The Aztecs Flashcards
Where is Teotihuacan currently?
Present day Mexico City
How many people lived in Teotihuacan?
200,000
How tall was the Pyramid of the Sun?
200 ft. tall
What did the Aztecs trade with?
Obsidian
What is obsidian?
Volcanic glass
What did the Aztecs sacrifice to their War God?
Humans
Who was Quetzalcoatl?
A rival to the War God whose name means “feathered serpent”
When was the first arrival of the Aztecs?
1200 AD
What was Aztec power based upon?
Ferocious military conquests
What was the emperor’s role in the Aztec empire?
He held absolute power
What were the military leaders’ role in the Aztec empire?
They had great power and owned vast estates
Where was Tenochititlan founded?
On an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco in 1325
How large was Tenochititlan?
Larger than London, or any other European capital
How many people lived in Tenochititlan?
400,000
Where was the Great Temple in Tenochititlan?
In the center of the city
What was the Great Temple’s role in Aztec society?
It was the center of Aztec religious life
What was offered to the Sun God?
Human blood
Why did the Sun God need the blood?
To fight the darkness
How many victims were sacrificed by the Aztecs and where were they sacrificed?
Thousands per year; at the top of the Great Temple
What did the Aztecs use to cut out the hearts of the people they sacrificed?
Obsidian knives
Who was most often sacrificed in the Aztec community?
Prisoners of war
When was Montezuma II crowned emperor?
1502
How did Montezuma II react to the arrival of the Spanish?
He welcomed them
What is Montezuma’s Revenge?
A colloquial term used to describe dysentary associated with travel to Mexico
