The Aztecs Chapter 25

25.1 Intro When did their empire peak? Aztec civilization peaked b/t 1428 and What sign did they receive telling them where to build their empire, and where did they build their empire? Legend says that when the Aztecs found an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth, they were to build a great city. This was done in Central Mexico. What was the name of the great city they would build? Capital city was called Tenochtitlan.

25.2 What Was the Valley of Mexico to the Aztecs? When did the Aztecs arrive in the valley? Aztecs arrive in the valley in the 1200s, but civilizations had lived there for over 1,000 years.

Who Were the Previous Civilizations? Who were the two previous civilizations? First civilization were called the Teotihuacans who collapsed around 700 AD. Second civilization that moved into the valley were the Toltecs, who built many cities with pyramids and temples. Teotihuacan Toltec

When Did the Aztecs Arrive? Where did they originally come from? Aztecs arrived in the valley around 1250 after leaving their home (Aztlan) and wandering through the Mexican deserts for about 150 years. How were they able to establish themselves in the valley? Aztecs were able to establish themselves by working as mercenaries for the barbarians controlling the city-states in the valley.

How did the Aztecs connect themselves to the Toltecs? Aztecs b/g marrying into the Toltec line and claiming Toltec ancestry. How did the Aztecs run into trouble with the Colhuas? They b/c mercenaries for the Colhuas, but ran into trouble when they sacrificed the daughter of the chief. Where did the Aztecs finally settle? They were driven out and wandered until they found the eagle perched on the cactus on Lake Texcoco

How Did They Go from Mercenaries to Empire Builders? Who did the Aztecs make an alliance with on Lake Texcoco? Aztecs then b/c mercenaries for the Tepanecs & through this alliance gained land, trade, and wealth. How did the Aztecs defeat the Tepanecs? Aztecs then rebelled and formed new alliance w/ 2 other states and defeated the Tepanecs. In 1428 the Aztecs b/g creating their empire Itzcoatl

24.3 What Was the City of Wonders? How many people lived in the empire at its peak? By 1519 Tenochtitlan had b/t 2 and 300,000 people. How did they expand the size of the island? The reclaimed land by building small floating gardens w/ mud, boulders, and reeds. What was in the center of the city? At the center of the city was a large plaza for rituals and feasts. In the center of the plaza was a large temple pyramid 150 ft tall dedicated to Huitzilopochtli. This is where human sacrifices were performed.

Outside the plaza was the palace, aviary, and zoo. The market serviced 60,000 people a day. What types of goods were traded at the market? Tenochtitlan covered 5 square miles and had 4 avenues so people could get around. How did the get from the island to the mainland? 3 causeways linked the island to the mainland. City also had an aqueduct and a dyke 10 miles long.

Chinampas

Inside the plaza

Coatepantli (the wall surrounding the plaza)

Tzompantli (the skull rack)

The Marketplace in Tenochtitlan

24.4 What Was the Empire? Who did the Aztecs defeat before they became an empire? Became an empire after defeating the Tepanecs. Under Montezuma I it stretched from Gulf of Mexico to Pacific Ocean and included 5 million people.

How Was it Based on Tribute? Aztecs didn’t colonize, they just conquered cities and demanded tribute in whatever form a city could pay. What types of goods did defeated cities offer as tribute? How did they collect the tribute? Tax collectors were stationed around the empire to collect and make sure they could sustain a growing population.

How Was it Based on Warfare? Why was the empire based on warfare? The only way Aztecs could conquer cities and demand tribute was through warfare. What happened to most prisoners? POWs were often made into sacrifices. Every Aztec male was trained as a warrior. Describe the process of a declaration of war. Aztecs would first ask cities if they would like to be part of the empire, and if they refused, they declared war. What demands were placed on defeated cities? Demands on defeated cities were to pay tribute, accept Huitzilopochtli as god, and obey Aztec ruler. Most defeated cities never thought of themselves as true Aztecs. What’s the problem with this?