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Chapter 7 – Geography & History Worldviews of the Aztec and the Spanish Social 8 The worldviews of the Aztec and the Spanish The worldviews of the Aztec and the Spanish were shaped by: □ Their physical world, □ The people they came into contact with, □ Their beliefs, ideas and knowledge. How d...

Chapter 7 – Geography & History Worldviews of the Aztec and the Spanish Social 8 The worldviews of the Aztec and the Spanish The worldviews of the Aztec and the Spanish were shaped by: □ Their physical world, □ The people they came into contact with, □ Their beliefs, ideas and knowledge. How did geography influence the societies of the Aztec and the Spanish? The Aztec □ Mexico is a land of great diversity, including deserts, mountains, tropical forests, ranchland, rich farmland, and seacoasts on the east and west. □ Much of northern Mexico is desert. □ Most of the major mountain ranges are located in the central plateau of Mexico. □ Southern Mexico has dense forests and a tropical climate with lots of rainfall. The Aztec □ Most of the original societies, including the Aztec, lived in the central basin, the Valley of Mexico. □ The Valley of Mexico became the centre of the Aztec civilization. □ There were different ecological zones within the Mexican basin. The Spanish □ Spain occupies about 80% of the Iberian Peninsula. □ Towards the end of the 15th century, the Spanish monarchs wanted to increase the wealth and prestige of Spain by exploring and colonizing new lands. □ Spain’s location on the Atlantic Ocean was an important factor in this decision. □ Spain has several large mountain ranges and many fast-flowing rivers. The Spanish □ The central plateau is very dry with frequent droughts. □ Spain’s climate is rainy in the north and dry in the south. □ Due to the mountains and rivers that were difficult to navigate, Spain was made up of many individual kingdoms, which shaped its history and culture. Homework □ Read pages 226-231 □ Reflect and Respond Page 231 ALL How did the history of the Aztec affect their worldviews? The Long Migration □ The Aztec were one of several groups who left northern Mexico and migrated southward over many years. □ They were devoted to their god, and moved according to his directions to the priests so that they could reach the land of their destiny. The Long Migration □ This created many hardships. □ They eventually settled in the Valley of Mexico, in the city of Tenoch. □ This city proved to be an excellent site for trade. Homework □ Read Pages 232-235 □ Reflect and Respond Page 235 Get into partners and answer any 2 of the 5 questions How did the history of Spain affect its worldview? The Reconquista □ There was Muslim rule in southern Spain in the early 700’s when the Moors came from North Africa and took over the Christian lands of the Iberian Peninsula. □ This Muslim rule lasted for more than 700 years. □ Over the centuries, Christian kingdoms gradually became more powerful and struggled to take over Muslim rule. The Reconquista □ Most people in Europe followed Christianity at this time, and Muslims and Jews were often not accepted because they were not Christian. □ The move to retake land under Muslim control was called the reconquest, or “Reconquista” in Spanish. □ The conquistadors of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella rid Spain of Moorish control in 1492.  Spanish Inquisition □ After the Reconquista, the Roman Catholic faith was considered the only true faith in Spain. □ The king and queen felt that the country would only be united if everyone followed the same religion.  Spanish Inquisition □ This was an opportunity to control the people. □ In 1492, the Spanish Inquisition was reinstated. It was both a civil and a religious court. Desire for Exploration □ The Spanish wanted to explore new, undiscovered lands because the routes to the East around Africa had already been explored by other countries. □ Their two directions for expansion were to the Western Mediterranean and the west across the Atlantic. Desire for Exploration □ The Spanish monarchy had religious, economic, and political motives for building its empire. Homework □ Read pages 236-239 □ Reflect and Respond Page 239 ALL How did contact with the Moors influence Spain?  Moors □ The Moors conquered regions of the Iberian Peninsula, □ They imported their Islamic culture. Moors □ This culture influenced Spanish learning, architecture and design, such as: □ Important schools of astronomy, mathematics and architecture. □ Illuminated manuscripts and murals. Moors □ Great libraries containing books on a variety of topics. □ A large collection of classical documents. □ Beautiful buildings. □ Read pages 240-243 □ Reflect and Respond Page 243 ALL How did contact with other Meso-American societies influence the Aztec? In Meso-America, culture of the past greatly influenced the societies that came after them. Earlier Societies of Meso-America: Toltec □ The Toltec, who had the greatest impact on Aztec culture because they were seen to be a refined civilization. The Olmec □ The Olmec, which was the founding society of all Meso-American civilizations.  Teotihuacan □ The Teotihuacan, who left enormous ruins, thought to be holy. These ancient civilizations and the contact the Aztecs had with other different societies along their migrations influenced their religious beliefs, social structure, architecture and art. Homework □ Read Pages 244-246 □ Reflect and Respond Page 246 All Get in groups of 3 to complete questions Story Time □ Page 247 and 248 How did the Aztec Emperors become the most powerful rulers in the Valley of Mexico? By the time the Spanish arrived in the early 1500’s, the Aztecs controlled most of the territories.  The Aztec Rise to Power □ Societies who could claim direct lineage to the Toltecs were the most respected and held the greatest power in the Valley of Mexico. □ Aztec emperors increased their power by creating alliances with other powerful rulers.  Conquering New Societies □ Life in Aztec society developed around a culture of war. □ They developed an effective military strategy. □ The Aztec maintained power with a strong military and their alliances with conquered city-states. What Political Structure developed in the Aztec Empire? □ The most important individuals governing the empire were the Aztec nobility. □ Priests were important advisors to the emperor. Homework □ Read page 249-253 □ Reflect and Respond Page 253 ALL Individual work How Did the Spanish Monarchy Become So Powerful? □ In 1497, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella married. □ They increased the powers of the throne and decreased the powers of the Spanish parliament. Queen Isabella Rise to Power □ Ferdinand and Isabella centralized the government under their control, □ They created a more efficient government bureaucracy, □ imposed new taxes, Rise to Power □ controlled the Roman Catholic Church in Spain, □ began the Spanish Inquisition, □ forbade any faith but Roman Catholicism.  Reducing the Powers of the Aristocracy □ The Cortes (Spanish Parliament) was established in the 8th century to keep the power of the monarchs under control. □ Ferdinand and Isabella reduced the power of the Cortes in order to increase their own power.  Control of the Church □ The Pope gave Ferdinand and Isabella the right to choose Church officials. □ This new right was given because in return they agreed to set up the Spanish Inquisition. Domestic Issues □ Life for peasants was still poor. □ The merchant class was given more power, but were heavily taxed. □ Aristocrats thought they were too superior to have to work, and looked down upon labourers.  The Spanish Begin to Build an Empire □ Although they still had domestic problems, Ferdinand and Isabella had more authority and better resources to begin a policy of exploration and discovery.  The Spanish Begin to Build an Empire □ By the mid-1500s, Spain was the most powerful and wealthy country in Europe, controlling large areas of the Caribbean, the Americas, and parts of Asia and Africa.  What Aspects of Worldviews Are Reflected in Creation Stories? □ The Aztec believed the gods had created and destroyed the world four times. □ The Aztecs believed they were living in the fifth created world, known as the fifth sun.  What Aspects of Worldviews Are Reflected in Creation Stories? □ They felt it was their duty to keep the sun alive to prevent the destruction of the Earth and its people. □ The traditional stories of the Aztecs reveal their beliefs. Homework □ Read Pages 254-260 □ Reflect and Respond Page 256 1 and 2 □ Reflect and Respond Page 259 1 and 2 □