Aztec

Definition

The Aztec were an indigenous Mesoamerican people who dominated central Mexico in the 14th to 16th centuries. They built a vast empire based on conquest and tribute, establishing their capital city of Tenochtitlan as the center of a powerful civilization known for its sophisticated culture, advanced engineering, and complex religious practices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Aztec Empire was founded in 1428 and grew to dominate much of central and southern Mexico through military conquest and the extraction of tribute from subjugated peoples.
2. The Aztec religion was polytheistic and centered around the worship of the sun god Huitzilopochtli, which included the practice of human sacrifice.
3. Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, was an engineering marvel built on an island in Lake Texcoco and connected to the mainland by elaborate causeways.
4. The Aztec developed a sophisticated system of agriculture, including the use of chinampas (floating gardens) to maximize food production in the limited space of the island city.
5. The arrival of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in 1519 and the subsequent collapse of the Aztec Empire marked a major turning point in the history of the Americas and the beginning of Spanish colonization.

Review Questions

• Describe the key features of the Aztec Empire, including its political, economic, and cultural characteristics.
  • The Aztec Empire was a highly advanced civilization that dominated central Mexico in the 14th to 16th centuries. Politically, the empire was built on military conquest and the extraction of tribute from subjugated peoples, with the capital city of Tenochtitlan serving as the center of power. Economically, the Aztec developed sophisticated agricultural techniques, including the use of chinampas (floating gardens), to support a large population and maintain control over the region. Culturally, the Aztec were known for their complex polytheistic religion, which included the practice of human sacrifice, as well as their advanced engineering and architectural feats, such as the construction of Tenochtitlan on an island in Lake Texcoco.
• Explain the significance of the Aztec Empire in the context of the broader history of the Americas and its interactions with European colonizers.
  • The Aztec Empire played a crucial role in the history of the Americas, as it represented one of the most advanced and powerful civilizations in the pre-Columbian era. The arrival of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in 1519 and the subsequent collapse of the Aztec Empire marked a major turning point, as it paved the way for the Spanish colonization of Mexico and the broader region. The downfall of the Aztec, a highly sophisticated and technologically advanced society, at the hands of the Spanish invaders had far-reaching consequences, leading to the subjugation of indigenous populations, the introduction of European diseases, and the transformation of the political, economic, and social landscape of the Americas.
• Analyze the impact of the Aztec Empire's religious beliefs and practices, particularly the role of human sacrifice, on the broader Mesoamerican cultural and religious landscape.
  • The Aztec religion, which was centered around the worship of the sun god Huitzilopochtli, had a profound impact on the cultural and religious landscape of Mesoamerica. The Aztec's practice of human sacrifice, in which captives were ritualistically killed to appease the gods, was a defining feature of their belief system and played a central role in their political and social structure. This practice, which was viewed as necessary to maintain cosmic balance and ensure the continued existence of the Aztec civilization, was both revered and feared by neighboring peoples. The Aztec's religious beliefs and practices not only shaped their own cultural identity but also influenced the religious and cultural traditions of other Mesoamerican civilizations, contributing to the rich and complex tapestry of the region's pre-Columbian heritage.

Related terms

Tenochtitlan:

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, located on an island in Lake Texcoco and considered one of the largest and most advanced cities in the pre-Columbian Americas.

Tribute: Payments or goods that were regularly provided to the Aztec Empire by conquered peoples and vassal states as a sign of submission and to maintain control over the region.

Mesoamerica:

A cultural region in the Americas that extended from central Mexico through Central America, characterized by advanced civilizations like the Aztec, Maya, and Inca.