Week 06 Flashcards
aztec urbanism
central modern day mexico
very large population in 1500s
large empire before the rise of eruopean empires
not technically an ancient empire
(only lasted a century)
largest pre-colombian empire in the americas
the mexica (aztec) empire
southern mexico
other empires existed long before
unites a group politically under one rule
settled on the islets of lake Texcoco, later Tenochtitlan
aztec conquest
1428 - 1500
allainces, subjucation, and tributary states
controlled more lnd and people than either spain or portugual
nearly 25 million people
aztec society
hierarchichal
(top 5% from the conquering tribe rule the aztecs)
heavy tax on agriculture
commerce but not capitalism
markets, zoos, temples, treasure houses
supplying the capital (main goal)
diversity was a challenge
(organized through violence and tax)
had forms of currency
main focus of Aztec society
build tenochtitlan
surpluses and purpose of the empire was to build and sustain their prized city
religion and society in Aztec cities
prominent religious existence
gods sacrificing to give people life, but at a price
statisfy the gods through sacrifice (human included)
each month had 18 festival days
(at city square or their homes)
what was unique about Aztec religion
priests came into the homes of people
people were closer to the “power” in society
daily life was around religion and religion acted as an organizing unit
Tenochtitlan
great complexity (floating city)
central plaza, zoo, temples
surrounded by four districts
the work of maintaing the city
density and transit
religion and public life
highly compicated floating city (unlike anything else of its time)
the rest of urban society in the aztec empire
alteptl (trans, water-mountain) city states organized by ethnic bonds
emerged around 1100 CE
social class in the aztec empire
very hierarchichal
king of the altepetl at the top
king as urban planners
owned all land
specialized knowledge (writing)
supervised public buildings
commoners:
farmers, artisans, merchants
dependency
different class
urban landscape in aztec empier
residential neighbourhoods
density and urban farming
line between rural and city boundary is very FUZZY
winding paths not gridded streets
the epicenter of aztec cities
capital complex that forms the functions of the city
not walled-off people can visti
politics and religion
pattern being re-created
act of building and rebuilding civic culture
consistent over the small AND large cities
households and public life in the aztec empire
noble vs commoners houses
spread out in small huts (low density) not packed in like Rome
living spaces were on outdoor patios
pottery: trade and local distinctiveness
temples and schools for elites
aztec urban network
further from center -=- more disconnected
markets and creative crafts
proximity to power and the high nobles (can be good or bad)
richer cultural life if closer
basic connection to the epicenter is food
lots of work to supply food to tenochtitlan
overall function cities in the aztec empire
political power and administration were the dominant functions fo the Aztec city state capitals, the role of aztec cities as capitals influenced the nature and expression of all other urban functions
