Aztecs Flashcards
Where was the centre of business in Tenochtitlan
The huge market square where 60,000 people a day came to buy and sell
Who were the most highly prized victims for sacrifice?
High status warriors
Who was the most important god for the Aztecs?
The god of sun and war, Huitzilopochtli
What were the 2 major civilisations that existed in the Americas prior to European contact?
The Aztecs and the Incas
In which region were the Aztecs based?
Mexico
In how many generations did the Aztec civilisation rise and fall?
4 generations
What was the main city of the Aztec civilisation?
Tenochtitlan
What was the population of Tenochtitlan at the time of the Spanish arrival?
200,000 people
What was the centre of Tenochtitlan?
The sacred precinct
What were tributes?
Payments that surrounding villagers were forced to pay to the Aztecs
How was the Aztec social hierarchy arranged?
- Emperor
- Nobles
- Warriors
- Commoners
- Slaves
How was a midwifes address to newborn boys different to newborn girls?
Newborn boys were expected to become warriors and die in the military whereas newborn girls were expected to work in the house
How did ceremonial sacrifices work?
A priest cut into the victims chest and pulled out his beating heart, which was held up as an offering to the God of Sun and War, Huitzilopochti
Where did ceremonial sacrifices take place?
On the steps of the great pyramid shaped temple, where the captured warrior was stretched face up over a large stone
