Vocabulary
What is a basin?
a bowl-shaped area
Where did the Aztec empire develop?
in the highlands of central Mexico
What was the Triple Alliance and its purpose?
The Triple Alliance was an agreement between the king of the Aztec and the kings of Tlacopan and Texcoco to support one another by sharing troops and control of the Aztec empire.
What main activities did Aztec society revolve around?
Farming, warfare, and religion
In what fields did the Aztecs advance in?
artificial islands the Aztecs built to have more land for farming. This helped to feed a growing population.
What made the Valley of Mexico a good place for the Aztec to settle?
fertile soil and water from streams
What were kings of states conquered by the Triple Alliance required to send to their conquerors?
They had to send tribute, or valuable goods, to the Triple Alliance.
Why was human sacrifice essential to Aztec society?
The Aztec believed that without human blood, their most powerful god would grow weak, and the sun would disappear.
Why were aqueducts important to the Aztec?
Aqueducts brought fresh water for drinking, cooking, and growing crops to Aztec cities from nearby mountain streams.
What's a dike?
a wall to hold back salt water from mixing with fresh water
How did geography shape the Aztec capital?
Its location on a lake led the Aztec to build it on islands on the lake
How did the power of the Aztec king compare to that of the other kings in the Triple Alliance?
The Aztec king was the most powerful because he made decisions about war and had complete power over his people.
How would you describe the major classes of Aztec society?
Nobles descended from the first Aztec king comprised the ruling class. Most Aztec were commoners who lived simply and sometimes sold themselves into slavery to avoid poverty.
What can be concluded about the importance of storytellers in Aztec society?
The Aztec valued oral traditions more than written ones.
What's an aqueduct?
canals or pipes that carry fresh water
What advantages did the Aztec gain from living on an island?
It was easily defended and provided ideal land for farming. It also allowed people to move goods across the water.
What achievements show that the Aztec had engineering skill?
the building of chinampas, causeways, dikes, and aqueducts, as well as temples and palaces
What does it mean for something to be "rigid?"
to be fixed, unchanging