Who lived in Tenochtitlan?
Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire, was founded by the Aztec or Mexica people around 1325 C.E. According to legend, the Mexica founded Tenochtitlan after leaving their homeland of Aztlan at the direction of their god, Huitzilopochtli.
How did the Aztecs come to live in Tenochtitlan?
Where was it located? Tenochtitlan was located on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco in what is today south central Mexico. The Aztecs were able to settle there because no one else wanted the land. At first, it wasn’t a great place to start a city, but soon the Aztecs built up islands where they could grow crops.
What was special about Tenochtitlan?
Tenochtitlán, ancient capital of the Aztec empire. Located at the site of modern Mexico City, it was founded c. 1325 in the marshes of Lake Texcoco. It formed a confederacy with Texcoco and Tlacopán and was the Aztec capital by the late 15th century.
What was life like in Tenochtitlan?
They worked as farmers, merchants, artisans and warriors. They lived in more moderate homes and could not afford as elaborate clothes or art. Regardless, there are several key aspects to consider about the daily life of most Aztec people, such as: clothing, education, entertainment, food, homes, religion and work.
What did the Aztecs believe would happen if their gods were unhappy?
They believed their gods would punish them if they did not worship their gods every day. In fact, they believed they would be punished if they worshipped their gods every day, but somehow, in spite in their best efforts, did not worship them enough in the eyes of their gods.
Is Mexico city built on a swamp?
Is Mexico city built on a swamp? The Spanish built modern Mexico City over the ruins of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, which they conquered in 1521. The Aztec city was on an island in Lake Texcoco, but the Spanish drained the surrounding lake over centuries and expanded Mexico City onto the new land.
Who destroyed Tenochtitlan?
Cortés’s
What caused the fall of Tenochtitlan?
Although numerous battles were fought between the Aztec Empire and the Spanish-led coalition, which was itself composed primarily of indigenous (mostly Tlaxcaltec) personnel, it was the siege of Tenochtitlan—its outcome probably largely determined by the effects of a smallpox epidemic (which devastated the Aztec …
Who plundered Mexico?
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, 1st Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca (/kɔːrˈtɛs/; Spanish: [eɾˈnaŋ koɾˈtez ðe monˈroj i piˈθaro altamiˈɾano]; 1485 – December 2, 1547) was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of what is now …
Did the Spanish enslave the Aztecs?
The Spanish army had help in sacking the city. Though Cortés enslaved much of the native population, other indigenous groups were fundamental to his success, according to Cosme. “The Aztecs were not always popular rulers among their subjected cities.
Did the Aztecs really think Cortes was a god?
Many within the Aztec Empire came to believe that Cortés was Quetzalcoatl the god who would return to overthrow the god Tezcatlipoca, who demanded human sacrifice. Cortés was aided by an Indian woman La Malinche or Malintzin, who became an invaluable interpreter for and mistress and confidant of Cortés.
Why did the Aztecs lose to the Spanish?
The overthrow of the Aztec Empire by Cortez and his expedition rests on three factors: The fragility of that empire, the tactical advantages of Spanish technology, and smallpox.
How much gold did the Spanish take from the Aztecs?
At that point, it is estimated that the Spanish had amassed some eight thousand pounds of gold and silver, not to mention plenty of feathers, cotton, jewels and more.
Did the Aztecs have the most gold?
The Aztecs certainly had lots of gold, but nowhere near as much as the conquistadors believed. The conventional wisdom was that pre-Columbian tribes worked only gold, copper and platinum found in their native state (i.e. almost pure, and not requiring any smelting).
How much gold did Spain steal from the New World?
Between 1500 and 1650, the Spanish imported 181 tons of gold and 16,000 tons of silver from the New World. In today’s money, that much gold would be worth nearly $4 billion, and the silver would be worth over $7 billion.
Did Spain find Mexican gold?
The gold bar is 4.35 pounds and was found in March of 1981 in Mexico City. It is said that Cortés got the gold when he sought out Aztec emperor Moctezuma for his treasure.
Where did Spain get their gold?
Almost overnight, Spain became very rich taking home unprecedented quantities of gold and silver. These were stolen from the Incas and the mines that the Spanish came to control. The gold was used by the Spanish monarchy to pay off its debts and also to fund its ‘religious’ wars.