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Directions: In the spaces below, write out at least two methods that empires/individuals you have already learned (prior knowledge) about used to gain, consolidate, and maintain their power.

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Think about what you have already learned about the Songhai Empire and the Mayans...refer to past sheets

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Directions: Use the annotation key below while reading the documents that follow to gather evidence to answer the question: How did the Aztecs gain, consolidate, and maintain power?

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Document 1: Tenochtitlan, the Cactus Rock

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Document 1: Tenochtitlan, the Cactus Rock

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Creating Allies With Neighboring Cities
In 1440 the fifth chief of the Aztecs came to rule Tenochtitlan. The Mexica (Aztec) now dominated the whole of the Valley of Mexico, and had allied themselves with the neighboring cities of Texcoco (Tesh-koh-koh) and Tlacopan (Tlah-koh-pahn).

Marrying Pure Toltec Brides
Their chiefs had sought out princesses of pure Toltec descent as their brides, so that they could inherit the divine right to rule, which belonged to the descendants of Quetzalcoatl. The new ruler of the Aztecs was given the title of Huey Tlatcani (Ooeh-tlah-toh-ah-ni) or Great Speaker for the several tribes over whom he had dominion. His name was Moctecuzoma Ilhuicamina (Mock-teh-Koo-zoh-mah Eel-weeh-kah-mee-nah) , Noble Strong Arm, He Who Aims at the Sky.

The Military
During his reign, the Aztec armies continued their conquests and were the first to reach the shores of the Mexican Gulf.

Rebuilding the Temple and Captive Sacrifices
In 1484 the Great Speaker Tizoc (Tee-zohk), He who offers his own Blood to the Gods, laid the foundations for the rebuilding of the ancient temple to Huitzilopochtli. He took prisoners and sacrificed some to the gods. [...] Tizoc died before the temple was completed. [...] When the great temple was dedicated, he took 20,000 captives and had them all sacrificed in four days by eight teams of priests.

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Document 1: Tenochtitlan, The Cactus Rock Audio

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Document 3a: The Aztec Tax Structure According to Michael E. Smith, archaeologist at Arizona State University

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Document 3a: The Aztec Tax Structure According to Michael E. Smith, archaeologist at Arizona State University

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In an article entitled, “The Aztecs Paid Taxes, Not Tribute,” archaeologist, Michael E. Smith writes:

States interact with their subjects in two ways: they exploit people and they provide services. This has been true from the earliest states in Mesopotamia to the nation-states of today. Taxation is one of the primary means by which states exploit their citizens or subjects, and taxes provide the revenue for the services offered by states.

According to Smith, inhabitants and the states they lived in paid regular taxes to the Triple Alliance (Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan) that made up the Aztec empire. They made regular payments on specified dates according to the Aztec calendar. Some were paid once a year, others twice, and others four times per year. The taxes were collected by professional tax collectors and recorded in tax rolls.

The taxes were usually paid in cacao beans and cotton mantas (woven cloth), that the Aztecs used for money. Other goods supplemented the cacao beans and mantas based on the products produced in the region.

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Document 3a: The Aztec Tax Structure According to Michael E. Smith, archaeologist at Arizona State University Audio

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Document 3a: The Aztec Tax Structure According to Michael E. Smith, archaeologist at Arizona State University

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Document 3a: The Aztec Tax Structure According to Michael E. Smith, archaeologist at Arizona State University

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Document 3b: The Aztec Tax Structure According to Michael E. Smith, archaeologist at Arizona State University

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Document 3b: The Aztec Tax Structure According to Michael E. Smith, archaeologist at Arizona State University

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Aztec City States

Areas conquered and governed by the Aztecs

Land Tax: Calpolli paid taxes in the form of cotton mantas, cacao beans, firework, and foodstuffs based on the amount of land they farmed. Farmers kept most of their crop but had to send some of it to the king

Rotational Labor: Calpolli members were required to work for the king or nobles. Women spun and wove textiles while men often supplied firewood, swept, and carried water.

Public Works Corvée: Calpolli gave the labor of their members up to assist with building projects directed by the Aztec government like building aqueducts or temples.

Military Corvée: All young males had to serve in the military.

Market Tax: Government officials waited in guard huts at the market and took a portion of the goods as tax for being allowed to sell goods in the market.

Conquest-States

States that were conquered by the Aztecs

Allowed to rule themselves as they had before in exchange for military loyalty and taxes

Not Conquered States

States that were not conquered by the Aztecs

Received military support from the Aztecs in return for gifts

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Document 3b: The Aztec Tax Structure According to Michael E. Smith, archaeologist at Arizona State University Audio

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[The Aztecs believed that] all the time the sun was thirsting from the great internal heat. So he had to be nourished and cooled by offerings of the red cactus-fruit (which meant human hearts and blood). Only a very few had to be sacrificed to keep the sun moving in the sky, but the sacrifice must never be neglected or the human race would die from the fire caused by a motionless sun.

The Tovar Codex, attributed to the 16th-century Mexican Jesuit Juan de Tovar, contains detailed information about the rites and ceremonies of the Aztecs (also known as Mexica). The codex is illustrated with 51 full-page paintings in watercolor.[...] This illustration, from the second section, depicts a human sacrifice. An anonymous priest holding a spear presides over the sacrifice of a man whose heart is removed by an assistant. In the background, another assistant on the steps of a temple or pyramid holds an incense burner. The offering of the victim's heart to the gods satisfied the Aztec belief that the sun would rise again nourished by the hearts of men. Thexochiyaoyotl (Flower Wars) were conducted to capture prisoners for the sacrificial offerings needed for the gods.

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Objective: I can describe how the Aztecs used to gain, consolidate, and maintain power in their empire.

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Directions: Using evidence from the information above, respond to the task below in the space provided.

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Who is someone that has power that inspires you? Why?

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Using a piece of lined paper, reflect on a rose and a thorn of MPI.

Rose: something positive, you're proud of yourself, a highlight of MPI.

Thorn: something that did not go the way you wanted it to, something that hurt or didn't feel good at the time, something that you can learn from to help you grow and not let happen again.

Take the next 10 minutes to write and reflect about MPI.

I will be keeping these for you to look back on.

Take your time :)