Exercises on the economy, society and politics of the Aztecs

(UFSM-RS) “Warriors constituted one of the most important groups in Aztec society. In the beginning, they were chosen from among the most courageous and valiant individuals of the people. Over time, however, the role of warrior began to be passed from father to son, and only a few privileged families retained the right to have warriors among their members. ”

(KARNAL, Leandro. The Conquest of Mexico. São Paulo:FTD, 1996. p. 13.)

The text refers to Aztec society, in the 15th century, which was:

a) warrior and priestly, formed by a political elite that ruled with tyranny the mass of black slave workers.

b) egalitarian and warrior, knowing no other authority than the priest, who was also a warrior.

c) communal, with complex structures, being run by a State that had an administrative apparatus,

judicial and military.

d) hierarchical and warlike, since the Emperor was, at the same time, the general of the Aztec army and the high priestly pontiff.

e) egalitarian, warrior and priestly:every warrior was a priest and every priest was a warrior.

The chinampa, used by the Aztecs, can be defined as:

a) religious ritual

b) tax charged

c) farming practice

d) god of Aztec mythology

e) Aztec society group

A city founded by a Mexican tribe was conquered by the Aztecs and transformed into an important commercial center, where medicinal herbs, handicrafts, food, animals, etc. were sold. The place was also targeted by the Spaniards, who carried out a massacre there in 1521. We are talking about:

a) Tenochtitlan

b) Tlatelolco

c) Teotihuacan

d) Chichen Itza

e) Cuzco

Aztec society was stratified, that is, it was divided into social classes that had different functions. The class that carried out work for the State spying on other regions dominated by the Aztecs were the:

a) merchants

b) artisans

c) nobles

d) priests

e) slaves

Letter D

Aztec society was hierarchical, given that there were several groups that formed the social framework:Emperor, nobility, military, priests, merchants, artisans, peasants and slaves. She was considered a warrior because she conquered numerous nearby regions through wars and constantly performed prisoner-of-war sacrifices. The Emperor was called tlatoani, which means one who commands or one who speaks, and had, in fact, power over the army and over religion.

Letter C

Chinampas were a farming method that the Aztecs used to survive. These were artificial islands that agglomerated clay taken from the bottom of the lakes. These artificial islands were supported by trunks and stems, and the roots of cultivated plants ensured the support of the chinampa. They were placed to float in Lake Texcoco (lake that surrounded the city of Tenochtitlán during the 16th century).

Letter B

The city of Tlatelolco was founded by a Mexico tribe around the 14th century and transformed into a market by the Aztecs who conquered it. There are reports that speak of the grandeur of the Tlatelolco market with estimates speaking of thousands of traders gathered. The market was the scene of a massacre carried out by the Spaniards shortly before the Aztec defeat in 1521. The city was almost entirely destroyed and looted by the Spaniards.

Letter A

Aztec merchants can be divided between those who sold common and basic everyday products and those who sold luxury products and who had the means to travel to various regions (inside and outside the Aztec lands) to sell your products. They played an important role in passing on information about the places they visited to the military leaders, helping them with information about opposing peoples.