Spanish and Aztecs Religions
Who are Spanish missionaries?
Missionaries were women and men who held the power to convert others to Christianity from religious orders.
In the Aztec worldview, what did they do to people who committed crimes or could not pay debts?
They would become tlacotin (slaves or indentured workers)
What was Hernán Cortés' major motivation for leaving Cuba?
He had heard rumours of a wealthy empire on the mainland and wanted to conquer it and become rich.
What are the names of the two elite orders of Aztec warriors?
Eagle and Jaguar
What was the material used for Aztec blades?
Obsidian, a volcanic glass. Obsidian is sharp but also fragile, and not effective against Spanish armour.
Who (Spanish or Aztec) tried to convert as many people to their religion?
Spanish attempted to convert as many people to Christianity because they believed they were saving those whom they converted.
What is the Divine Right of Kings?
The belief that a monarch's power comes from God himself
How were the Aztecs able to gain wealth and goods?
The Aztecs were able to gain wealth and goods by trading and conquering.
What are three major advantages of the several advantages Spanish had in the war against the Aztecs?
Weapons, allies, and diseases.
Aztecs had to create chinampas (floating gardens) to live in the swampy terrain that surrounded their capital. They also had to use aqueducts to transport water.
This is the patron god of the Aztec
Who is Huitzilopochtli?
What is the Nahuatl word for Aztec nobility?
Why did the Aztec Empire need to keep expanding?
The expanding empire created a large population who could only be supported through more expansion
Which disease caused the Spanish to have an advantage over the Aztecs?
Smallpox was a disease that spread through the Aztecs and killed 25 percent of the Aztec population. The Spanish developed a resistance, causing them to be affected as much as the Aztecs.
What was the major goal of Aztec warriors in combat?
Capture enemy soliders to be used as sacrifices.
How did Aztecs find their land (Tenochtitlan)?
One of the Gods, Huitzilopochtli, told the Aztecs to build their capital when they found a sign of an eagle on a cactus eating a snake.
What privileges did Spanish nobles have?
Owned land, had access to better education
What was the major trade commodity and staple crop of the Aztec people?
Maize, also known as corn
What was the major goal of the series of military engagements known as The Reconquista?
Spain wanted to drive the Muslim Moors out of Iberia and create a purely Catholic kingdom
What were some key aspects of the Aztec religion, and how did it differ from the beliefs of the Spanish?
The Aztec religion had some unique aspects. They believed in many gods, like Huitzilopochtli, the sun god, and Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. They practiced human sacrifice to please the gods and ensure the continuation of life.
Who is the emperor?
After the Spanish and Aztec war broke out, what happened to the surviving Aztecs when they lost the battle?
Some surviving Aztec were enslaved. They were all expected to learn Spanish and convert to Catholicism.
What belief held by the Spanish nobles was harmful for the economy of Spain?
Work was beneath them
Who was La Malinche?
La Malinche was an indigenous woman who, due to her ability to learn languages and speak persuasively, became a translator and negotiator for Hernán Cortés.
What were the names of the two types of Aztec school and which class attended each?
Telpochcalli: the commoner school
Calmecac: the noble school