Aztec and Spanish Conquest Flashcards PDF

**Flashcard Set: Aztec and Spanish Conquest** **Flashcard 1**\ **Q: What were the key features of Aztec religion?**\ **A:** Polytheism with a pantheon of gods, human sacrifice, large temples, a priestly class, religious festivals, and a complex mythology. **Flashcard 2**\ **Q: Describe the main as...

**Flashcard Set: Aztec and Spanish Conquest** **Flashcard 1**\ **Q: What were the key features of Aztec religion?**\ **A:** Polytheism with a pantheon of gods, human sacrifice, large temples, a priestly class, religious festivals, and a complex mythology. **Flashcard 2**\ **Q: Describe the main aspects of Aztec daily life.**\ **A:** Daily life centered on agriculture, family roles, a hierarchical social structure, religion, education, markets, and recreational activities. **Flashcard 3**\ **Q: What were the differences between the noble and warrior classes in Aztec society?**\ **A:** Nobles were born into inherited status with political power, while warriors earned their status through military achievements, allowing some to rise to noble ranks. **Flashcard 4**\ **Q: How did the Spanish conquer the Aztecs?**\ **A:** Cortés exploited internal dissent among indigenous tribes, used superior weaponry, took Moctezuma hostage, and benefited from the spread of smallpox. **Flashcard 5**\ **Q: What were the impacts of the Spanish conquest on the Aztecs?**\ **A:** Population decline due to disease, loss of culture and religion, and economic exploitation under colonial rule. **Flashcard 6**\ **Q: What were the impacts of the Spanish conquest on the Spanish?**\ **A:** Increased wealth and resources from conquered territories, expanded Spanish influence in the Americas, and the spread of Christianity through missionary efforts. **Flashcard 7**\ **Q: Describe the Aztec system of written communication.**\ **A:** The Aztecs used a pictographic writing system with symbols and images representing objects, ideas, and sounds, primarily recorded in codices. **Flashcard 8**\ **Q: How did Moctezuma II react to the arrival of Cortés?**\ **A:** He initially welcomed Cortés, believing him to be a divine figure, but later became a hostage, leading to a rebellion against the Spanish. **Flashcard 9**\ **Q: How did the Aztec culture compare to Spanish culture?**\ **A:** Aztec culture was polytheistic and community-focused with a more flexible social structure, while Spanish culture was predominantly Catholic, more individualistic, and had a rigid class system. **Flashcard 10**\ **Q: What was the Columbian Exchange?**\ **A:** The Columbian Exchange was the transfer of plants, animals, foods, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World after Columbus\'s voyages, significantly altering both continents. **Flashcard 11**\ **Q: What role did smallpox play in the conquest of the Aztecs?**\ **A:** Smallpox, brought by the Spanish, decimated the Aztec population, weakening their ability to resist conquest and contributing to the fall of Tenochtitlan. **Flashcard 12**\ **Q: What was the significance of Tenochtitlan in the Aztec Empire?**\ **A:** Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec Empire, known for its impressive architecture, extensive canals, and as a center of political, religious, and economic life. **Flashcard 13**\ **Q: How did alliances with indigenous groups affect the Spanish conquest?**\ **A:** Alliances with discontented indigenous tribes, such as the Tlaxcalans, provided the Spanish with additional military support and local knowledge, greatly aiding their conquest of the Aztecs. **Flashcard 15**\ **Q: How did the Spanish use technology to their advantage during the conquest?**\ **A:** The Spanish utilized advanced military technology, such as steel weapons, cannons, and firearms, along with cavalry, which gave them a significant tactical advantage over the Aztec warriors. **Flashcard 20**\ **Q: How did the Spanish views of indigenous people affect their interactions?**\ **A:** The Spanish viewed indigenous people as inferior, which led to exploitative practices, mistreatment, and a belief in the necessity of converting them to Christianity, justifying their colonial actions as a civilizing mission.