The Aztecs Build an Empire
What was the key factor to the Aztecs rise to power?
WAR
Who was more important? Warriors or Priests?
Priests because they had more influence than the warriors even though the warriors were also very respected
Who was sacrificed in Aztec society?
battle captives or slaves
Why did the Spanish come to the Americas and who was their leader?
They came to the Americas seeking adventure, riches, and converts to Catholicism - they were led by Hernan Cortes
What were Aztec people well-known for?
being Farmers
and warriors
What made the empire strong and rich?
war, tributes, trade
What are the bottom 3 levels of Aztec society? Which one was the LARGEST?
merchants/artisans
farmers and laborers - the largest group
slaves
What is ORAL TRADITION?
stories about ancestors and Gods passed down from generation to the next
Define a conquistador
A Spanish conqueror
Based on the city structure, What can you conclude about the Aztec people?
a. they did not live in the city of Tenochtitlan
b. were skilled architects
c. people lack knowledge how to build canals
d. could ONLY be found in Tenochtitlan
b, they were skilled architects
What is a tribute? Name 3 examples
A tribute is a tax or a punishment paid
three examples of tribute are cotton, gold, and food
What were the three distinctive ways of life for the Aztec?
1. complex social structure
2. religion
3. culture
What key items were used to bring beauty to this culture? Name at least 5
jewelry, masks, embroidered clothing, gold, gems, feathers
Why did the Emperor not immediately wage war on the Spanish?
He thought he was the God who promised to return?
Where was Tenochtitlan built? Be as specific as possible
What was the problem in building the city and how was it solved? Name 2
the problem was getting to and from the city as a swamp land.
it was solved by 1. causeways 2. canals that crisscrossed the city
What was the difference between the Maya calendar and the Aztec calendar?
Aztecs would have written records of historical and cultural events
Why do we think Hernan Cortes was greedy?
He was greedy because the Aztecs saw him as a GOD and the brought him riches that were worthy to a GOD and it still was not enough for Hernan to be satisfied and ultimately why he decided to wage war on the Aztec
Which sentence BEST explains how the geography of Tenochtitlan affected its economy?
a. the area around the city is in the form of a circle, surrounded on all sides by high mountains
b. this strait connects the two lakes, allowing trade between cities and other settlements
c. the great city of Tenochtitlan is found on an island in this salt lake
d. by removing the bridges at the entrances, they would be able to trap us on the island
b. this strait connects the two lakes, allowing trade between cities and other settlements
Explain the purpose of a Chinampa?
The purpose of Chinampas was to make up for the land they did not have for farming.
Why did the great temple have 2 towers at the top?
1 shrine was for the sun God, the other was for the rain God
In your opinion, why were priests able to remain so powerful?
they controlled the planting and harvesting of crops and they also controlled who would be sacrificed
What were the 4 reasons that allowed the Spanish to win over the Aztec? Also, out of your choices, which had the GREATEST influence in allowing the Spanish to win?
1. better weapons
2. terrified of the horses
3. brought disease - smallpox - this wiped out 90% of the population and the greatest reason why the Spanish won
4. people under Aztec rule revolted and helped the Spanish
Why is Mexico city considered to be a city on a city?
because it was built where Tenochtitlan originally stood and there are still artifacts from that time living there today.