1. The Americas on the Eve of Invasion
Mrs. Booth

2. Toltec Culture
Nomadic peoples who established a capital at Tula about 968.
Central Mexico
Created an empire that extended over much of Central Mexico, and their influence spread from their capital in Tula, to as far away as Guatemala.
1000 CE Toltec warriors capture Chichen Itza in Yucatan

3. Contacts Traded for turquoise in American southwest (New Mexico)
May have been contact between Hopewell peoples of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys.

4. Aztecs rise to power Toltec empire lasts until 1150 CE
Destroyed by nomadic invaders from the north
Population and political power shifts from valley of Mexico to the large chain of lakes
Shores of the lakes support dense population
Various groups tried gaining control of these lakes, ultimately the AZTECS, or as they called themselves, the Mexica won the struggle

5. Question 1
The Toltec's established their capital in Central Mexico around
A) 500
B) 752
C) 814
D) 968
E) 1066

6. Question 2
After the sack of Tula, the center of population and political power in Mexico shifted to
A) Yucatan
B) the valley of Mexico and the shores of a chain of lakes in that basin
C) Teotihuacan
D) Chimor
E) the Pacific Coast

7. Aztecs
Build a great empire, but are the most unlikely of groups to win struggle for land
History of the Aztecs is sketchy. Some say
Once inhabited the central valley but had been moved to exile before returning
Nomadic tribe that used the political mess that was left after the fall of the Toltecs to get a foothold in the area

8. What we know….
Aztecs were a group of about 10,000 people who migrated to the shores of lake Texcoco in the central valley of Mexico around 1325.
They spoke the same language as the Toltecs, which helped them capitalize when the Toltecs fell.
They were intrusive and militant
Reputation of being tough warriors and strict followers of their gods
They even offered human sacrifices to gods
Governed by use of city states and formed alliances to gain more territory (1430s)

9. Aztecs continued… They were a feared people
Legend held that they would stop wandering when they saw an eagle perched on a cactus with a serpent on its beak. This happened, they settled here, and the city of Tenochtitlan was founded in 1325.
Religion: polytheism- complex array of gods and goddesses that could take different forms

10. Question 3
In 1434, the Aztecs
A) formed a triple alliance with two other cities
B) built their capital city on the shores of Lake Texcoco
C) were defeated by the Toltecs
D) emerged as independent rulers after the defeat of a rival city
E) established the practice of human sacrifice

11. Question 4 What civilization did the Aztecs succeed in central Mexico?
A) Olmecs
B) Maya
C) Incas
D) Toltecs
E) Huari

12. Question 5
What form of government was the basis for the imperial structure of the Aztecs during their first settlement in the valley of Mexico?
A) Regional Kingdoms
B) Hunting and gathering
C) Monarchy controlling a large territory
D) Chiefdoms based on shift agriculture
E) City-states

13. Human sacrifice
Long been a part of Mesoamerican religion, however, Aztecs expanded it considerably during the postclassical period of militarism.
Some religious zeal and devotion- even a ritualistic cannibalism
Some a tactic of terror
Despite fear tactics and brutal practices, Aztecs had documented struggles with beliefs and there questions about the afterlife and validity of “gods.”

14. Economy of the Empire Chinampas
Beds of aquatic weeds, mud, and earth that had been placed in frames made of cane and rooted on the lake floor.
They formed artificial floating islands about 17 feet long
High yield from this set up: corn

15. Social Relations
Calpulli- residential clans that were the ancient building block of Aztec society
Hold prominent positions
There are about seven Calpulli families
Accumulated land and had advantages based on name
Overshadowed by military nobility

16. Women in Aztec Society Marriages often arranged based on lineage
Women can work the fields but place is in the home
Polygamy exists among nobility- monogamy expected of peasants
Population was thought to reach 20 million under Aztec control which is attributed to their ability to intimidate and control people

17. Question 6 Chinampas played an important role:
A) because they allowed for a high level of productivity
B) The canals they created eventually led to inter-clan warfare
C) they required a century of slavery that endured for centuries
D) because they allowed the Aztecs to develop coffee plantations
E) none of the above

18. Question 7
What was the nature of the Aztec administration of subject territories?
A) The Aztecs placed members of royal family as rulers over subject peoples.
B) All territories became

19. INCAS: Twantinsuyu
Was considered genuis in their ability to organize and control through the government

20. Societal Comparison Sheet
Time Period:
Significant events during time period:
Society One:
Society Two:
Characteristics of Society One: Society Two:
Political:
Social:
Economic:
Artistic:
Religious:
Intellectual:
Technological:
Military:
Geographic:
Demographic:
Women’s Status:
Explanation of Similarities and Differences