The Aztecs Glossary

Acamapichtli – The first tlatoani of the Aztecs of Tenochtitlán.

Adobe – A building material made from mixing water, clay and sand together. It would dry in

the heat of the sun.

Ahuitzotl - The eighth tlatoani of Tenochtitlán and fifth Aztec emperor.

Amanteca – Aztec craftspeople who worked with feathers to create headdresses and clothing.

Atlaua – Aztec goddess of war.

Axayacatl – The sixth tlatoani of Tenochtitlán. He was also the third Aztec emperor.

Aztec Calendar Stone – An enormous stone which was used to keep track of festival dates.

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Chantico – Aztec goddess of fire.

Chimalpopoca - The third tlatoani of Tenochtitlán.

Chinampa – Fertile, floating gardens set in the lake and used for growing crops.

Codex – An Aztec book (codices – plural).

Conquistadors – Spanish explorers and conquerors.

Cuauhtémoc – He was the final tlatoani of Tenochtitlán and Aztec emperor before the Spanish invasion. Also known as Guatimozin.

Cuitláhuac – The tenth tlatoani of Tenochtitlán and seventh Aztec emperor. Emperor – The male, supreme ruler of the empire. He was also commander of the armed forces.

Empire – Land united under one leader (emperor).

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Harpoon – A long spear used by the Aztecs.

Hernán Cortés – The Aztecs were conquered by Hernán Cortés and his Spanish conquistadors.

Huitzilihuitl – The second tlatoani of Tenochtitlán.

Huitzilopochtli – Aztec god of war.

HILLake Texcoco – The

location of the city of Tenochtitlán.

Itzcoatl – The fourth tlatoani of Tenochtitlán.

Mācēhualtin – The name given to Aztec commoners.

Macuahuitl – A wooden sword with

obsidian blades.

Maize – A main staple food of the Aztecs.

Mesoamerica – A region in the Americas.

Mexico City – Tenochtitlán was rebuilt and renamed Mexico City in 1522.

Montezuma – Two Aztec emperors had this name. It is sometimes spelt Moctezuma.

Montezuma I – The fifth tlatoani of Tenochtitlán and the second Aztec emperor.

Montezuma II – The ninth tlatoani of Tenochtitlán and the sixth Aztec emperor.

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Image is derivative work based on “Ceremonial Macuahuitl” by Shai Azoulai (photo credit: Niveque Storm) and is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Nahuatl – The language of the Aztecs.

Obsidian – A hard rock used to make many Aztec tools and weapons.

Quetzalcoatl – Aztec god of wind.

Sacrifice – An offering to the gods. This could be an animal, food or human sacrifice.

Patecatl – Aztec god of healing.

Pipiltin – The noble or upper class of the Aztec empire.

Pochteca – Merchants who travelled long distances around the Aztec empire.

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Telpochalli – A school for commoners.

Temple – A sacred building where Aztecs could worship the gods.

Tenoch – Aztec priest and ruler.

Tenochtitlán – The capital city and centre of the Aztec empire. Mexico City stands here today.

Tepeyollotl – Aztec god of earthquakes. The Great Temple – This sacred building was located in the capital city of Tenochtitlán and also called Templo Mayor.

Tizoc – The seventh tlatoani of Tenochtitlán and fourth Aztec emperor.

Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli – Aztec lord of the dawn.

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Tlaloc – Aztec god of rain.

Tlatoani – This word means ‘king’ and ‘great speaker’.

Tlaxcala – Tlaxcala was never conquered by the Aztec empire. This city-state was an ally to Hernán Cortés and his conquistadors who would eventually conquer the Aztecs.

Tlazolteotl – Aztec goddess of purification.

Toltecs – A civilisation which came before the Aztecs.

Tonatiuh – Aztec god of the sun.

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Ulama – A ball game played by the Aztecs on a court in the shape of the letter I.

Xochipilli – Aztec god of art, beauty and dance.

Xochipilli

Tlaloc