Transcript Chapter 7: How Did Geography and History Affect the Worldviews of

Chapter 7: How Did Geography and
History Affect the Worldviews of the
Aztec and Spanish?
Reflect and Respond
Page 253
1. List the qualities of Itzcoatl that made him a
desirable leader. Would these qualities be
valuable to be an effective leader in Canada?
• Ability to persuade – formed alliance
• Understood diplomacy – maintained positive ties
with his allies; shared the tribute with them
• Excellent military leader – conquered city-states
over vast areas; created elite warrior group
shrewd political leader – established hierarchal
social system – This would secure the power of
the royals.
2. During the reign of Itzcoatl, warriors became
an elite group in society? What does this
illustrate about the worldview of the Aztec?
• Worldview – belief that they were destined to be
conquerors; power equals military force.
• Courage
• Strength
• Hierarchal Class Structure
3. The Aztec believed they needed to belong to
the Toltec in order to gain the respect of
neighbouring societies. Why did they believe
this?
• The societies who claimed a direct lineage to the
Toltec were the most respected and held the
greatest power in the Valley of Mexico.
• Aztec understood other societies had to believe
they were the noble descendents of the Toltec in
order to be respected.
• Power commonly comes from famous family
lines.
4. How did the Aztec change form a wandering
tribe, who were looked down upon by most of
the people they encountered, to the most
powerful society in Mexico?
• They learned the customs and traditions of the
people they first had to serve and adapted them
to their needs.
• Through a series of marriage alliances could
claim they were direct descendents of the Toltec
and so were given respect.
• Modeled a society based on militarism from the
Toltec – developed elite groups of ferocious
warriors
4. How did the Aztec change form a wandering
tribe, who were looked down upon by most of
the people they encountered, to the most
powerful society in Mexico?...
• Formed a triple alliance with the Texcoco and
Tlacopan to fight their rivals.
• Had and effective military strategy – first
conquered weaker societies around the stronger
ones – then attacked the isolated stronger ones.
• Brutally put down any disobedience among
those they conquered.
5. Life for the Aztec revolved around a culture
of war. Their goal was to rule the Valley of
Mexico. How might a culture based on war
affect the worldview of people?
• Believed their society was superior to those they
conquered
• Believed they had inherent rights to the “spoils”
of conquered people
• Viewed the warrior as the most valuable
members of society
• Believed in “survival of the fittest”; no mercy, no
remorse
6. What were possible reasons for the Aztec to
allow their conquered city-states to maintain
their own societal norms and customs?
Explain.
• Aztec were not interested in assimilating
different cultures into their own; interested only
in the tribute and having them worship
Huitzilopochtli.
• Lands were too far away and too many men
would be required to enforce Aztec laws; it was
easier to allow the people to maintain their own
forms of rule and customs.
6. What were possible reasons for the Aztec to
allow their conquered city-states to maintain
their own societal norms and customs?
Explain…
• By allowing people to maintain their own
lifestyles, there might be less animosity about
the tribute.
• They were following established rules of respect.