americas and oceania (ch20) Flashcards
1
Q
teotihuacan
A
- mesoamerican entered era of war and conquest in 8th century when teotihuacan (largest early city in Mesoamerica) declined
- became a target for forces from countryside and northern mexico
- attacks opened long era of militarization in mesoamerica
- most prominent of people contesting for power were toltecs and mexica
2
Q
states after teotihuacan’s fall
A
- several regional states dominated portions of high central valley
- these states often fought amongst themselves
3
Q
toltecs
A
- with emergence of toltecs, much of central mexico came under unified rule
- came from NW Mexico, settled mainly in tula
- tapped water in nearby river tula to irrigate crops
- high point was from 950-1150 CE
- maintained large and powerful army
- built compact regional empire
- exacted tribute from subjects, transformed capital into wealthy city
4
Q
tula
A
- became an important center for weaving, pottery, etc, residents imported large quantities of luxury goods from elsewhere in mesoamerica
5
Q
fall of toltecs
A
- 1125 ce, toltec empire faced difficulties as conflicts between different ethnic groups
- mid 12th century, nomadic peoples from nw mexico entered tula, settled around it
- 1175, conflicts between various groups destroyed toltec state
- fire destroyed much of tula at the same time
- end of 12th century, toltecs no longer dominated mesoamerica
6
Q
mexica
A
- from nw regions of mexico
- often referred to as aztecs because they dominated alliance that built aztec empire
- arrived in central mexico in the middle of 13th century
- caused conflict, for a century migrated around central mexico
7
Q
tenochtitlan
A
- 1345, mexica settled on island in lake texcoco, founded the city that would later become capital (tenochtitland)
- lake offered plentiful supplies of fish, frogs, etc
- lake enabled mexica to develope chinampa system of agriculture <– good for harvesting
- lake served as natural defense
8
Q
rise of aztecs
A
- early 15th century, mexica were powerful enough to overcome immediate neighbors, demanded tribute from subjects
- mexica launched ambitious campaigns of imperial expansion
- under rule of ITZCOATL (1428-1440) and MOTECUZOMA 1 (1440-1469, they advanced first against oaxaca in SW Mexico
- oaxaca became defence for mexica empire
- mid-15th century, mexica joined forces with texcoco and tlacopan, creating tripple alliance that guided aztec empire (dominated by mexica and teochtitlan)
- imposed rule on most of mesoamerica
9
Q
aztec tribute and trade
A
- triple alliance main goal –> exacted tribute from subject peoples
- tribute obligations where sometimes very oppressive for subject peoples
- ruling elites sometimes had merchants take the tribute items to distant lands to exchange
10
Q
aztec government
A
- had no bureaucracy or administration
- mexica and allies simply conquered their subjects, assessed tribute, left local governance in the hands of the conquered
- had no permanent army
- simply assembled forces when they launched campaigns
- had a reputation for military power, fear of retaliation kept subjects in line
11
Q
mexica social classes/society
A
- rigidly hierarchical, stratified between nobles and non-nobles
- looked upon all males as potential warriors
- honors and rewards reserved mostly for military elite
- noble birth had best training and opportunities
12
Q
mexica warriors
A
- showered wealth and privileges on military elite, received land + tribute
- most successful warrior formed council to discuss public issues
- warriors had right to wear brightly colored capes, etc
13
Q
mexica women
A
- played almost no role in political affairs of society, but wielded influence within families, enjoyed high honor as warrior’s mothers
- prominent in marketplaces, crafts
- prodded towards motherhood and homemaking
- all mexica women married, principal function was to bear children
- bearing of children = warrior’s capture of enemy
14
Q
mexica priests
A
- priestly class ranked among mexica elite
- received special education
- motecuzoma 2, was a priest of the mexica cult, ruled aztec empirefrom 1502-1520
15
Q
cultivators + slaves
capulli
A
- vast majority of mexica consisted of commoners living in hamlets cultivating chinampas in community groups called calpulli
- ^ groups of family living together in communities, organizing their own affairs, allocated community property to individual families
- cultivators delivered periodic tribute payments to state agents
- mexica society included slaves, mainly worked as domestic servants
- slaves were never foreign, only mexica
- criminals + those sold for financial benefit^
16
Q
mexica artisans & merchants
A
- skilled artisans enjoyed considerable prestige in mexica society
- fell under suspicion as greedy profiteers, sometime wealth and goods were siezed
17
Q
mexica gods
A
- absorbed in religious beliefs common to meso america
- two principal gods “tezcatlipoca” –> powerful figure, giver and taker of life, “quetzalcoatl –> supported arts crafts, agriculture
18
Q
ritual bloodletting
A
- mexica believed gods had set the world in motion through acts of individual sacrifice
- by letting blood flow, gods had given earth moisture to bear maize and other crops
- honored deities through sacrificial bloodletting
- regularly performed acts of self-sacrifice
- ## reflected desire of mexica to keep agricultural society going
