History Flashcards
To learn history topics for year 8 exam (140 cards)
The development of the Aztecs in what we now know as Mexico
Aztecs arrived in whwat is now mexico in alte 1100s. By 1250 they settled near the shores of Lake Texcoco.. By 1325 the building of Tenochtitlan begun and it was built in Lake Texcoco on five swampy islands. It was very nicely built with canals, roads, and 3 long causeways leading to the city for boats/canoes. Tenochtitlan populations was around 250,000.
Schooling in Tenochtitlan
Young boys would go to school and learn to live prudently, governing and history. The girls were taught at home. When boys tearn 15 years old if they are noble children they go to calmecac (advance) and if they are commoners then they go to telpochcalli (military).
Food in Tenochtitlan
They have 2 meals a day. Army have meats and legumes. The Aztec introduced chocolate reserved for warriors and nobility and they made octli (alchahol).
Crime and Punishment in Tenochtitlan
Commoner wearing cotton lead to death. Adultery (girlfriend/boyfriend) lead to death or cutting living tree. There was a group of judges who determined such things.
Aztec warfare
Aztec vs Tlaxcala (also lived in now called Mexico). Commoners had basic fighting skills. There was also a professional warrior class where the eagle and jaguar warriors were the best. Prisoners usesd to capture/harm enemy but don’t kill.
Mythology and Religion in the Aztec Empire
They were flat earthers and the art and architecture were the religious warship. 20,000 sacrifiiced each year and they believed that if you sacrifice you go to heaven. Battle or child birth death would also lead to heaven. Peacefully dying meant to pass through the underworld first.
Agriculture in the Aztec civilisation
They used Chinampas which were like ‘floating gardens’.
Columbus’s discovery
The America was the new land and Christiphor Columbus thought to have arrived in India but had actually arrived in the Bahamas. They set out in August 1492 and discovered America in 1493-1504.
The legal conquest
Pope Alexander VI made the decree to colonise America. Tordesillas Treaty clarified regions for Spain and Portugal to colonise in America.
Hernon Cortes
He moved to Hispaniola at 19 and participated in the conquest of cuba. Cortes wanted to take over Aztecs in Mexico. Cortes gained support of the Tlaxcalans (alliance). The people of Tlaxcalans trusted Cortes because they had never seen white people before so they thought they were good, it is rumored that they thought Cortes was a god as he looked similar to a god that they believed in.
Destroying the Aztecs
Spaniads took everything. They destroyed temples and the Aztec’s religion eroded as the Spaniads wanted to convert them into christianity and if not then they would be killed. Cortes wanted to conquer the Aztecs as he thought they had ‘riches to offer’ and he could gain wealth and land. Montezuma II was the leader of the Aztecs and his own people killed him as they thought that he was not fit for ruler as he couldn’t seem to do anything against Cortes.
Conquering the Inca Civilisation
The Inca and Maya civilizations arised and were soon taken over by the Spaniads. It took about 40 years to conquer the Inca civilisation.
Conquering the Maya civilisation
The Maya civilization is made up of independent city states so the Spanish had to conquer each one individually which took a long time. It took 150 years to conquer the whole of Maya.
Columbian Exchange
Trades that opened up between America and Europe. Tomatoes, potatoes, corn and tobacco were discovered during this time and were traded through the Columbian Exchange. Bananas, coffee beans, horses were brought to americas. Disease brought killed many indigenous people.
Encomienda system
Labourers offered tributes in return for protection and Christianisation. Forced labour and land seizur. The pacific ocean had potential for a major trade routes for the Spanish. Silk, spices, sliver and slaves were traded from Asia to Americas to Europe.
Expansion and Conflict
Spain, Great Britain and France were most active in the war for americas. Other countries saw americas as a opportunity for wealth as they saw spain succeed.
The end of new Spain
For 3 centuries Spain had ruled most of North America. By 1820’s most of the colonies got independence. In 1810’s Mexico got independant from Spain. In 1898 Spanish were defeated by the United States.
Impact on the Aztecs
Population decline due to diseases, slavery and malnutrition. 90% of population decline by 1600s. Tradition and culture gets taken away form them (the Aztecs): arts, music and languages. Codex design (pictures) changed to text-base and the Encomedia system led to the mixing of Aztec, Mayan and Incan cultures. Converting to Christianity was a major factor in the cultural loss.
Slavery
The Aztec slavery is different to European slavery as slaves could have possessions and buy their freedom, they could sell themselves into slavery to pay debts, even murderers = slaves to family of the victims and chilidren of slaves were automatically slaves. If an Aztec person was not a christian then they were a slave.
Language and religion
After take over the most spoken language was Spanish. North and South America = speak spanish except brazil who speak portugguese because of the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Why did the conquestadors want to colonise america
Expand their empires, foreign territories and to claim wealth, power, and religious converts. The conquestadors were sent by Spain after Montezuma II was killed and the Spain had before been kicked out. The conquestadors consisted of the Spanish and Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizzaro.
Feudalism
Social order of/in medieval europe.
Feudal system connections
The Monarch (kings and queens) give land and other privileges to the Tenants-in-chief. The Tenant-in-chief pledged their loyalty money and prayers and provided fully equipped knights to serve for a term in the monarch’s army. They also give land and other privileges to the Sub-tenants. Sub-tenants guard the property of tenant-in-chief and protected them. They also give allocated spare land to the Peasants. The Peasants work the land of the Sub and Tenants in chief. They also paid taxes in the form of crops. The Peasants = Free serfs and those bound to lords. Sub-tenants = knights and lesser clergy. Tenants-in-chief = lords and bishops. The Monarch = kings and queens.
Mutual obligation
When two parties agree to both give and receive from eachother.
