The Importance and impact of the precolumbian and colonial eras of mexican history?
Bbaldi01
TheAztecs1.pptxThe Aztecs
Primary Source Essay #1
On Canvas I will upload a number of primary source documents relating to topics covered during the first six weeks of the course, spanning the Pre-Columbian and colonial eras of Mexican history. You will either need to choose one of these documents, or select your own primary source document that will need to be approved by me no later than class time, one week before your essay is due.
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Primary Source Essay #1
You must contextualize the document you have chosen within the framework of the course, including in terms of the reading, lectures, and our discussions. This essay should not be like a book review or simply be a summary of the document, but rather should analyze the text as part of one of the main topics of the course. The purpose of the primary source assignment is for you to practice critically reading and analyzing primary source documents and putting them into larger context. Such a skill is absolutely central to the work of historians and is something from which everyone can benefit.
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Primary Source Essay #1
In your essay, identify the document with specific topics we have touched on in the course and analyze its importance and impact in relation to these topics. Be sure to place the document into its historical context. What was going on at the time and in the location this source was written? What important themes, trends, concepts, or consequences does it illustrate? What do we know from examining this source that we didn't know or understand before encountering it? What things make this document significant and worthy of someone else's attention? Also be sure to read the document Reading and Writing about Primary Sources, which will also be posted to Canvas.
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Primary Source Essay #1
Your essay should be between three and four double-spaced pages in length, or roughly between 750 and 1000 words. Your writing should be clear and free of grammatical errors, concise and well organized. Your essay will be due at the beginning of class on March 26th. Please let me know in advance if you foresee any difficulties turning this assignment in on time.
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Chapter 4
The Rise of the Aztecs
The Valley of Mexico
Valley of Anahuac
Cool climate
Water, forests, and wild game plentiful
Central Mexico key in Mesoamerican network
Chichimecas from the North
Collapse of Tula in 12th century
Xolotl establishes Tenayuca in 1244
Tepanecs- Tezozomoc makes Atzcapotzalco most important center in the valley in the 14th century
Mexicas or Aztecs arrive in the valley in the 1270s
Aztec Origins
Island of origin named Aztlan- from Northwest
Considered themselves messianic people chosen by the gods
Prophecy of eagle with snake in its beak, standing on a cactus
Early History
1270s-1319 occupied Chapultepec hill
Under Coccox of Colhuacan they went to war with Xochimilco
1325 occupied small island in Lake Texcoco- founded Tenochtitlan
Tezozomoc (Tepanec) employed Aztecs as mercenaries
Tezozomoc died in 1426, the Aztecs were flourishing and would gain independence shortly afterward
Key Aztec Leaders
Itzcoatl (1427-1440)
Independence
Triple Alliance w/ Texcoco & Tlacopan
Moctezuma I (1440-1469)
Extends Aztec-controlled areas to south and northeast
Axayacatl (1469-1481)
Tribute increases with end of Triple Alliance in 1472
Ahuitzotl (1487-1502)
Conquers Valley of Oaxaca
Sacrifice of estimated 20,000 human hearts
Moctezuma II (1502-1519)
Social unrest and internal conflicts growing
Culture of War
Low-intensity “Flower Wars”
Increase number of tribute-paying peoples
Obtain captives for sacrifice
Military orders such as the jaguar, coyote and eagle knights
Aztec Empire
Loose coalition of over 500 subject city-states paying tribute to Tenochtitlan
Marriage often used to strengthen ties with conquered groups
Internal political systems remained independent
Diverse languages, customs and religions
Aztec Cosmology
Older Mesoamerican beliefs combined with own migration history
Favored god Huitzilopochtli gave rationale for human sacrifice- 5th sun
Complex ceremonial procedures had to be carried out exactly to specifications
Belief in constant conflict between order and chaos
Aztec Societal Structure
Simple in earlier nomadic period- mostly peasants and warriors, few priests and war leaders
Settlement of Tenochtitlan made more complex
Royal family- large group of nobles
Other nobles: high priests, prominent military officers, key government leaders, scholars, artists
Aztec Societal Structure
Warrior class- opportunity for mobility
Merchant class (Pochteca)- also had opportunity to gain high status
Commoners- 90% of population- farmers, laborers, minor craftsmen, servants, vendors
Slaves- some rights, not hereditary
Captured in war/destined for sacrifice
Role of Women
Had property and some legal rights
Noblewomen status tied to alliances
Fewer opportunities for leadership roles
Roles in agriculture, trade and religion
Aztec Advancements
Medical practices often considered superior to European ones of the same period
Enlightened codes of conduct and justice- idea of equality before the law
Education considered very important- compulsory instruction for nobles and commoners
City administration top notch- Tenochtitlan exceedingly well-managed for a city of 150,000 to 200,000 residents, with canals, wide avenues, gardens, zoos, aqueducts, causeways, drainage systems, waste removal, etc.
A girl has been put to death for drunkenness and a thief has been executed by stoning. Adulterers are shown wrapped together in a sheet and then stoned to death. From the Codex Mendoza.
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Art & Architecture
Adapted art from other Mesoamerican groups (Mixtec gold and silver work)
Excelled at stone sculpture, jewelry work and feather work
Aztecs known for poetry, music and dance
Architecture also adapted from other cultures- even Teotihuacan
The center of Tenochtitlan, reconstructed by Ignacio Marquina from descriptions of Spanish conquerors and surviving Aztec monuments.
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Activity
On the midterm you will be asked to identify certain terms that we have read in our textbook or discussed in class. These can be important individuals, cities, civilizations, concepts, or other types of terms. I would like you to choose one of these terms from the last two weeks that you feel should be included in our midterm exam. Define the term and be ready to share it with the class and why you think it is important.
Gulf of Mexico
Pacific Ocean
1
Car ibb ean
Sea
Gulf of California
!Rio Bravo del Norte/ Rio Grande
Baja California Peninsula
Yucatan Peninsula
ΔΔΔ Sierra M adre Occidental ΔΔΔ
ΔΔΔ Sierra M adre Oriental ΔΔΔ
ΔΔΔ Sierra Madre del Sur ΔΔΔ
2
Tenochtitlan
* Teotihuacan *
* Monte Alban
* Tikal
* Chichen Itza
Central Plateau
Sonoran Desert
* Tula
* La Venta
* Calakmul
Gulf of Mexico
Pacific Ocean
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Tenochtitlan
*
Teotihuacan
*
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Monte Alban
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Tikal
*
Chichen Itza
Central
Plateau
Sonoran
Desert
*
Tula
*
La Venta
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Calakmul
