The Aztecs Flashcards
(34 cards)
What is the biggest city built by the Aztecs?
Tenochtitlan it’s where Mexico Citu is
What do the Aztecs think of the mountains?
Gave them a sense of security
Protected them from attack by invaders
Seem sacred because their closer to their gods
How could the mountains surrounding Tenochtitlan be a problem?
Could cause flash floods from the rainstorms
Aqueducts
Flow all the way from the mountains
When nearing the lakes they raise so canoes can pass under
The two pipes make repairs easy
Chinampa
Needed a place to farm
Thick reed mats covered in mud that float in the river
Plant on the mats
Causeways
Could be blocked off in times of war by raising them
Bridges that connect Tenochtitlan (the island) to the main land
Huitzilopochtli
He was the god who told the Aztec’s where to settle
An expansionist god
Eats human blood
Loves war
Tezcatlipoca
The god of night
Can see the future through his black mirror
Most powerful
Nemesis is Huitzilopochtli
Alias is Lord of the Night sky
Quetzalcoatl
Means Feathered spirit
Loves offerings of flowers incense and birds
Loves a raft made if rattlesnakes
When the Aztec’s see him next the Aztec empire will be destructed
Tlaloc
Could unleash deadly floods or cause drought and famine
Reason to fear him is he controlled their survival
Sacred Calender
Aztecs believed that there were 4 eras before the present one
All 4 eras were destroyed
First era: Jaguar
Second era: Hurricanes
Third era: Fiery Rain
Fourth era: Flood
Fifth era: predicted earthquakes
Human sacrifice
Aztecs believed that gods were nourished by victims blood
Without it gods would die and so would the world
War was important so they can capture new victims for sacrifice
Codices
Aztec books
Codex
1 type of Aztec book
How did trade affect the Aztecs?
The mountains affected the Aztecs ability to get goods
Tropical plants didn’t grow in their area
No gold or silver
Merchants set out with hundreds of slaves to go and get goods from far places
How did war affect the Aztecs?
Military service was compulsory in Aztec society
Cowardice is a sign of weakness
Once Aztecs conquered a group tribute was to be paid
Tribute included gifts and taxes
Social Hierarchy in Aztec society
Emperor
Nobility and Priests
Merchants, Soldiers, Artisans
Farmers, Fishers, Women
Slaves
The Emperor
Huey Tlatotoani (Great Speaker)
Treated as a god
A skilled warrior
The good of the empire was in his hands
Family clans
Society was organized into units called Calpolli
Some societies were based on the work they did
Merchants made up the richest calpolli in Tenochtitlan
Why were merchants important?
They would go far away and bring back prized goods to sell in the market
Feather Artisans
Nobility only could wear feathers
The most prized feather were of the Quetzol bird
What were signs of social status?
Clothing
Jewelry
Size/Location of home
How do you move up in society?
Capture 4 prisoners in battle
Calmecac
School for the nobles
Located in the center of the city
Read and write glyphs
Harsh discipline
Citizenship
Astronomy
Music
Law