Social Studies Unit Test: The Aztecs

Questions and Answers

What were the levels of the social system in Aztec culture?

Nobles (pipiltin), commoners (macehualtin), serfs, or slaves.

What were qualities that the Aztec people valued?

Human sacrifices to their gods.

How did the Aztec come to reside in the Valley of Mexico?

What was Tenochtitlan and where was it located?

The capital city of the Aztec civilization located on an island near Lake Texcoco. Signup and view all the answers

How was the political structure set up in Aztec society?

Land was owned collectively by groups of families called calpulli. Signup and view all the answers

What were chinampas?

A type of agriculture involving small, rectangular areas of fertile land in shallow lake beds. Signup and view all the answers

What were some tactics of the Aztecs in order to rise in power?

Signup and view all the answers

Who was Father Bartolomé?

Bartolomé de las Casas, a 16th-century Spanish historian and protector of the Indians. Signup and view all the answers

How were the Aztecs treated when they were defeated?

They were treated poorly, forced to carry heavy luggage and goods. Signup and view all the answers

Why were the Spanish so successful in conquering the Aztec Empire despite being outnumbered?

They had modern weapons and strategies, while the Aztecs relied on traditional weaponry. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social hierarchy consisted of nobles (pipiltin), commoners (macehualtin), serfs, and slaves.
Nobles included government leaders, military officials, high-level priests, and lords (tecuhtli).

Values in Aztec Culture

Humans were valued primarily for sacrifices to the gods, believed to need human blood to sustain the universe.
Successful battles against enemy warriors were key to securing sacrificial victims.

Tenochtitlan

Capital city located on an island near the western shore of Lake Texcoco in central Mexico.
Served as both the political and religious center of the Aztec civilization.

Political Structure

Land ownership was collective among families, organized into groups known as calpulli.
Calpulli leadership managed local governance, educational institutions (telpochalli), and tax collection.

Chinampas

Innovative agricultural method using small rectangular plots created in the shallow lake beds for crop production.

Aztec Power Tactics

Specific strategies for rising to power were not detailed in the information provided.

Bartolomé de las Casas

16th-century Spanish historian and social reformer.
First resident Bishop of Chiapas and "Protector of the Indians."

Treatment of Defeated Aztecs

Defeated Aztecs faced severe humiliation and were forced to carry heavy burdens.

Spanish Conquest Success

Despite being outnumbered, Spanish forces utilized advanced weaponry, including guns.
The Aztecs lacked modern weapons and faced strategic disadvantages such as blocked canals.

Description

Prepare for your Social Studies unit test with this review on Aztec culture! Explore the levels of the social system within the Aztec civilization and understand the roles of different classes such as nobles, commoners, and serfs. This quiz will help reinforce key concepts and details you'll need for your exam.