Aztec Foundations: The Rise of Tenochtitlan and Its Cultural Significance

The Aztecs, originally known as the Mexica, sought a new home in 1300, guided by a divine sign of an eagle on a cactus with a snake. They established Tenochtitlan, which thrived for over 200 years with advanced urban planning, including chinampas and aqueducts. Under leaders like Itzcoatl and Moctezuma I, the Aztecs expanded their empire through conquests and alliances. Human sacrifice was part of their religious practices. In 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived, and by 1521, the Spanish had conquered Tenochtitlan, ending the Aztec Empire. Despite this, Aztec contributions to art, architecture, and agriculture persist today.

What sign did the Aztecs interpret as divine guidance to establish their new home?

• A rainbow over the mountains

• A jaguar in the jungle

• An eagle on a cactus with a snake

• A river flowing backwards

What was the name of the Aztec capital established on Lake Texcoco?

• Tenochtitlan

• Teotihuacan

• Tikal

• Tlaxcala

Which feature of Tenochtitlan was known for its engineering and religious significance?

• The Moon Pyramid

• The Sun Temple

• The Templo Mayor

• The Great Pyramid

What agricultural innovation allowed the Aztecs to grow crops year-round?

• Terrace farming

• Greenhouses

• Irrigation canals

• Chinampas

Under which leaders did the Aztecs expand their empire through conquests and alliances?

• Pachacuti and Atahualpa

• Itzcoatl and Moctezuma I

• Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro

• Montezuma II and Cuauhtémoc

What was a debated aspect of Aztec religious practices?

• The worship of the sun

• The frequency of human sacrifices

• The use of sacred texts

• The construction of temples

Who was the Spanish conquistador that arrived in Tenochtitlan in 1519?

• Christopher Columbus

• Hernán Cortés

• Vasco Núñez de Balboa

• Francisco Pizarro

What misconception did Moctezuma II have about Hernán Cortés?

• He believed Cortés was a god

• He mistook Cortés for a rival king

• He thought Cortés was a merchant

• He assumed Cortés was a diplomat

What year marked the fall of Tenochtitlan to the Spanish?

• 1520

• 1521

• 1519

• 1522

What symbol from Aztec tradition is featured on the Mexican flag?

• A sun disk

• An eagle on a cactus with a snake

• A pyramid

• A jaguar