Answer: Aztlan
The existence of Aztlan has been debated for years. Aztec accounts regarding the city don't always agree on the details, and in some cases directly contradict other writings. If the city did exist, it appears to have been located somewhere in the vast area of the American southwest and northern Mexico.
From Quiz: Brief History of the Aztecs
Answer: Black on orange
Pottery was used from everything from plates and kitchen pots to urns found in funeral ceremonies. The traditional coloring was black design on orange clay which is today called Aztec III. Geometric shapes were the predominant artwork but one could also find images of animals or plants from the area. What is amazing about this work is that the Aztecs did not have use of a pottery wheel but instead used thin strips of clay and their imaginations and and craftsmanship.
From Quiz: Let's Go Shopping At The Aztec Marketplace
Answer: He was a member of the royal family chosen for his prowess in battle
The Aztecs had a hereditary system of succession. However, it wasn't necessarily a son of the previous ruler who would succeed him. The successor was chosen within the royal family. Montezuma was Ahuizotl's nephew and chosen because he was the best warrior.
Warfare was a very important aspect of Aztec life. Their battles were largely ritual and the goal wasn't to kill the opponent on the battlefield but to take him captive so he could be sacrificed to the gods. A man was considered a great warrior when he had taken four prisoners. He then was showered with honour and allowed to wear special fighting gear. Their primitive weaponry consisted mainly of wooden clubs set with sharp pieces of obsidian.
Of all the Aztec emperors, Ahuizotl had conquered the most lands. Montezuma added even more to this. By 1519 the Aztec empire stretched from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and as far south as present-day Guatemala. The conquered tribes were allowed to continue their lives as before and keep worshipping their own gods as long as they paid tribute to Tenochtitlan. Ahuizotl had also increased the number of sacrifices, which kept his enemies mortified. Unsurprisingly, many of the conquered peoples were very resentful towards their Aztec overlords.
The Aztec capital Tenochtitlan was built on an island in lake Texcoco. It was connected to the mainland by three causeways that could be closed off, which made the city virtually impregnable. It was one of the largest cities on earth in the early 16th century and had grown fabulously wealthy from tribute. Agriculture was also more efficient than in Europe. Tenochtitlan had a network of canals dotted with chinampas, patches of fertile land.
From Quiz: Fall of the Aztec Empire
Answer: Telpochcalli
Telpochcalli was the equivalent of public school. It was attended by those who were going to be warriors. Calmecac was the school attended by children from wealthy families or the nobility.
From Quiz: Aztec Daily Life
Answer: Nobles
Nobles were the highest class in Aztec society, while peasants were the lowest class. In the later stages 20% of people were peasants and 80% were warriors, artisans, and traders.
From Quiz: Aztec Economy, Cuisine, and Religion
Answer: all three of these
The priest would grab the heart and tear it out, still beating. It would be placed in a bowl held by a statue of the honored god, and the body thrown on the temple's stairs.
From Quiz: The Aztec Empire
Answer: Sun
Nanauatzin and Tecuciztecatl both sacrificed themselves and everything they had to create the sun and the moon. It was Nanauatzin that jumped into the great bonfire first, thus becoming the sun. It was his and Tecuciztecatl's self-sacrifice, along with blood from the other gods, that laid the foundation for the belief that the gods demanded blood as repayment for the creation of the Fifth Sun.
From Quiz: Aztec Sacrifices
Answer: Mexico
The Aztecs were migratory at first, wandering around the Mexican Valley. Once they settled, they established one of the biggest and best organised empires of the fifteenth century. They subjugated other native tribes, and practised human sacrifice. This caused unrest among some of the other tribes and would eventually contribute to their downfall.
Although the Spanish destroyed the Aztec Empire, they did keep meticulous records so we know a lot of detail about their history. Of the other options, Peru was home to the Incas.
From Quiz: Montezuma's Revenge
Answer: Mexico City, on the elevated central plateau, was built on Tenochtitlan
Although the year of founding of Tenochtitlan is uncertain (estimated as early-mid 14th century CE), it eventually grew to be the largest altepetl (city-state) in the Aztec Empire. Some references state the city was founded in 1325 but this was based on a 1925 declaration that the city (Tenochtitlan then Mexico City) was 600 years old. The city was originally built on a swampy island near the western shore of Lake Texcoco. The city expanded and by the time it was rebuilt over the period 1486-1502 after flooding of the lake, it had become one of the largest cities in the world. Estimates of the peak population vary significantly but range between 200,000 and 400,000 inhabitants.
Although Tenochtitlan is the most famous of the Aztec city-states, other major altepetl were also located around the lakes system of the elevated central Mexican plateau. These other cities included Tlacopan and Texcoco.
From Quiz: The Mighty Aztec Empire
Answer: position in society
A king, for example, wore a long flowing cape, jewelery, sandals, etc., whereas a man of very low standing wore only a loin cloth.
From Quiz: Life of the Ancient Aztecs
Answer: Mexica
We get the name Aztec from the Nahuatl word Aztecah, meaning "people from Aztlan". After the Aztecs were conquered, the lands of their empire became the State of Mexico, derived from Mexica. It was a part of New Spain.
From Quiz: Brief History of the Aztecs
Answer: Maize (corn)
Maize was eaten at almost every meal and served in a variety of ways including tortillas, tamales, stews, and gruel. Corn could be grown easily and was interwoven with their religion complete with a maize deity named Cinteotl. They often mixed the corn with lime or ashes which not only separated the kernels but added protein to the mix.
From Quiz: Let's Go Shopping At The Aztec Marketplace
Answer: Extremadura
Hernan Cortes was born in Medellin, a small town in Extremadura, Spain, in 1485. He had an education in law rather than in warfare. With hot and dry summers and terrain that yielded little income from farming it was the least populated region of Spain. Many of the impoverished population went to the New World hoping to make a fortune. The region was the birthplace of several other famous (or notorious) conquistadors such as Francisco Pizarro, Francisco de Orellana and Hernando de Soto.
In 1504 Cortes sailed to Hispaniola where he assisted Diego Velazquez with the conquest of Cuba. Velazquez became the governor of Cuba and later Cortes' brother-in-law. When in 1517 Velazquez commissioned an expedition to the mainland Cortes lobbied to be the commander of the expedition. Although by then the relationship between Velazquez and Cortes was already strained he reluctantly gave his permission, albeit under the condition that it would only be a trade mission. Velazquez later changed his mind but Cortes ignored that and went anyway.
Cortes set sail with 500 conquistadors and a number of Cuban servants to the Yucatan peninsula. There they rescued Geronimo de Aguilar, a priest who was shipwrecked a couple of years before and had learned the Maya language.
The three wrong answers are also autonomous communities in Spain.
From Quiz: Fall of the Aztec Empire
Answer: The land was divided equally along with the rest of their possessions. If the couple had children the sons would go with the father and daughters would go with the mother.
The Aztecs were very fair people. :)
From Quiz: Aztec Daily Life
Answer: Cacao beans
The Cacao bean is mostly grown in South America and Africa. Many types of insects, fungi, and viruses can destroy the cacao beans that are produced by the tree.
From Quiz: Aztec Economy, Cuisine, and Religion
Answer: blood was necessary to make the world go round
Aztecs made sacrifices to make the world go round. The pyramid shaped temples had gutters down to the earth so the soil could soak up the blood. If there wasn't enough blood shed the sun would stop and eternal darkness would overcome the Aztecs.
From Quiz: The Aztec Empire
Answer: Tenochtitlan
The Aztecs settled in around 1325 on the banks of Lake Texcoco. The area was marshy and much of the building was done on islands in the lake, joined to the mainland by causeways and bridges, which could be moved to allow access by water, using canoes, or to prevent access from attackers. At its peak, Tenochtitlan covered over five square miles (thirteen square kilometres) and was home to about 400,000 people, the most populous in the history of Mesoamerica. It all came crashing down with the arrival of the Spanish.
The photo clue was a hint that the name started with ten, denoted by X in Roman numerals.
From Quiz: Montezuma's Revenge
Answer: A bow, arrows and a miniature chest shield
After they got dressed up (I think they would have looked gorgeous, the little warriors!), the priest chanted to them, 'You have come into this world in order to give the sun the blood of his enemies to drink and to feed the soil with their bodies'.
From Quiz: Life of the Ancient Aztecs
Answer: Their gods
The short, ugly god, covered with sores called, Nanahuatzin, threw himself into the fire, and rose up as the sun. But then he stopped moving. The Gods had to do something.
From Quiz: Beliefs of the Ancient Aztecs
Answer: Obsidian
Obsidian is a volcanic, glass-like rock that is created after lava hardens and cools. It can be found around the Aztec region and even was mined by them in some quarries. Aztec craftsmen could chip away at it and fracture it into pieces with curved edges that were razor sharp and thin. These pieces could then be inserted into a wooden sword to make a deadly weapon for close combat.
From Quiz: Let's Go Shopping At The Aztec Marketplace
Answer: Malinche
From Yucatan Cortes sailed to Tabasco where he was attacked by a hostile Mayan tribe. The conquistadors easily defeated the Mayans in a short battle. Now the conquistadors knew the locals weren't a match for them. After the battle the Mayan chieftain gave Cortes twenty female slaves, of which one was Malinche.
With Malinche Cortes could now communicate with the Aztecs. She translated from Nahuatl (the Aztec language) to Mayan, and de Aguilar then translated from Mayan to Spanish. This elaborate way of communicating must have been difficult and may have contributed to some misunderstandings between the Spaniards and the Aztecs. Later Malinche learned Spanish, which made things easier. She became Cortes' mistress and gave birth to his son Martin.
Over the years Malinche has become somewhat of a legend in Mexico. Depending on what one's point of view she is sometimes seen as 'the mother of Mexico' or as a traitor. Malinchista is a derogatory term in Mexico for a disloyal person.
From Quiz: Fall of the Aztec Empire
Answer: The Great Temple of Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc
The stairs leading up this temple were so steep it was like "walking up to the Heavens". The stairs were often stained red due to the many sacrifices made in the temple.
From Quiz: Aztec Daily Life
Answer: Mictlantecuhtli
According to Aztec religion Mictlantecuhtli dweled in Mictlan. There he would rule over the dead. The god is shown as having a body covered in human bones and wears a skull like mask over his face. Among the animals associated with him were the spider, bat, and owl.
From Quiz: Aztec Economy, Cuisine, and Religion
Answer: his own people
The people of Tenochtitlan rebelled against the Spanish. Cortes ordered Montezuma to speak to his people from a palace balcony and persuade them to let the Spanish return to the coast in peace. Montezuma was jeered and stones were thrown at him, injuring him badly. Montezuma died a few days later.
From Quiz: The Aztec Empire
Answer: Smallpox
The Europeans were responsible for bringing diseases to the Americas which had never previously been encountered. Consequently, the native peoples had no resistance to these illnesses and succumbed to conditions such as measles and typhus, among others. Smallpox was the biggest killer, though, The conquest by the Spaniards was aided by these infections, wiping out many of the Aztecs. The syphilis option may actually have worked the other way around. Many historians believe the disease was brought from the Americas to Europe. Maybe this was the true Montezuma's Revenge!
The photo is of a smallpox mite infestation on a leaf which resembles human smallpox without being quite so unpleasant to see.
From Quiz: Montezuma's Revenge
Answer: The local water supply was largely brackish (salty)
The series of lakes that make up the Texcoco system are endorheic, meaning inward draining; there is no outlet e.g. a river, to take lake water away. Hence over time the water becomes brackish through evaporation. All water bodies contain dissolved salts (in largely differing amounts), so when the water evaporates, the salts are left behind. This brackish water was too salty to drink but 'fresh' enough to grow crops. As Tenochtitlan grew, the demand for potable water also rose. The 'problem' was solved during the first half of the 15th century when a 12-16 km (7.5 to 10 mile) levee was constructed across a western section of the lake. On the east side of the levee was the brackish water but on the west side was the incoming fresh water, fed from springs.
Furthermore, spring water was conveyed to the city via two terra cotta aqueducts from what is now known as Chapultepec Hill. Spring water was preferred for drinking while the 'fresh' water west of the levee was used for washing.
From Quiz: The Mighty Aztec Empire
Answer: A spindle, a washing stone, and a pot
The priest chanted to her, 'Your role will to be the wife and mother of future warriors'. After this ritual, for both boys and girls, and the midwife that delivered them, would place droplets of water on their mouth, chest and head. Then the following would occur: If a boy: She would raise him to the sun four times. If a girl: She summoned the goddess Yoalticitl, the nocturnal healer, to bless the child.
From Quiz: Life of the Ancient Aztecs
Answer: blood
The gods (from the above question), killed themselves, washing their blood all over the earth, and offered their hearts to the sun. This was the sun's fuel and it rose into the sky. This is why Aztecs sacrificed often, so the sun would come up the next day.
From Quiz: Beliefs of the Ancient Aztecs
Answer: Lake Texcoco
Tenochtitlan was one of two cities on the island, the other being Tlatelolco. Tenochtitlan was founded about 1325, and served as the capital of the Aztec Empire until it was captured by the Spanish in 1521.
From Quiz: Brief History of the Aztecs
Answer: Quetzal
The Aztecs used feathers to decorate their clothing and accessories. Local wild birds, such as quetzals, macaws, parrots, and hummingbirds were valued for their bright feathers. Even domesticated birds, like the turkey or duck, were utilized. Shiny, brightly colored feathers were highly prized and dyeing or artificially creating color was frowned upon. The male quetzal's long tail feathers were worn by nobles or kings as each bird had only two of these to offer!
From Quiz: Let's Go Shopping At The Aztec Marketplace
Answer: Veracruz
Since Cortes had sailed to the mainland without the approval of the Cuban governor his expedition was considered illegal. He founded a settlement which he called La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz (Rich Village of the True Cross). A hastily created council pronounced him 'adelantado', which gave him the right to act as governor for the region. This was a legal trick to free himself from the authority of the Cuban governor.
Montezuma had spies all over the country and was already aware of the Spanish presence. Shortly after Cortes had landed he was met by an Aztec delegate. He gave Cortes gold and many presents, hoping he would accept this and go away. It had the opposite effect. Now they had seen gold they were even more determined to push on. When Cortes asked if the Aztecs had more gold the delegate answered: "Yes, we have". It was the worst possible answer he could have given.
Today Veracruz is Mexico's oldest and most important port. The city has about 550,000 inhabitants (2010 census). The three wrong answers are Mexican cities on the Pacific coast.
From Quiz: Fall of the Aztec Empire
Answer: Once a day
The Aztecs were very clean people. Bath houses were like saunas. It was an enclosed room connected to the house. A fire would have to be set up from the outside near the wall, then the one bathing would enter the room. They would sit on the ground and use the roots of a plant that gave off a soapy lather, they would wash their arms, legs, bodies, etc., to loosen off any dirt. If Aztecs didn't have these bath houses they would simply bathe in lakes.
From Quiz: Aztec Daily Life
Answer: Maize
Maize is a type of corn that is still grown around the world today. Other popular foods among the Aztecs were squash, beans, tomatoes, and chillies.
From Quiz: Aztec Economy, Cuisine, and Religion
Answer: to establish trade routes with the local people
Velázquez's instructions to Cortes, in an agreement signed on 23 October 1518, were to lead an expedition to initiate trade relations with the indigenous coastal tribes. However Cortes was allowed to take emergency measures if necessary.
From Quiz: The Aztec Empire
Answer: People with handicaps
The Aztecs believed that the souls of cripples, especially hunchbacks, could help the sun warriors to protect the sun from the monster that was attacking it. This always worked and the eclipse would end. Because of this, people who were crippled were treated well during their lifetime.
From Quiz: Aztec Sacrifices
Answer: War
The name of Huitzilopochtli translates as huitzilin,, meaning hummingbird, and opochtli, which means left. The Aztecs believed that hummingbirds represented reincarnated dead soldiers. Left was equivalent to the south. Other names by which he is known translate as turquoise prince or our lord. Huitzilopochtli is the god who guided the Aztecs during their migration to the Valley of Mexico. He is one of the two main gods of the Aztecs. The other is possibly better known - the feathered serpent called Quetzalcoatl, the god of the morning and evening star (Venus) and of priests.
From Quiz: Montezuma's Revenge
Answer: humming bird
The bird would speak to his people through priests.
From Quiz: Life of the Ancient Aztecs
Answer: A giant serpent breathed on the earth and turned men into monkeys
I don't quite get the monkey thing, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
From Quiz: Beliefs of the Ancient Aztecs
Answer: The original records were destroyed
The intentional destruction of original documents relating to the actual origin (or origin myth) of the Aztecs was done in order to rewrite history by a half-brother of Moctezuma I. Today, this rewrite makes it very difficult for researchers studying Aztec origins because many of these re-written documents can't be taken at face value.
From Quiz: Brief History of the Aztecs
Answer: Salt
Salt craft specialists took salty spring water and boiled it down to obtain the seasoning. They then distributed it and traded it in markets around the region. Salt and chili pepper were so important to cooking in the Aztec culture that fasting meant going without these two ingredients. Salt, however, had an added bonus of helping to preserve meat by drawing out the moisture.
From Quiz: Let's Go Shopping At The Aztec Marketplace