Comprehensive Aztec and Spanish Conquest Study Guide

Core Vocabulary and Specialized Terminology

• Migrate: Defined as the process of moving from one geographic area to another.
• Omen: A sign or phenomenon believed to foretell that something is going to happen in the future.
• Aqueduct: A sophisticated engineering channel used specifically to transport water, primarily fresh drinking water, to populated areas.
• Aztec: The name used to identify the civilization that settled within the Valley of Mexico.
• Chinampas: Innovative floating islands created and used for agricultural purposes (growing crops) in the capital of Tenochtitlan.
• Artifacts: Original physical objects that originate from the past and provide historical evidence.
• Missionaries: Individuals belonging to religious orders whose primary objective and mission was to convert non-believers to Christianity.
• Codices: Early Aztec books that utilized pictures instead of alphabetic text to record history and cultural narratives.
• Tribute: A form of mandatory taxation collected by a conquering nation; this practice was famously utilized by the Aztecs.
• Spanish Inquisition: A judicial system established in Catholic countries where individuals were investigated and prosecuted for being heretics.
• Monotheism: The religious belief system characterized by the worship of only ONE god.
• Polytheism: The religious belief system characterized by the worship of MANY gods.
• Conquistadors: The specific term used to describe Spanish invaders who attempted to conquer and colonize foreign lands.
• Epidemic: A medical phenomenon where a disease spreads with extreme rapidity, infecting a large number of people simultaneously.
• House Arrest: A legal state where a person is forced to remain a prisoner within the confines of their own home.
• Encomienda: A system involving pieces of land granted to Spanish settlers who relocated to "New Spain." This grant also included the provision of enslaved Aztecs to perform labor on that land.
• Mestizo: A word denoting individuals of mixed Spanish and Indigenous ancestry.
• Hidalgo: A specific term used to refer to Spanish nobles.

Geography and the Capital of the Aztec Civilization

• Capital City: Tenochtitlan served as the central capital and the primary hub of the Aztec civilization (Ref: $163$).
• Modern Legacy: Mexico City is the modern-day city built directly upon the ruins of Tenochtitlan (Ref: $157$).
  • Reasoning: The Spanish intentionally constructed their new city on the old site after tearing down the Aztec civilization. This was done to impose Spanish beliefs and their specific worldview over the conquered territory.

Aztec Mythology and the Foundation of Tenochtitlan

• Settlement Myth: The formerly nomadic Aztec tribe followed a prophecy to determine where to settle. They were told to build their city in the location where they witnessed an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth (Ref: $151$, $153$).
• The Creation Myth (The Five Suns):
  • According to Aztec belief, there had been $4$ worlds previously; the Aztecs lived in the era of the $5^{th}$ Sun, known as the "Earthquake Sun."
  • The Assembly of Gods: The gods gathered to bring a new sun into existence to explain the world as it currently exists.
  • The Sacrifice: The proud god Tecuciztecatl offered himself as a sacrifice, but the gods preferred the humble Nanahuatzin.
  • The Fire: A great fire was prepared for the transition. At the final moment, Tecuciztecatl was paralyzed by fear and failed to jump. Nanahuatzin jumped in without hesitation.
  • The Result: Overcome by jealousy, Tecuciztecatl jumped into the fire afterward, followed by a brave eagle and a jaguar.
  • The Moon: Initially, two suns rose in the east, which created excessive brightness. To rectify this, the gods threw a rabbit into the face of Tecuciztecatl to dim his light, transforming him into the moon.
  • The Movement of the Sun: Nanahuatzin (now the sun) was weak and motionless. To give him the energy required to rush across the sky, the other gods sacrificed their own blood.

Aztec Societal Structure and Engineering

• Societal Descriptors: Aztec society is categorized as fight-driven, hierarchical, polytheistic, and heavily god-oriented (Ref: $167$, $172$, $178$).
• Evidence of Hierarchy: The existence of distinct classes, the central role of the gods, the practice of sacrificial rituals, and historical records detailing a supreme leader all serve as evidence of a hierarchical system.
• Engineering and Technology: Despite geographical challenges, the Aztecs supported a population larger than any city in Europe through advanced technology (Ref: $155$):
  • Chinampas: Floating farmable islands used to grow sufficient food for the populace.
  • Aqueducts: Provided essential fresh drinking water.
  • Causeways and Bridges: Engineered structures that allowed for movement across the island city.

The Spanish Worldview and Motivations for Conquest

• Key Figures: Isabella and Ferdinand were the Catholic monarchs of Spain. Their support of individuals like Cortez was fundamental to the drive for conquest in Tenochtitlan (Ref: $201$, $205$).
• Spanish Belief System: The Spanish worldview was anchored in Catholicism and Ethnocentrism (Ref: $205$, $208$).
• Motivations: Explorers like Cortez were motivated to leave Spain by the prospects of glory, gold, and colonization (Ref: $207$, $209$, $216$, $217$).
• Inquisition and Tolerance: The Spanish Inquisition serves as a reflection of an ethnocentric worldview. It reveals that the Spanish believed their way of life was superior and correct above all others. From this, it can be inferred that they would exhibit zero religious or cultural tolerance regarding Tenochtitlan following its capture.

Conflict, Weapons, and the Fall of Tenochtitlan

• Warfare Philosophies: While both cultures valued warriors, their strategies differed significantly (Ref: $223$, $224$):
  • Aztec Strategy: Focused on fighting to capture prisoners (often for sacrifice).
  • Spanish Strategy: Focused on fighting to kill the enemy and achieve total destruction.
  • Vulnerability: This difference in intent made the Aztecs vulnerable to the total-war approach of the Spanish.
• Weaponry Comparison:
  • Spanish Equipment: Guns, horses, and protective armor. This provided a definitive efficiency and technological advantage.
  • Aztec Equipment: Spears and war clubs.
• The Conquest Outcome: The conflict resulted in the death of Moctezuma and left Tenochtitlan in shambles. Following a second attack, the city was burned to the ground (Ref: $232$, $234$).
• Cortes's Success: Cortes utilized specific strategies to defeat the Aztecs (Ref: $229$, $232$):
  • He befriended various Aztec subgroups.
  • He was perceived as similar to a figure from a holy prophecy.

Historical Perspectives and Methodology

• Sources of Knowledge: When studying Aztec religion, the most reliable sources are those coming directly from Aztec descendants. European sources are identified as "problematic" due to potential bias and lack of cultural understanding.
• "New World" Concept: The lands of South America are often referred to as the "New World" simply because Europeans "discovered" them. This terminology reveals a heavy Eurocentric bias, as the land was not new to the indigenous people living there.