The Aztec Geography Flashcards
Why did the Aztecs choose to make their home where they did?
The Aztecs choose to make their settlements in the middle of the Lake Texcoco. They choose to make their home in the middle of a lake because their god told them too. And also the eagle was sitting on a cactus and eating a snake in the middle of the lake.
- On orders of the god, 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 years they found an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, devouring a snake on an island in the middle of lake Texacoco this where they lived.
How did the Aztecs use Lake Texcoco to protect them?
The Aztecs build 3 causeways. Bridges that connected the causeways to the city and the mainland and could be destroyed easily. When they saw enemies attacking they just destroy the bridges.
- Bridges that connected the causeways to the city and the mainland could be destroyed to protect the city from invasion.
Why were mountains considered sacred sites?
Mountains were more than just a physical site for the Aztecs. They saw as the mountains the holy site or in other words they believed it brought people physically closer to god.
Describe the landscape, including geography and climate.`
The Aztecs lived in the middle of the Lake Texcoco surrounded by the mountains. Geography was kind of interesting during the time period. They were all settled in the middle of the Lake Texacoco. They build a city combining the small islands. The Aztec’s had a population over 5 to 6 million.
-Mexico’s landscape include deserts, mountains, tropical forests,ranch land, rich farmland, and sea coasts on the east and west. Mexico is found in Mesoamerica and has a desert-like climate along tropical coastal areas.
What is one benefit of the mountains and what are two drawbacks of the mountains?
One benefit of the mountains is that they would go up there to see if any enemy is attacking or something else.
2 drawbacks of the mountains are that a) mountains were steep and rainstorms could cause floods in the city.
- One benefit of the mountains that surround the Aztec region was they offered protection from attacks of outside cultures.
Where is modern day Mexico City located?
Modern day Mexico City is located in the valley of Mexico.
Plateau
is a flat and raised land-form that grows sharply above the surrounding area, at least on 1 side.
- An area of relatively level high ground. It is like mountain with the top cut off.
Aztecs
member of a indigenous people, most dominant.
Aztlan
ancestral home of the Aztecs.
-The name of the mythical homeland of the Aztecs, the ancient Mesoamerican civilization also known as the Mexica.
Mexica
the Aztecs were first known as Mexica.
The name the Aztec used for themselves. they did not call themselves Aztecs
Nahua
language of the Aztecs.
- The Nahuas are a group of indigenous people of Mexico and El Salvador, historically also present in parts of Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Huitzilopochtli
- A deity of war, sun human sacrifice, and the patron of the city of Tenochtitlan. He was also the national god of the Mexicas, also known as Aztecs, of Tenochtitlan.
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica refers to the diverse civilizations that shared similar cultural characteristics in the geographic area comprising the modern-day countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Savador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Lake of Texcoco
Lake Texcoco was a natural lake within the Valley of Mexico. Lake Texacoco is where the Aztecs built the city of Tenochtitlan, which was located on an island within the lake.
saline
containing salt.
