Aztec Empire

Front 1

Which language was used in the Aztec Empire

Back 1

Nahuatl language (from which the words tomato and chocolate originate)

Front 2

Which centuries did the Aztec dominate militarily and politically:

Back 2

Dominated the ethnic groups of central Mexico militarily and politically during the 14th-16th centuries.

Front 3

In which region did the Aztecs rule

Back 3

Central Mexico, Mesoamerica

Front 4

What is the other name for Aztec

Back 4

Tenochca or Tenochtitlan?

Front 5

Know the name of the capital city of the Aztec Empire

Back 5

The capital city of the Aztec Empire was Tenochtitlan, situated on an island in the lake Texcoco.

Front 6

Know the names of the tribes that constituted the Aztec “Triple Alliance”:

Back 6

The “Triple Alliance” was composed of the Tenochtitlan, the Mexica, and the Acolhuas of Texcoco and Tepanecs of Tlacopan

Front 7

Which Spanish Conquistador conquered the Aztecs

Back 7

Hernan Cortes in 1521 conquered the Aztec Empire

Front 8

Know how the Aztecs ruled their empire – indirect means and hegemonic rule using local leaders:

Back 8

The Aztecs ruled by Indirect means and a Informal or Hegemonic rule. The central government was weak, with local kings and nobility ruling city-states. After conquering a state or tribe the Aztecs would restore local kings and allow for local ruling, yet expected tributes to be paid (semi-annually or quarterly). Had a policy of non-interference, did not enforce supreme rule, and prompt payment of tributes ensured independence.

Front 9

Be familiar with the tribute system and the currency of trade:

Back 9

Necessities-food and cloth; Luxury-jeweled clothing, gems and bead, bird feathers; Tool/Weapon metals-bronze

Front 10

What were the benefits and costs of the tribute system:

Back 10

o Benefits:
• Access to goods and material previously unavailable
• Increased economic stability
• Military Protection
• Mutual aid from other parts of empire
o Costs:
• Increased burden on conquered households
• Reduced incentive to increase productivity or economic/agricultural output
• Little daily benefit to commoner

Front 11

Be familiar with the particulars of the Aztec economic system

Back 11

o Political: land owned by nobility/kings. Commoners used land for sharecropping, as indentured servants or slaves
o Commercial: trade in goods and services; merchants accepted several types of payment.
o Commercialized(NOT Capitalistic): Land and labor not for sale
o Coffee Bean: Lowest unit of currency
• Tamale: 1 bean; Turkey: 3 beans; Rabbit: 30 beans
o Quachtli (cloth): Used for larger purchases, worth 65-300 beans. 20 Quachtli=yrs income for commoner
o Gold Statue: 250 beans; Daughter as sex slave or for sacrifice: 500-700 beans
o Markets daily in large cities, several times per week in small towns
• Central market of Tlatelolco, Tenochtitlan’s sister city visited by 60,000 ppl daily

Front 12

How did the Aztecs connect the various parts of their empire:

Back 12

o Built system of roads designed for foot travel connecting major city-states and conquered territories- official couriers carry messages
o Carefully supervised w/ rest stops every 10-15 km
• Safe: women travel alone,

Front 13

Know the Aztec social classes and upward social mobility:

Back 13

: 3 social classes
o Macehualli-peasantry
o Pochteca-merchants/traders
o Pilli-Nobility
o Tlacotin-Slaves also large part of society
o Was possible to move up rank within lifetime.

Front 14

Be familiar with the Aztec educational system:

Back 14

: all Aztecs homeschooled until 14
o At 15 boys/girls attended Aztec academies
• The Mexica, first people have mandatory education regardless of gender/rank/station
o Telpochcalli-practical/military studies
o Calmecac- writing/astronomy/statesmanship/theology/

Front 15

Be familiar with Aztec religious system and human sacrifices

Back 15

o Huitzilopchtli: sun god/war god
o Human sacrifices important; believed gave power to gods which in turn insured survival of Aztec Empire
• War captives used; in peace would resort to ritualistic warfare/flower war
• 1487 killed 84,400 prisoners in 4 days at great pyramid
• after town conquered inhabitants no longer eligible for sacrifice/became Aztec citizens

Front 16

What were the keys to success for the Aztec Empire:

Back 16

o Alliances=strength
o Capital city protected through location (middle of a lake)
o Expand through large military force
o Bypass strong rival tribes/contain them
o Rule indirectly: local leaders govern, collect tributes
o Commercialized (NOT Capitalistic) economy
o Advanced communication/transport system
o Progressive: Education and upward social mobility

Front 17

Which factors led to the fall of the Aztec Empire:

Back 17

o Inferior Technology compared to Spanish
o Alienated tribes quickly allied with Spanish
o Aztec leaders failed to capitalized on intelligence on the Spanish
o Aztec leaders slow to realize threat of Spanish Conquistadors
o Aztec failed to use vast numerical superiority to overwhelm Spanish when camped in Aztec capital