The Aztecs Flashcards
What century did the aztecs move into the Valley of Mexico?
12th century CE
What were the aztecs in search for when they found the VAlley of Mexico?
Fertile land
Where did the Aztecs flee from?
Atzlan
Which god guided the Aztecs to the Valley of Mexico ?
Huitzilopochtli
What century did the Aztec establish there home and where did they civilise?
14th Century CE
small swampy island in the middle of Lake Texcoco
What was the capital city of the Aztec city?
Tenochtitlan
How big was Tenochtitlan land and people?
13km2
Aprox. 250 000 people
What were the islands surrounding the main island called?
Chinampas
How were the surrounding islands on the lake built?
They were constructed of mud dredged from the bottom of the lake which were supported on rafts of branches and grass.
What were the floating islands for?
They were floating farms used to grow maize , fruit , vegetables and flowers.
How were the islands connected?
Raised roads called causeways.
what were some features of the Aztec city?
- four main districts, wide roads, public buildings
- sewerage systems
- regular garbage collection by men on boats
- delivery of fresh drinking water (from the Chapultepec mountains)
- postal systems
- regular cleaning of streets and buildings
- 15km embankments to stop salt water from mixing with fresh water
What produce did the Aztec trade?
- corn
- beans
- peppers
- squash
- pears
- tomatoes
- cotton
- tobacco
What was the Aztec market place called?
Tlateloco
How many people did the Aztecs rule?
15 million
How did the Aztec empire gain such a large population?
By conquering surrounding tribes and forcing them to pay tribute or tax.
Who was Hernan Cortes?
He was the explorer that set of to the coast of Mexico and established a settlement called Vera cruz. He was the one responsible for the destruction and invasion of the Aztec people
Who was the emperor of the Aztec empire when Cortés invaded and how long had he been in power for?
Moctezuma II
17 years
How many conquistadors did Cortés set off with?
400
When did Cortes arrive at tenochtitlan?
8th November 1519
What advantages did the Spanish have over the Aztecs?
- Division within the Aztec empire, surrounding tribes like the talaxcala hated the Aztecs and fought with the Spanish
- Superior weaponry, the Spanish attacked using gunpowder, Stella swords and horses
- Moctezumas slow response to threat, he welcomed the Spanish
- The Aztecs lack of readiness, Spanish arrived at harvest time when the Aztecs did not usually engage in battle.
Why did the Spanish lead a massacre at one of the Aztecs festivals (Toxcatl)?
The lack of control that they had over the Aztecs and there ceremonies, which they feared for their lives.
The aztecs claimed that Moctezuma died….
From injuries inflicted by the Spanish
How did the Spanish claim that Moctezuma died?
The Spanish claimed that the aztecs stoned there own leader to death.
