AP World History POD #10 - Mesoamerica Aztec

Class Discussion Notes Bulliet et. al. – “The Postclassic Period In Mesoamerica, 900-1500”, pp. 314-317

The Post-Classical Period The division between the classic and postclassic periods is arbitrary Evidence suggests population growth during the postclassical period Population growth contributed to an intensification of agricultural practices and increased warfare This led to an increase in military size and the creation of political organization designed to control large and culturally diverse imperial conquests

Toltec Viewed by the Aztecs as powerful and influential predecessors (similar to Rome’s view of Greece) Memories of Toltec military achievement and the violent imagery of their political and religious rituals dominated the Mesoamerican imagination throughout the postclassical period Archeological evidence does not always support this, as much of Mesoamerican culture was in place long before Toltec power spread across central Mexico

Origins of the Toltec Theory #1 – Toltec originated as a satellite population placed on the northern frontier by Teotihuacan as a defense against nomadic invaders Theory #2 – Toltec were migrants from the north who later borrowed from the cultural legacies of Teotihuacan and other cultures.

Toltec Power Tula – political capital founded in 968 C.E. (controlled the lands from north of modern Mexico City to Central America) State power was based largely on military power Two chieftains or kings shared power dividing responsibility

Toltec Demise The split power of the two kings began to weaken the authority and control of the government After 1150 C.E. a struggle between elite groups from rival religious cults began to undermine government control of society as well Surviving legends claim that Topilizin, one of the two rulers and a priest of the cult of Quetzalcoatl and his followers bitterly accepted exile to the east (“the land of the rising sun”) There arose an external military threat to the north and by 1175 C.E. disaster had befallen the once great city of Tula.

Mexica “The Mexica were among the northern peoples who pushed into central Mexico in the wake of the Toltec collapse. As their power grew through political alliances and military conquest, they created a Mexica-dominated regional power called the Aztec Empire. At the time of their arrival the Mexica were organized as an altepetl, an ethnic state led by a tiatoani or ruler. The altepetl, the common political building block across the region, directed the collective religious, social, and political obligations of the ethnic group. A group of calpolli, each with up to a hundred familes, served as the foundation of the altepetl, controlling land allocation, tax collection, and local religious life.” (Bulliet, pp. 314-315)

Aztec Origin The Mexica would slowly to embrace and adopt the political and social practices used by the urban agriculturalists of the region Originally served their more powerful neighbors as serfs and mercenaries As their power increased they left behind their mercenary ways and constructed a pair of capital cities Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco (modern Mexico City) As military power rose, they gained control of the agricultural lands of central Mexico and forged alliances with neighboring altepetl

Aztec Political Organization Used a monarchical system copied from their more powerful neighbors A council of powerful aristocrats selected rulers from the male members of the ruling lineage Each new ruler had to renegotiate tribute arrangements and demonstrate his divine mandate with a new round of military conquest For the Aztecs, war was infused with religious meaning, providing the ruler with legitimacy and increasing the prestige of successful warriors

Aztec Urban Planning “The Aztec succeeded in developing a remarkable urban landscape. The population of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco combined with that of the cities and towns of the surrounding lakeshore was approximately 500,000 by 1500 C.E.. Three causeways connected this island capital to the lakeshore. Planners laid out the urban center as a grid where canals and streets intersected at right angles to facilitate the movement of people and goods.” (Bulliet, p. 315)

Aztec Gender Roles Warfare gave men power and privilege Military conquest allowed warrior elite to seize land and peasant labor as spoils of war Women were held in high esteem and held broad power and influence in society Women dominated the household and markets, as well as served as teachers and priestesses Matrilineal family lines

Aztec Social Hierarchy Royal Family & Aristocracy – possessed extensive estates that were cultivated by slaves and landless commoners Lower Class – gained some material rewards from imperial expansion but lost most of their ability to control or influence decisions Some commoners were able to achieve some social mobility through battlefield success A specialized merchant class controlled long-distance trade

Aztec Economics The empire met the challenge of feeding its large urban population by organizing the labor of the calpolli as well as other labors sent by conquered peoples Tribute System – imposed on conquered people was used to meet the needs of the growing population of the empire (unlike Tang China that used a more symbolic system) as ¼ of the food requirements of the Aztec capital were met through this system Barter was facilliated by the used of cacao, quills filled with gold and cotton cloth as standard monetary units

Aztec Religion Religious rituals dominated public life in Tenochtitlan Worshiped a large number of gods, most of which had a dual nature (both male and female) Huitzilopochtli – Chief God – originally associated with war and later the sun Belief that Huitzilopochtli required a steady diet of human hearts to sustain him and bring the Sun’s warmth to the world