Aztec Civilization and Society

The Aztecs were a dominant Native American tribe in the 15th and 16th centuries, known for their warlike nature and expansive empire. Originating from Aztlan, they established the powerful city of Tenochtitlan and formed the Triple Alliance. The Aztec society was hierarchical, with a strong emphasis on education and religion, worshipping a pantheon of gods. Human sacrifice was central to their religious practices. The Aztec Empire fell to Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés in 1521, exacerbated by diseases brought by Europeans. Despite their fall, the Aztecs remain a significant part of Mexico's cultural heritage.

What was the ancestral home of the Aztec tribes according to legend?

• Texcoco

• Aztlan

• Tlacopan

• Tenochtitlan

Which city did the Mexica tribe establish as their capital?

• Texcoco

• Tlacopan

• Tenochtitlan

• Aztlan

What was the Triple Alliance?

• A religious pact among Aztec gods

• A trade agreement with neighboring tribes

• An alliance between the Aztecs and the Spanish

• A coalition of three city-states: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan

What was the primary purpose of the Aztec tribute system?

• To establish trade routes

• To collect resources and soldiers

• To spread their religion

• To maintain local leaders in power

What was the role of education in Aztec society?

• It focused solely on military training

• It was available to all children, with different schools for commoners and nobility

• It was not considered important

• It was only for the nobility

Which god was associated with war and human sacrifice in Aztec religion?

• Quetzalcoatl

• Tlaloc

• Huitzilopochtli

• Tezcatlipoca

Why did the Aztecs practice human sacrifice?

• To punish criminals

• To reduce the population

• To celebrate victories

• To appease the gods and prevent the end of the world

What was the Great Fire Ceremony?

• A festival held every year

• A ritual involving the destruction of household items and a new fire from a human sacrifice

• A military parade

• A celebration of the harvest

Who led the Spanish conquest against the Aztecs?

• Christopher Columbus

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Francisco Pizarro

• Hernán Cortés

What was one of the major factors that contributed to the decline of the Aztec population?

• Diseases introduced by the Spanish

• Famine

• Natural disasters

• Internal rebellion