Aztec civilisation

Question 1

Overview of aztec civilisation

Answer 1

• Aztec civilisation originated in New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado
• 12th century they migrated south to central Mexico
• During the next 3 centuries inter-tribal war dominated but after the Tepanec war in 1428- an alliance between Texcoco, Tlacopan and Tenochtitlan started an expansion
• The city of Tenochtitlan would dominate the alliance and became the Aztec empire

Question 2

Aztec method of rule (key features)

Answer 2

• Tenochtitlan dominated and Huey Tlatoni became head to the Aztec empire
• High warrior strength
• An aztec would become a pill (noble class) through bravery in war
• The more prisoners captured, the higher the potential for reward
• Warfare concentrated on capturing cities
• Ruled an area of 135,000 square km
• Used extreme violence
• Unknown to lose battle

Question 3

Warriors

Answer 3

• umbilical cords of baby boys were buried on the battlefield
• Toy weapons were given to the baby
• Every aztec boy receives basic training
• Movement up in the ranks was based on how many enemies the soldier captured
• Nobles were trained ti become elite fighters
• Eagle and jaguar warriors = the most elite
• Rising in the ranks meant that warriors were allowed different hairstyles, can drink in public and have other sexual partners

Question 4

Payment of tribute

Answer 4

• Tribute was a form of tax, consisting of a variety of goods such as food clothing, raw materials, captives for labour
• Paid either quarterly or annually
• Financial strain
• Tochtepec was expected to pain the form of gold, rubber, jade, semi-precious stones and cacao beans
• High quantities of goods into Tenochtitlan
• Maintained strength of Aztec empire by increasing wealth
• Maintained a sense of fear as the threat of punishment raids for failure to pay tribute kept them in line

Question 5

Beliefs

Answer 5

• Aztec beliefs based on mythology, religion - fear of nature and the end of the world
• Aztec religion proposed the the Good took 5 attempts to create the world, but fighting had prevented it from taking place
• Eventually, the god Nanauatl became the sun and would not move. The other gods were sacrificed to create wind and move the sun
• In order to see the sun moving, the Aztecs you;d have to repay the sacrifice
• People had been created by Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent who had bought people to life by mixing bones with his blood
• The Gods and nature had to be kept in place or a disaster would occur which resulted in everything being determined by Aztec calendars
• Ceremonies to honour the Gods, such as festivals, dancing, music, sacrifices and the burial fo precious goods
• Aztecs worshipped the Tlaoc (rain God), Xiuhtecuhtli (god of fire) and Michlantecuhtli (God of the dead)
• The sun had a 52 year cycle, which caused fear and the Aztecs destroyed there belongings and went into mourning every 52 years to ensure the sun continued
• Prophecies also played a major role in beliefs and helped to explain the complaint attitude of some go the natives to conquer cortes, who some considered to be God
• Believed in afterlife. The sacrificed to Huitzilopochtli would help in a battle against darkness and it was also believed that some would be reincarnated in various forms
• 9 levels in the underworld

Question 6

Codices

Answer 6

• Codices are a series of books or long folded sheets that provide information about Aztec history and culture
• There are relatively few codices that pre-date the Spanish conquest
• Those produced during or after the Spanish conquest contain pictures and are written in Nahuatl, Spanish and sometimes Latin
• The codices served as maps, calendars, historical records and ritual texts for the Aztec people

Question 7

Important codices

Answer 7

CODEX BORBONICUS
- info on calendars, 52 year cycle of the sun, ceremonies and rituals

CODEX AUBIN
- details of the history of the Aztecs from their original territories to 1607

CODEX MAHLIABECHIANO
- describes religious ceremonies and beliefs of the Aztecs

Question 8

Sacrifice

Answer 8

• In the sky there was a continual battle between light and darkness in order for the sun to wins sacrifices were needed
• Objects and animals were scarified, but human sacrifice was the most valuable
• It ensures that the Gods are ‘fed’
• It was believed that satisfying the Gods would prevent disasters and the balanced of nature was maintained
• Human hearts and blood provided strength to the Gods
• Many of the victims were prisoners of war, especially from the flower war which was a pre-planned co lit which ensured that there were equal numbers on both sides

Question 9

Ritual sacrifice

Answer 9

• Heart being cut out
• Decapitation
• One sided battle between victim and warriors
• Victims were cut suing obsidian knife
• Head was cleaned and reserved on a skull rack
• Victims body was either created or dismembered and offered as gifts
• Male children that were sick were sacrificed to Tlaoc
• Young women were drowned for the God Xiolnen
• Cannibalism was practiced

Question 10

Significance of Tenochtitlan

Answer 10

• The aztec world was dried into 4 quadrants with they capital Tenochtitlan at the centre
• The city was situated on the western shore of lake Texcoco
• By 1500 its population was about 100,000
• 3 causeways connected the city to the shore of the ales and an aqueduct brought in fresh water from nearby springs
• Political and religious centre
• Important as a trading centre
• 20 districts in each quadrant
• Templo Mayor pyramid dominate the centre, it was here that most sacrifices were carried out
• City contained zoos, aquariums, private houses and toilets
• Sophisticated construction for the time
• Wealth; art, monuments, metals and precious stones (which made the Spanish more ruthless)