An indigenous Mesoamerican people who established an advanced civilization and powerful empire in the area of present-day Mexico City that existed for approximately two centuries before the Spanish arrival in 1519. (Who are we studying?)

The name the Aztec people called themselves prior to being the Aztecs.

A lake in central Mexico with small islands where the Aztec settled and made their capital city, Tenochtitlán.

The island-city capital of the Aztec Empire. (Today the location of the capital of Mexico which is Mexico City).

The language spoken by the Ancient Aztecs

Ruler of the great Aztec Empire and city of Tenochtitlán until Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernán Cortés, imprisoned him in 1520.

A type of corn grown and cultivated by the ancient Aztecs and Maya

The belief in many gods. The Aztecs believed in many different gods.

Wars that the Aztecs fought with other Native American tribes in order to gain prisoners of war to be used in human sacrifices. (strange name for wars huh?)

Legendary Aztec god of creation. He is a connection between earth and sky, and he is known as the 'pale-skinned feathered serpent'. When Cortes arrived Montezuma thought he was this god because of his pale skin and feathers he wore on his armor.

Spanish Conquistador, and Spanish explorer known for conquering the Aztec Empire in 1521. He called the conquered area New Spain. He was in search of gold and glory! This conquistador and his small Spanish army were able to conquer the huge Aztec army because the Spanish had armor, cannons, guns, small pox, and help from other tribes. The Spanish also had horses that were used in warfare.

Remember...history can be messy. Both the Aztecs and the Mayans believed in this in order to please their gods. The Aztecs believed that by doing this it would cause the sun to rise every day.

The floating gardens that the Aztecs created to give them more farmable land for crops

A raised roadway (like a floating dock) across a body of water.

A blockade of a city or a fortified building (like a castle) by soldiers that compels the people inside the fortress or castle to surrender.

Disease that killed millions of Aztec citizens when the Spanish arrived.

To change someone's beliefs (often religious beliefs). One goal of the Spanish was to convince the Native American tribes to change to the Roman Catholic religion (a form of Christianity).

The Aztecs built magnificent temples in this shape mainly for religious ceremonies. They believed that the higher that they built these the closer it was to their gods.

The capital city of Mexico today; it stands where the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was once located

Do you remember the legend of the Eagle, the snake, and the prickly pear cactus? This is how the Aztecs chose their home and also what appears on this national symbol of Mexico.

The year that Hernan Cortes "arrived" in Mesoamerica and the Aztec Empire.

How was Hernan Cortes able to defeat the Aztecs?

Another name for a God or a Goddesses

The Aztecs were feared warriors and they built a great empire by:

Highest ranking Aztec warrior

This is what the Aztecs believed kept the sun rising every day and their deities happy.

An agreement establishing a pact of friendship and cooperation between groups such as two countries or groups during a war.

To trade goods

The act of conquering or taking control of

A type of glass made from volcanic material such as lava

The practice of owning another human being as if they were property. The Aztecs and the Spanish often forced human beings into this when they captured them in war.

General term for someone experienced in warfare (i.e. Jaguar and Eagle are examples)

A high ranking Aztec warrior.

The Aztec did this to keep their gods happy and make sure that the sun would rise every day. Remember...history can be messy.

The legend of the prickly pear cactus said that the Aztecs would know where to set up their home when they saw this animal on a cactus with a snake in its mouth.

The Aztecs built their home in the middle of this.

The year in which the Aztecs were "wiped out" by the Spanish due to warfare and disease.

The Aztecs neighbors hated them because they captured their people and used them for what?

What items were new to the Spanish (that the Aztecs had) when they arrived in Tenochtitlan?