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Aztecs questions Flashcards

1
Q

Why were mountains considered sacred sites.

A

It was thought the height of the mountains brought people physicaly closer to the god.

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2
Q

Why did the Aztecs choose to make their home where they did?

A

It was because of the orders of the god Huitzilopochi, the Aztecs were to abandon the place where they lived and start a pilgrimage to find a place where an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, devouring a snake would be. This was to be their permanent living place. After wandering for 200.

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3
Q

Describe the landscape, including geography and climate.

A

Mexicos landscape includes deserts, mountains, tropical forest, ranch lands rich farmland and sea coasts on the east and west. Mexico is found in Mesoamerica and has a desert-like climate along with tropical coastal areas.

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4
Q

What is one benefit of the mountains and what are two drawbacks of the mountains?

A

One benefit of the mountain that surround the Aztec region was that they offered protection from the attacks of outside cultures. A draw back is the flooding and satiness.

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5
Q

How did the Aztecs use Lake Texcoco to protect them?

A

Bridges that connected the causeways to the city and the mainland could be destroyed to protect the city from invasion.

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6
Q

Explain two ways the Aztecs altered the geography to help them survive.

A

The Aztecs created the chinampas, aquedects and dams helped them.

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7
Q

Where is modern day Mexico City located?

A

The valley of Mexico when Tenotitichlan.

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8
Q

plateau

A

a flat land on top of mountain

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9
Q

Aztecs

A

a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico

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10
Q

Aztlan

A

Aztlán is the ancestral home of the Aztec peoples.

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11
Q

Mexica

A

There old name before they were called Aztecs.

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12
Q

Nahua

A

The Nahuas are a group of indigenous people of Mexico

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13
Q

Huitzilopochtli

A

it was the Aztec people god. A diety of war, sun, human sacrifices, and a patron of a city of Tenotitichiltan.

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14
Q

Mesoamerica

A

Mesoamerica refers to the diverse civillzations that shared similar characteristics in the geographical areas comprising the modern-day countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Beilieze, El Savador, Nicaragagua and couta rica

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15
Q

Lake of Texcoco

A

a lake in Mexico where the made land and settled there.

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16
Q

saline

A

very salty; salt

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17
Q

Tenochititlan

A

Tenochititlan was an Aztec city that flourished between A.D 1325 and 1521. built on an island on Lake Texcoco, it had a system of canals and causeways that supplied.

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18
Q

causeways

A

it is a way that connects to land.

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19
Q

chinampa

A

it was an agricultural system the Aztecs used while living in Tenochititlan

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20
Q

What are the two Aztec calendars and what three parts make up the Calendars?

A

There are two types of calendars. One is the solar calendar, and one is the sacred calendar.

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21
Q

Describe the xiuhtlapohualli calendar in 2-3 sentences.

A

This calendar is similar to the modern day calendar. It has 365 day calendar. Each year will begin with a festival to worship the god tholoc

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22
Q

Describe the tonalpohualli calendar in 2-3 sentences.

A

They used this calendar to determine when to do human sacrifices. People were named on the day of this calendar

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23
Q

Why do you think time was important to the Aztecs?

A

They named each other by using time and they also used time for religious reasons. Every day it tells which god they were worship. Time would end if they did not do the rituals.

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24
Q

Would the Aztec Sun stone be considered a primary source or secondary source?

A

primary source

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25
How are the two calendars related?
They rotated at the same time to give them a 52 year calendar.
26
What kinds of information is on the Sun stone?
One type is the four suns and that will tell whether the world will end.
27
How are the calendars similar and or different than the one we use today?
They tell different things that are happening. They are different because they use two calendars.
28
What is the New Fire Ceremony and how did it work?
This thing happened after every 52 years. They thought that the world will end so they sacrificed a human so they can worship their god so the world would not end. They will take the heart out and put it in a bowl and make a fire out of it. This day happens when the crocodile is the first day of the new year
29
In what ways was the new fire ceremony like the way we celebrate the coming of a new year?
This day happens when the crocodile is the first day of the new year. In the modern calendar Jan 1 is the new year.
30
How do the two calendars influence the way the Aztec live their life?
They tell what to do those days and what to worship. They controlled religion and time.
31
xiuhtlapohualli
This was the main Aztec calendar with 365 days, like the modern day calendar. This was known as the solar calendar.
32
meztli
This meant the 18 months in the solar calendar
33
veintena
20 days in the 18 months.
34
nemontemi
the 5 useless days at the end of the year is called nemontemi
35
xihuitl
a year in this solar calendar
36
tonalli
a day in the solar calendar
37
Trecene
a week in the solar calendar
38
Tonalpohualli
known as the sacred calendar. Use this calendar as a divinatory tool. This calendar will tell the people the religious rituals that were going to happen and the sacrifices that were going to happen and which god to worship
39
xiuhmolpilli
the direct meaning is "year bundle" but it refers to a stone monument to commemorate the new fire ceremony.
40
Quetzalcoatl
He is the god intelligence and self-reflection. Also known as god of creation, a giver of life
41
Yohualtecuhtli
this was the star stone that told people that a sacrifice was have to be made.
42
Tlaltecuhtli
known as the earth goddess.
43
Xiuhtecuhtli
known as god of fire, day, and the heat. He was the lord of volcanoes, the personification of life after death
44
temple
is a building reserved for religious or spiritual rituals such as prayer and sacrifice.
45
Huitzilopochtli
god of war, sun and human sacrifices.
46
pulque beer.
it is a beer that is as alcoholic as other beer but it is made from different things.
47
Toxhiuhmolpilia
The new fire ceremony.
48
In what way do a group’s beliefs and experiences contribute to shape a unique identity?
The Aztec believed that human sacrifice was important to worship their gods and that shaped there identity.
49
What were the Aztecs beliefs about the gods?
They believed that they did something for the gods or they had to do it. They believed to do human sacrifices and also sacrifice little babies. They believed that the Aztecs controlled the aspects of the world.
50
Why was human sacrifice so important?
The Aztec believed that they owed everything to the gods who created themselves as well as the world around them. The would perform sacrifices in order for a good crop yield or good weather. They believed that the best way to repay them was to offer up blood
51
Why was Huitzilopochtli so important to the Aztecs?
Huitzilopochtli was known as the sun god. This god told the Aztec people where to settle and where to establish a city (Tenochtitlan). His name means “Hummingbird of the Left” and he was the patron of war and sacrifice.He is on the top of the pyramid of the Templo Mayor. He was connected with gold, war, and rulership, so the Aztecs thought it was important to keep him happy.
52
List two responsibilities that the gods had according to the Aztecs?
The Aztec believed they were Huitzilopochtli’s chosen people; it was their duty to make sure the sun never died and the Earth survived.
53
What were the responsibilities of the Aztecs to the Gods?
To worship the gods in anyway possible which involves human sacrifice.
54
List 4 gods and their powers.
Huitzilopochtli- The sun god. Told the community to establish Tenochititlan. Was the patron of war and sacrifice. Tezcatlipoca- the smoking mirror. Represents evil power associated with death and cold. Quetzalcoatl - known as the feathered serphant. He represented the positive counterpart of Tezcatlipoca and he is also the knowledge and learning and also a creative god. Tlaloc - known as the rain god. Associated with fertility and agriculture. The Aztec believed that the cries and tears of newborn children were sacred to the god and that is why they sacrifice little babies.
55
Huitzilopochtli
Huitzilopochtli was known as the sun god. This god told the Aztec people where to settle and where to establish a city (Tenochtitlan). His name means “Hummingbird of the Left” and he was the patron of war and sacrifice.
56
Human Sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more humans, sometimes for religious reasons like the Aztec. Human sacrifice has been practiced in different cultures as well throughout history.
57
Tezcatlipoca
the smoking mirror. Represents evil power associated with death and cold.
58
Quetzalcoatl
known as the feathered serphant. He represented the positive counterpart of Tezcatlipoca and he is also the knowledge and learning and also a creative god.
59
Tlaloc
known as the rain god. Associated with fertility and agriculture.
60
Bloodletting
a removal of human blood from human sometimes for religious reasons like the Aztecs.
61
Ritual
a religious ceremony that consists of many religious practices and ceremonies.
62
Sacrifice
the act of killing a person for religious reasons and also doing a dangerous thing for the thing you love.
63
altepetl
it is similar to an Italian city-state.
64
calpulli
a group of people in a city-state.
65
Triple Alliance
an alliance of three different groups. (Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, Tlacopan).
66
pipiltin,
this is known as nobility. This is also known as the upper class n the Aztec society.
67
emperor
a person that has great power or rank and has a good status.
68
huey tlatoani
a person that has great power or rank and has a good status.
69
Chief of Internal Affairs
The second position in the pyramid.
70
Council of Wise Men
A group of people made up of the greatest warriors and the wisest priests in their calpullis.
71
hereditary.
past down by your blood relations. The generation.
72
tlatoque
they were rulers that ruled major towns and cities within the empire.
73
Tecutin
ruled smaller areas than the tlatoque. They kept records of tributes and managed the marketplaces, important resources, and local legal matters.
74
the Eagle Knights and the Jaguar Knights.
They were two different military groups. Only few of the wise warriors can join them.
75
priests
is a religious leader that is said to perform different religious rituals and sacrifices.
76
macehualtin
the middle class commenars that they were able to improve their status.
77
mayeques
the poorest peasents they were either farmers that worked for the nobles.
78
toltecah
known as artisans.
79
tlacotin
low status like slaves.
80
pochteca
long distance traders but they were spies.
81
How did the structure of Aztec society tell us what was important to the Aztec people?
The social structure of the Aztecs tells us that religion was very important as the priests had very high status. Even emperors would listen to their every direction in hopes to keep their culture alive.
82
Draw the Aztec social hierarchy. How was it different from the feudal hierarchy of Europe?
1. Emperor: The leader came from the nobles, but once he gt his own office he was in class by himself. The nobles would vote for leader 2. Nobility: people in political power and wealth. 3. Middle class: Merchants, Artisans, warriors. 4. Farmers, Fishers, Labours 5. Slaves. Simalrities: Smaller groups were on the top and lower pyramid had a big population, Same order but with different names, Carerrs of each group are the same. Differences: Individuals would move up and down the pyramids, Children in slavery was born in slavery.
83
How did the emperor become the emperor?
was elected by the council of wise men made up the greatest warriors and the widest priests.
84
Describe the responsibilities of the emperor.
to rule the land and be responsible for it
85
How did a person move up in status?
was by achieving success on the battlefield.
86
What were the three signs of status?
jewlery, size or location of house and clothing.

Social Studies 8 (10 decks)

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