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Questions and Answers
What were the levels of the social system in Aztec culture?
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?
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?
How did the Aztec come to reside in the Valley of Mexico?
What was Tenochtitlan and where was it located?
What was Tenochtitlan and where was it located?
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How was the political structure set up in Aztec society?
How was the political structure set up in Aztec society?
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What were chinampas?
What were chinampas?
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What were some tactics of the Aztecs in order to rise in power?
What were some tactics of the Aztecs in order to rise in power?
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Who was Father Bartolomé?
Who was Father Bartolomé?
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How were the Aztecs treated when they were defeated?
How were the Aztecs treated when they were defeated?
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Why were the Spanish so successful in conquering the Aztec Empire despite being outnumbered?
Why were the Spanish so successful in conquering the Aztec Empire despite being outnumbered?
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Study Notes
Aztec Social Structure
- 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.
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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.
