CHAPTER 7

How Did Geography and History Affect the Worldviews of the Aztec and the Spanish?

Geographic Influence: Spanish

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How did the History of Spain Affect It’s Worldview?

Spain was ruled by many kingdoms throughout it’s history.

The northern half was mostly Christian and the southern half was Muslim dominated and ruled by The Moors of North Africa.

Muslim rule lasted for about 700 years.

All Religious faiths were allowed to practice their own religion, but some Christian faiths fought against the Muslims in order to recapture Muslim held lands.

This was known as the Reconquista. 

-By 1492 (under King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I), Moorish control of Spain was over. This ended 700 years of wars

-The Roman Catholic faith was considered to be the only true faith in Spain.

-Ferdinand and Isabella believed that the only way Spain would stay united was that if everyone followed one religion. (the Inquisition)

-The Spanish conquistadors felt that it was their duty to convert non-Christian people and to fight for God and their country.

-Spain was still made up of many different kingdoms and the largest kingdoms were united with the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella. (pg 236-237)

During the Reconquista, Western Europe was benefiting from better economies, new technology.

King Ferdinand wanted to extend the powers of Spain and had a strong desire to conquer new lands for three basic reason: Gold (Economic) – Resources and Goods from their

new empire and colonies God (Religious) – To spread the word of God and

convert to Roman Catholicism. Glory (Political) – To expand the Spanish empire.

In 1492, Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic and claimed the Caribbean region for Spain.

The Spanish (and most European societies) considered themselves culturally superior to others. This attitude of ethnocentrism was used to justify the harsh treatment of the peoples they conquered.

How Did Contact with the Moors Influence Spain?

For almost 700 years, the Islamic Empire controlled a huge empire in the Iberian Peninsula (today's Spain ).

The city of Cordoba was looked upon as a major centre of learning and of the arts.

Muslim scholars along with Jewish scholars were involved in the revival of the study of ancient Greek and Roman culture and philosophy.

Cordoba

They included the following disciplines: Important schools of astronomy,

mathematics and architecture. The national art of Spain,

Mozarabic. Great libraries including books

on a variety of topics such as; architecture astrology, astronomy,

pharmacology, psychology, zoology, botany, optics, chemistry, physics, mathematics, navigation, and history.

A large collection of classical documents from Greek intellectuals on the ideas of logic and questioning.

Beautiful buildings, mosques and palaces.

How Did the Spanish Monarchy Become so Powerful?

While the Aztec were establishing their empire, the Spanish were fighting the last 100 years of the Reconquista.

After their marriage, Ferdinand and Isabella took over the monarchy to have the power to rule Spain as they wished. To do this, they centralized government under their control created a more efficient government bureaucracy imposed new taxes took control of the Roman Catholic Church in Spain began the Spanish Inquisition forbid any faith but Roman Catholicism

The Spanish Parliament (Cortes) was established in the 8th century to keep the power of the monarchs under control. controlled the national treasury the king or queen were required to get approval for all major

expenditures. Over time, members of the Cortes (made up of aristocrats)

became very powerful.

Ferdinand and Isabella made men from humbler origins

members of the Cortes, not aristocracy

allowed nobles to participate in parliamentary proceedings, but not vote

reorganized important financial and judicial institutions so the monarchy had more control

centralized the powers of the government under three Councils; State, Finance, and Justice

By the 1500’s, Spain controlled large areas of the Caribbean, the Americas, and parts of Asia and Africa from funding Columbus’ explorations.

In the 16th century, Spain was the most powerful and wealthy country in Europe.

They also gained the support of the merchants and sent their own representatives to tax citizens and govern cities.

The King and Queen were granted control of the Church by being allowed to choose important church positions. The Pope allowed Spain to do this if Spain started the

Inquisition. Although Spain still had some domestic (internal

problems), Ferdinand and Isabella were able to start a policy of exploration and discovery.

Geographic Influence: Aztec

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How did the History of the Aztec Affect Their Worldview?

The Long Migration The Mexica people (Aztec’s) were part of a large group

of Nahuatl-speaking (NAH-watl) people. Origin stories tell of the Aztec leaving their homeland of

Aztlan and wandering in a semi-nomadic lifestyle from about 1100-1300.

The Aztec God Huitzilopochtli encouraged the people to move often, and endure many hardships.

Eventually after a long and difficult migration they settled in the Valley of Mexico.

This region was already occupied by a large number of other city-states and the Aztec’s were considered barbarous and driven from one location to another.

Many of these city states had conflicts with the Aztecs.

Eventually the Aztec settled on a swampy island in the middle of Lake Texcoco.

The city was called Tenochtitlan (tay-noach-tee-TLAHN), the city named after their leader Tenoch.

The Aztec still had tensions with their neighbors and worked hard as servants, mercenaries. They became skilled workers and ferocious warriors.

The city was connected to the mainland and by the year 1500 was bigger than any European city.

The Aztec began to develop their new culture based on the history of constant movement and on some of the manners and traditions of the societies around them.

Mexico City

How Did Contact with Other Meso-American Societies Influence the Aztec? Each time the Aztec stopped during their long migration, their religious beliefs and practices, social structure, architecture, and art was influenced

The Aztec were influenced by the three greatest earlier civilizations of the Valley of Mexico. These were the Olmec, the Teotihuacan and the Toltec.

The Toltec are believed to have had the greatest influence and impact on the Aztec culture. The Aztec believed that the Toltec were masters at creating a refined civilization.

Eventually the Aztec became powerful as a result of these encounters and were able to command respect from their neighbors.

Religious Beliefs and Practices The belief that gods could take on

different forms such as the jaguar (an earth mother goddess) and the serpent (a water goddess)

A belief in many gods, Quetzalcoatl (the gentle plumed serpent god), Tezcatlipoca or Smoking Mirror (who had a war-like nature), and the god of rain Tlaloc

Religious practices that centered on seasonal cycles, emphasizing astronomy and the calendar

A belief that human sacrifices were necessary to sustain the gods with human hearts and blood

Effects of Other Meso-American Societies on Aztec Culture

Architecture and Art Huge pyramid-shaped temples

to honour the gods Beautiful murals, large

sculptures, and monuments of both humans and animals, mainly with religious motifs

The art of fine jewellery making, ceramic pottery, mosaic, metalworking, and featherworks

Social Systems A hierarchical society with both a

noble class, priests, and commoners A government with a strong central

authority Use of militaristic practices to build

an empire

Itzcoatl Founder of the Empire (1428-1440)

The Aztec leader, who eventually led the Aztec in conquering most of the city-states in the Valley of Mexico.

He became the leader the newly formed “Triple-Alliance” of city-states.

He established a hierarchical social system with distinct social classes and improved the military by creating an elite group of warriors who came from nobility.

How Did the Aztec Emperors become the most Powerful Rulers in the Valley of Mexico?

In 1376, Acamapichtli, became the Aztec emperor that linked the Aztec to the Toltec. His mother and wife were of Culhua ancestry Culhua were considered to be direct

descendants of the Toltec. The Aztec empire grew under the leadership

of Itzcoatl, and conquered most of the Valley of Mexico. (except for the Tlaxcalan republic)

By the 1500’s, most of Meso-America was controlled by the Aztec. (About the same time as the unification of Spain)

The Aztec knew that they needed to claim direct lineage to the Toltec in order to be respected by the Meso-American societies.

The Aztec had two goals when they were attacking another city-state. to seek an honourable defeat for their enemy and then make them

provide labour to the empire gain soldiers for the human sacrifice to the god Huitzilopochtli

The Aztec would first conquer surrounding city-states and then the isolated city-state that was left.

When the city-states were defeated, its citizens were required to promise allegiance to the Emperor pay tribute to him in either goods or services worship the god Huitzilopochtli

The Aztec empire eventually included over 50 city-states. The Emperor and his second in command, the Chief of

Internal Affairs were the highest of the nobility. The priests were important advisors to the emperor and

determined which days would be best (lucky) for war and religious ceremonies. 

The Tlatoque ruled major towns and cities and the Tecutin ruled smaller areas.

Copy & Fill out Chart:Ways in which

the worldviews were similar

The Aztec The Spanish

Powerful

Strong religious

faith

Unified kingdoms