The Aztecs

 What event in the 8 th century signaled a significant political and cultural change?  Collapse of Teotihuacan in central Mexico  Abandonment of classical Maya cities

 What was the capital of the Toltecs? When was it established?  Tula, 968

 Where does the center of population and culture shift to?  The large chain of lakes in the valley of Mexico

 What made the Aztecs both “valued and feared”?  Their reputation as tough warriors  Fanatical followers of their god

 What was the sign for them to settle? Where did they settle? What city did they create?  Sign: eagle perched on a cactus with a serpent in its beak  Seen on the marshy island in Lake Texcoco  Founded the city of Tenochtitlan in 1325

 How did they come to dominate the surrounding areas?  From Tenochtitlan, began to become more involved in politics  Role as mercenary and ally allowed them to take land and tributes  1428, independent power  1434, allied with Texcoco and Tlacopan in an alliance that controlled much of the central plateau  Aztecs dominated

 How did Aztec society change after developing into an empire?  Went from loose association of clans to a stratified society under the authority of a supreme ruler

 How does Tlacaelel change the history of the Aztecs  Tlacaelel a key figure  Rewrites history to say the Mexica were chosen by god  Human sacrifice greatly expanded into an enormous cult  Military key role of supplying captives for sacrifice  Created the open areas to arrange “flower wars”  Both sides obtain captives for sacrifice

 What were the calpulli and what did they do?  Kin group that controlled a city ward  Maintained neighborhood temples and civic buildings

 What were the chinampas?  System of irrigated agriculture  Beds of aquatic weeds, mud, and earth  Placed in frames made of cane  Rooted to the lake floor

 Describe the merchant economy of the Aztecs (pochteca, regulation,currency)  Cacao beans, gold dust sometimes used as currency  Usually a barter economy  Great market at Tlaelolco open daily  Controlled by special merchant class, the pochteca  Specialized in long-distance trade in luxury items  Markets highly regulated  Under control of inspectors and special judges  Not a market economy

 How was the government involved in the economy of the Aztecs?  Controlled the use and distribution of commodities  Redistributed the vast tributes from subordinates  Tribute levels according to whether the subject peoples had fought  If you didn’t, surrendered less food

 What functions did the calpulli perform? (4)  Distributing land to heads of households  Organizing labor gangs  Formed military units in times of war  Maintained a temple and school

 How did the social structure of the Aztecs change as their empire expanded?  Calpulli transforms and social stratification emerges  A class of nobility emerges  Based on the most distinguished calpulli  Marriages  Military achievements  Service to the state

 What new group of workers formed as the nobility gained power?  New class almost like serfs on the lands of the nobility  Did not control land, worked at the will of others  Above slaves socially

 Where did merchants fit in?  Formed their own sort of calpulli  Own patron gods, privileges, internal divisions  Sometimes served as spies

 What role did women play in Aztec society?  Number of roles  Helped in the fields  Primary domain in the household  Child-rearing and cooking  Weaving was highly regarded  Training young girls  Could inherit property and pass to their heirs  Subordinate in political and social life

 Who was the ruler of the Aztec Empire?  Speaker chosen from the nobility  The Great Speaker, ruler of Tenochtitlan, was first among equals  Magnificent court surrounded with rituals

 What social and political transformation occurred over a century of Aztec expansion?  Position and nature of the old calpulli clans changed radically  Powerful nobility with a god-like absolute ruler emerged  Ancient cult of military virtues elevated to the religion of the state  Secured tribute  Obtained victims for Huitzilopochtli

 What functions did tribute serve?  Both economic and political  Concentrated power in the hands of the Aztec capital  Why was the Aztec political system a success?  Had political domination, not direct control  Why was it painful in the long run?  Increasing social stresses with rise of nobility  System of terror and tribute