The Aztecs

Beginnings

100

This is the ancestral and mythical home of the Aztec people somewhere in Northwest Mexico

Aztlan

125

This Aztec god told the Mexica to settle where they found an eagle eating a snake on a cactus

Huitzilopochtli

150

This is the capital of the Aztec empire, found on an island in Lake Texcoco

Tenochtitlan

175

These were floating gardens created by the Aztecs so that they could farm on their island.

Chinampas

200

Tenochtitlan teamed up with the city-states of Texcoco and Tlacopan in 1428 to form this...

The Triple Alliance

Let's stay Classy

100

This was the absolute bottom of the Aztec social hierarchy

Slaves

125

This person was believed to have divine power and his power was absolute. The leader of the Aztec empire

Huey Tlatoani

150

These were the commoners; farmers, warriors, and craftsmen who made up about 30% of the population

Macehualtin

175

The Aztec court system had this law which made allowed a pass to anyone who confessed to a priest

one time forgiveness law

200

This group had a secret merchant guild which you had to be born into. They were just below the nobility but above everyone else. Traveling merchants

Pochteca

Random Vocabulary

100

This was a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army

mercenary

125

This was the name the Aztec people called themselves **HINT** part 1 notes

Mexica

150

The Aztecs used these narrow wooden bridges that they could move for travel and for warfare

Causeways

175

This was the ruler of a city-state, just under the king, who had to pay the Aztecs in tribute to keep them happy

Tecuhtli

200

This was the school for children of the nobility who trained to become generals and priests

Calmecac

Bow to Your Gods

100

This ceremony is the most important in Aztec society, occurring once every 52 years, and beginning a new cycle

New Fire Ceremony

125

This was the god who created the Aztec people, and maybe the only deity who did not require human sacrifice. Known as the 'Feathered Serpent'

Quetzalcoatl

150

This deity is known as 'The Flayed One' and is the Aztec god of Agriculture and the seasons

Xipe Totec

175

This is the Aztec god of Rain and Water. He requires the tears of children if he is going to send rain for the crops

Tlaloc

200

This is the God for whom the New Fire Ceremony is held. The deity who represents fire and heat.

Xiuhtecuhtli

Time and Writing?

100

This calendar was split into 18 months containing 20 days each and had 5 unlucky days to equal 365 total days

Xiuhpohualli

125

This is the language spoken by the Aztec/Mexica people

Nahuatl

150

These are sky spirits who will come down and eat everyone if the New Fire Ceremony is not done correctly

Tzitzimime

175

This is the codex that discusses the sacred rituals and explains the calendar

Madrid Codex

200

This is the name for the five unlucky days on the Xiuhpohualli

Nemontemi