The Aztecs:Green Words 😀 Flashcards
plateau
A plateau is a flat piece of land located on a mountain or on high ground. -
Aztecs
A group of indigenous people who lived in Mexico.
Aztlan
The place of origin for the Aztecs. The name of the mythical homeland of the Aztecs, the ancient Mesoamerican civilization also known as the Mexica.
Mexica
What the Aztecs called themselves.
Nahua
The Nahuas are a group of Indigenous people of Mexico and El Salvador, historically also present in parts of Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Huitzilopochtli
The superior god for the Aztec people, the god of the sun and war.
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 areas comprising the modern-day countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Lake of Texcoco
A permanent settlement for the Aztecs after they were told or given the sign by their god to settle there. Their city’s name was Tenochtitlan.
Tenochtitlan
A city the Aztecs built that was located in the valley of Mexico. This was their permanent settlement. It was built on an island in the middle of the lake. It was built between A.D 1325 and 1521.
saline
soil or something that contains salt.
causeways
a bridge or a road on wet grounds.
chinampa
Also known as the floating gardens helped the Aztec people survive. This was a floating plot of land that allowed the farmers to farm.
aqueduct
A water pathway that is used for transporting water.
xiuhtlapohualli
The solar calendar the Aztecs used. It was also their main calendar.
meztli
the 18 months on the solar calendar the Aztecs used.
veintena
the 20 days in each month of the Solar calendar.
nemontemi
referred to as the last five days in the Solar calendar of the year. These days were bad days according to the Aztecs.
tonalli
day signs.
Trecene
the 13 day week.
Tonalpohualli
the Aztecs sacred calendar
Trecena.
the 13 day cycle in the Aztecs religious calendar
Vientena
the rotation of the 20 day cycle in the religious calendar.
xiuhmolpilli
A stone monument used in the New Fire Ceremony.
Quetzalcoatl.
one of the Aztec Gods.
Yohualtecuhtli
A star that shone in the middle of the sky at night which marked the beginning of the human sacrifice.
tlequauitl
the sacred fire stick drill, used in the New Fire Ceremony during the human sacrifice.
temple
a place of worship
Huitzilopochtli
The Aztec’s main god. He was the god of the Sun, War and Sacrifice.
Templo Mayor pyramid
a religious pyramid.
pulque beer.
a type of beer drank at the New Fire Ceremony
Toxhiuhmolpilia
the New Fire Ceremony
Huitzilopochtli
The Aztec’s main god. He was the god of the Sun, War and Sacrifice.
Human Sacrifice
Sacrificing/killing a human as an offering for their God.
Tezcatlipoca
One of the Aztec’s main God. The God associated with death and cold.
Quetzalcoatl
One of the main Gods. The God associated with Knowledge, Learning and Creativity.
Tlaloc
One of the Main Gods. This god is associated with Rain in the Aztec culture.
Bloodletting
self-harm done with sharp bones and seen as a sacrifice to the Gods.
Ritual
a religious ceremony in which there are a series of actions performed for sacrifice.
Sacrifice
The act of killing an animal or human as an offering for a higher power.
Tlacotin
The Tlacotin were known as the slaves in Aztec society. No one was born into slavery and you could get out of slavery as soon as you paid off your debts. The slave was not owned but the work he/she did was owned.
Toltecah
also known as Macehualtin men, were artisans who made things out of natural resources. such as tortillas out of grains or wheat. A worker skilled in trade especially one that involves making things by hand.
Pochteca
Known as long-distance travelers, were like merchants who traveled to different cities and sold their belongings and other goods, like merchants. they held a high status in society.
Mayeques
The Mayeques were part of the commoners. More specifically for being as the lower class or peasants. They were the farmers and worked the land of nobles and maintain temples.
Macehualtin
Also known as Pochteca, were long-distance travelers. They were allowed to move through the ranks and travel place to place to earn money. Very few of them became wealthy.
Priests
Religious leaders.
the Eagle Knights and the Jaguar Knights
warriors who gained much status and honour joined the Eagle knight and Jaguar knights. The 2 military orders reserved for the nobility that gained sufficient honour.
Tecutin
The Tecutin were part of the upper class. They controlled smaller parts of land. A leader under the Emperor that ruled smaller city states.
Tlatoque
The Tlatoque were also part of the upper class but ruled over major towns and cities within the empire. A leader under the Emperor that ruled larder city states.
Hereditary
gaining a title through inheritance.
Council of Wise Men
A council made up of the wisest priests and most skilled warriors who chose the emperor and overlooked major decisions made by him.
Chief of Internal Affairs
Second in command to the emperor and chief adviser as well. He influenced the emperors decision but the emperor got the final say.
huey tlatoani
another title for emperor.
Pipiltin
The upper class in the Aztec region
Triple Alliance
an alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, Tlacopan, two of the surrounind city-states.
Calpulli
clans. A group made up of related people that belonged to city states
altepetl
a city-state.
