Table of Contents
What land did the Aztecs have?
The legendary origin of the Aztec people has them migrating from a homeland called Aztlan to what would become modern-day Mexico. While it is not clear where Aztlan was, a number of scholars believe that the Mexica—as the Aztec referred to themselves—migrated south to central Mexico in the 13th century.
What did the Aztec village look like?
Aztec homes ranged from one-room huts to large, spacious palaces. Poorer Aztecs and commoners usually lived in one-room homes, built of adobe brick and thatched roofs. Nobles could lavishly decorate their homes; as commoners were not allowed to do.
How did the Aztecs find their land?
According to legend, they were told by one of their gods to settle where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, eating a snake. After a hundred years of wandering, they finally found this sign.
Did the Aztecs own land?
The Aztecs had a complex and hierarchical land ownership system, and drew sophisticated boundary maps that were used to mark different types of land and settle disputes. The Emperor owned personal and royal property which was used as he saw fit.
What was the geography of the Aztec empire?
The Aztec civilization developed in the Valley of Mexico, wedged between high mountains and surrounded by lakes that provided fish, waterfowl, potable water and reeds for thatching and weaving. The climate was mild.
How did the Aztecs make the land suitable for farming?
To make the land suitable for agriculture, the Aztecs developed extensive irrigation systemsand formed terraces on the hill sides. They even used fertilizerto improve the content of the soil. Aztec chinampas, however, were the most important development in Aztec farming.
Aztec Social Structure. The commoner class consisted of farmers, artisans, merchants, and low-level priests. Artisans and traveling merchants enjoyed the greatest amount of wealth and prestige within this class, and had their own self-governing trade guilds. Commoners generally resided in calpulli (also referred to as calpolli),…
What did the Aztecs have in common with the Mayans?
We do know that the Aztecs shared the Mayan love of the cacao (chocolate) bean. They would also use chewing gum as the Mayans did, use the same base-20 mathematical system, and worship many of the same gods (though re-invented to suit Aztec society).
What kind of government did the Aztecs have?
The ancient Aztec government did not rule an empire in the way we often think of the word. The control didn’t stretch into every corner of life – rather, conquered lands were forced to pay tribute, but left a certain amount of freedom.