triple Alliance. He had a lot of kids and after his death, made it difficult to decide who his heir would be.

Nezahualpilli

Son of Nezahualcoyotl. King of Texcoco during Moctezuma II's rule. During his rule, people argued a lot over who should succeed him.

Quecholcohuatl (Flamingo Snake)

He was a man from Chalco who performed a poem in front of Axayacatl. He loved it so much that he laid with Quecholcohuatl and ended up giving him many great gifts.

Tecuichpotzin

Wife of Cuauhtémoc, daughter of Moctezuma II. She was an inhueltiuh, which is why Moctezuma married her and killed her brother. She survived the conquest and was then pressed into marriage with Spaniards because of her status. Had a very tough life.

Ceremonial Calendar

Contained 20 day signs and would run them next to the numbers 1-13. 13 months, 20 days each.

Tlaloc

God of rain and fertility, associated with water, rivers, and agriculture, often depicted with goggle eyes and fangs.

Tezcaltipoca (Smoking Mirror)

A mischievous god who led humankind in a dance by assisting chiefs and warriors to bring change through conflict.

Quetzalocatl (Feathered Serpent)

God of the wind, who was at home both on earth and in the sky, a crosser of boundaries, special protector of priests.

Huitzilopochtli

Feisty, special warrior god that helped them win wars. Let the Mexica to Tenochtitlan