Origins of the Aztec empire
Social structure
Daily life
Religion
Significant individuals and impacts of the Spanish Conquest
100

What is the capital city of the Aztec empire?

Tenochtitlan

100

Identify the social structure in Aztec society.

Emperor, nobles, warriors, commoners and slaves

100
A staple crop, often used to make tortillas.

Maize (corn)

100

A term meaning belief in multiple gods. The Aztecs believed in over 300 gods.

Polytheistic

100

Who were the leaders of the Aztecs and Spanish conquistadors during the Spanish conquest??

Montezuma II and Hernan Cortes

200

Which lake did the Aztec empire build their civilisation?

Lake Texcoco

200

Which occupation acted as spies or ambassadors, bringing back news of other towns and cities that were suitable places to attack?

Merchants

200

The Aztecs used this system, involving the exchange of goods without money in their markets.

barter

200

Twin temples located at the centre of the Aztec city. 

Templo Mayor

200

What is smallpox?

Epidemic disease brought by the Spanish that devastated the Aztec population.

300

A raised road or pathway that was built to enter and leave the Aztec empire.

causeways

300

Occupation that helped deliver babies safely for Aztec mothers.

Midwife

300

What are TWO activities that the Aztecs did at marketplaces?

Buy/sell goods, gossip, hear the daily news, stroll around the marketplace.

300

Identify the three main gods of the Aztecs and their roles.

Huitzilopochtli is the god of war and the sun

Tlaloc is the the rain god who controls storms, thunder and lightning

Quetzalcoatl is the feathered serpent and the god of wind, knowledge and nature

300

Identify the 3 G's and outline how it contributed to the Spanish conquest.

God, Glory, Gold

Spreading Christianity throughout the New World

Opportunities to gain fame in Europe

Greed and opportunity for money

400

What image is on the Mexican flag that describes the origin story of the Aztecs?

An eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake.

400

Outline TWO ways Aztec warriors could prove their skills.

Capturing prisoners alive for human sacrifice and winning in games such as the Mesoamerican ball game/ulama

400

How were Aztec children disciplined?

Speared with the sharp spines of a cactus, being left bound and naked in the dark in a cold puddle, bound and held over a fire, had their fingers cut if they made a mistake in tasks such as weaving

400

Why was human sacrifice important to the Aztecs?

please and honour the gods, prevent natural disasters such as floods, droughts and typhoons. 

400

Describe what encomienda is?

Forced labour system that the Spanish used to enslave the Aztec people after the conquest. 

500

A floating garden on a shallow lake, artificially built by layering soil.

Chinampas

500

What were THREE unique features of slaves in Aztec society that were different from other parts of the world? 

They were generally treated well, they could buy their freedom, allowed to marry if they had their master's permission, gained freedom after working off a debt, completing their term of punishment for a crime, masters died, slave status not passed down to children

500

Outline 4 roles and responsibilities of men and women in Aztec society.

Women: weaving and sewing clothes, cooking, caring for children, take care of home, midwife, preparing for religious festivals and cooking, sell in markets

Men: serve as warriors to defend the empire and expand its territories through conquest, farmers to grow food such as beans and corn, government to collect taxes and tribute


500

How did the Aztecs show their respect to the gods?

Human sacrifice, religious festivals, bloodletting

500

Explain TWO impacts of the Spanish conquest of the Americas to the Aztecs.

Answers could include: diseases, loss of culture and language, Columbian exchange, spread of Christianity and cathedrals, forced labour and slavery, colonisation, African slave trade