Chapter 7 review final Flashcards
who were the Aztecs and where did they live?
they were created by a nomadic tribe who settled in the valley of Mexico during the 15th century.
In 1168, the god of the Aztecs, Huitzilopochtli commanded the Aztecs to do what?
commanded the people to migrate south and told them to look for an eagle perching on a cactus. There they would settle and build a great city
What did the Aztecs find in 1325?
in 1325 the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico a wide plain with fertile land, plentiful water, and mild climate.
What name did the Aztecs call their home?
they called it Tenochtitlan
For the Aztecs, a mountain was more than a physical site, they also saw a mountain as what?
as a sacred or holy site, and brought people physically closer to the gods.
For the Aztecs, the world consisted of what 2 landscapes?
physical and sacred
In what ways did a mountain bring the Aztecs physically closer to their gods?
the Aztecs believed that their god Huitzilopochtli had sent them to the place where they lived. Religion was a powerful force in the Aztec society and the idea that their god had sent them to this site gave the Aztecs determination to survive there.
The temples that Aztecs built to worship their gods were ________ in the shape of mountains?
the temples were in the shape of mountains
Why was the island of Tenochtitlan, not an ideal location?
it was small, swampy island in a lake with salty water
To make sure they had plenty of clean drinking water even in times of drought, the Aztecs built _________
aqueduct
In what ways were poetry important to the Aztecs?
- by creating poetry the Aztecs felt that they were imitating their god, Ometeotl the creator of the universe.
- during peaceful times writing poetry was considered the only worthy occupation for an Aztec warrior.
How did Lake Texcoco protect Tenochtitlan?
- the Aztecs created three causeways linking the lake and the mainland.
- Brigshes that connected the causeways to the city and the mainland could be destroyed to protect the city from invasion.
What were chinampas and how did they help the Aztec society?
chinampa was known as floating islands, they built in the waters around Tenochtitlan and other areas to grow crops,
How did the lakes become salty?
the lakes had become salty through evaporation which left behind the natural salts in the water.
According to the Aztec religion, what was the difference between their different gods?
although Aztecs had many gods they believed some were greater than others.
What was the solar calendar and the sacred calendar?
the sacred calendar was 260 days long. It took the sacred calendar exactly 52 years to “catch up” with the solar calendar.
What was the great stone calendar?
it was carved in the mid- 1400s was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli it shows how the world began and how it will end.
According to the legends, the first fire was destroyed by_____, the second by _______, the third by ________, the fourth by ________, and the fifth will be by ______ ?
first was destroyed by the Jaguars the second by the hurricanes the third by fiery rain and the fourth by a flood. earthquakes will destroy the fifth Sun in the center of teh calendar.
Why was human sacrifice important to the Aztecs?
killing another person has the strongest expression of their de devotion to the gods, since they believe that the victim’s blood actually nourished the gods.
Why was war important?
because it gave them the opportunity to capture new victims for sacrifice.
What was the “new fire” ceremony?
it took place every 52 years the people would fast and would let their fires go out. they would wait for a courier and then they would relight the fires.
In the world, what part of the map was Tenochtitlan located?
Tenochtitlan was a model of the world, with the Great Temple at the very center.
The Aztecs loved tropical fruits and a bright tropical bird. In order to get these things, what did the Aztecs have to do?
they had to trade with the cultures that has these goods.
What was the role of the Aztec merchants?
the merchants often set off with hundreds of slaves to carry the goods they purchased on trading expeditions. the merchants also acted as spies for the Aztec army.
What did the Aztecs believe about the group and the individual?
the Aztecs firmly believe that the group- their society- was much more important than the individual within it. Every Aztec was prepared to sacrifice his or her own life for the good of the group.
Military service was _______ among the Aztecs?
compulsory- means that the law required every young man to serve in the army
what is a tribute ?
it is to collect valuable gifts and taxes, from the conquered group. They collected from cities they conquered including cotton blankets feathered headdresses and shields, stings of jade beads and cocoa beans.
Why were cocoa beans important to the Aztecs?
because the Aztecs made drinks out of the cocoa beans, hot chili peppers, and cornmeal which they blind gave them wisdom and power. the cocoa beans were used for currency
what were the names of all the gods
- Huitzilopochtli
- Tezcatlipoca
- Quetzalcoati
- Tlaloc
what was the duty of Huitzilopochtli
he encouraged the Aztecs to leave their ancestral homeland and settle in the Valley of Mexico. he was the Aztecs tribal god and had warlike aspects
what was the duty of Tezcatlipoca
the most powerful of the gods. He was used to seeing visions of the future
he was locked in an eternal struggle with the god Huitzilopochtli
what was the duty of Quetzalcoatl
he was the god of the wind.
what was the responsibility of Tlaloc?
he was the god of rain.
