Week Three
The Tenochca Empire (aka the Aztecs)
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I. The Postclassic period
A. Major characteristics
- fragmentation
- migrations
- warfare
- religious exchangeQuetzalcoatl
Tollan
ToltecsNOTE: this is a larger idea than just people/culture from the city-state of Tula
B. Major sites and centers
1. Oaxaca
- Zapotecs and Mixtecs
Mitla, 1300-1521
2. Maya
- Yucatan peninsula
Chichen Itzá, 750-1200
Mayapán, 1283-1450
- Guatemala/Chiapas highlands
Iximché (Kaqchikel), 1470-1527
Q'umarkaj/Utatlán (K'iche'), 1225-15243. Central Mexico
II. The Tenochca empire
A. Who are the 'Aztecs'?
- Aztlán
- Chicomoztoc
- 'Chichimecs' vs. 'Toltecs'
- Mexica = one of seven Chichimec tribes, founders of Tenochtitlan
- Nahuas = native speakers of Nahuatl in central Mexico
- altepetl = multi-ethnic city-states
- The Triple Alliance, est. 14281. Tenochtitlan = the Tenochca Mexica
+ Tlatelolco = the Tlatelolca MexicaTogether they are just the Mexica,
in Spanish, the "mexicanos"2. Tlacopan = the Tepaneca
3. Texcoco = the AcolhuaB. Aztec imperialism
1. Major expansions
- 1440-1468, Moctezuma I (Tenochca Mexica)
- 1486-1502, Ahuitzotl (Tenochca Mexica)2. Methods of conquest
- sequential and methods
- goal: trade and tribute
- ritual and the maintenance of empireFlowery Wars (against Tlaxcala and Huejotzingo)
Human and other sacrifice- controlling water: Chalchiuhtlicue
- Mapa de Santa Cruz
- chinampas