How did the Aztec maintain political control?

The Aztec Empire had a hierarchical government with power and responsibility running from the top down. The empire's rule was indirect over its provinces. That is, as long as the province or territory paid the tribute it owed the empire in full and on time, the empire left the local leaders alone.

Just so, what was the political organization of the Aztec empire?

Aztec Political Structure. The Aztec empire was made up of a series of city-states known as altepetl. Each altepetl was ruled by a supreme leader (tlatoani) and a supreme judge and administrator (cihuacoatl). The tlatoani of the capital city of Tenochtitlan served as the Emperor (Huey Tlatoani) of the Aztec empire.

One may also ask, what was the political and economic organization of the Aztec empire? The Aztec Empire's political organization was characterized by expansion, strong government officials, and the Spanish conquest of the empire, and its economic organization was characterized by agriculture, tribute systems, and trading. The Aztec Empire had a beginning defined by conquest.

Correspondingly, how did the religious beliefs of the Aztec support their empire government?

The Aztec religion incorporated deities from multiple cultures into its pantheon. Ritual sacrifice played an essential role in the religious practice of the Aztecs, and they believed it ensured the sun would rise again and crops would grow.

How did the Aztecs solve their food problem?

The Aztecs solved their dilemma of how to supply food to their island capital by developing a sophisticated wetland farming system involving raised beds (chinampas) built in the lake (see image below). Originally these chinampas were free-floating but over time they became rooted to the lake floor.

39 Related Question Answers Found

How was the Aztec society structured?

The Aztec Empire had a strict social structure that was identified with nobles, commoners, serfs, or slaves. The noble class had many privileges and the class is consist of government, military leaders, priests and lords. They had some wealth and were allowed to enjoy works of art unlike the common people.

Who made the Aztec laws?

Aztec laws were based on royal decrees and on customs that had been passed down from generation to generation. These laws were also interpreted and applied by Aztec judges in the various court systems.

What was the Aztec leader called?

The Aztec government was similar to a monarchy where an Emperor or King was the primary ruler. They called their ruler the Huey Tlatoani. The Huey Tlatoani was the ultimate power in the land. They felt that he was appointed by the gods and had the divine right to rule.

What was the impact of the Aztec empire?

The Spanish had a positive effect on Aztec civilization because they helped modernize the society. They introduced the Aztecs to domestic animals, sugar, grains, and European farming practices. Most significantly, the Spanish ended the Aztec's practice of human sacrifice.

What were the major classes of Aztec society?

Aztec society was composed of eight different social classes which were made up of rulers, warriors, nobility, priests and priestesses, free poor, slaves, servants, and the middle class. The most important of these were the tlatoani (rulers), warriors, nobility, and the high priests and priestesses.

Who were the Aztecs enemies?

Aztec Enemies

Texlacans. The Texlacans or the Tlaxcalans were amongst the major enemies of the Aztecs.
Huaxtec. The Huaxtec were another tribe that was enemies with the Aztecs.
Purempecha. The Purempecha or the Tarascans lived to the west of the Aztecs and they were powerful too.
Mayans.
Spanish conquistadors.

Who did the Aztec conquer?

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador, or conqueror, best remembered for conquering the Aztec empire in 1521 and claiming Mexico for Spain. He also helped colonize Cuba and became a governor of New Spain.

Who were the Aztecs influenced by?

As a result, historians have identified several different Mesoamerican societies that they believe influence the Aztec people in terms of their political, economic and religious practices. These include: Olmec, Toltec and Teotihuacan.

Who is the sun god of the Aztecs?

Huitzilopochtli

Who was the most important Aztec god?

Huitzilopochtli

What religion is the Aztecs?

The Aztec religion originated from the indigenous Aztecs of central Mexico. Like other Mesoamerican religions, it also has practices such as human sacrifice in connection with many religious festivals which are in the Aztec calendar.

Who were the Aztecs main gods?

The following are the most important of the 200 deities of the Aztec religion.

Huitzilopochtli, Father of the Aztecs.
Tlaloc, God of Rain and Storms.
Tonatiuh, God of the Sun.
Tezcatlipoca, God of Night.
Chalchiuhtlicue.
Centeotl, God of Maize.
Quetzalcoatl, The Feathered Serpent.
Xipe Totec, God of Fertility and Sacrifice.

What were the Aztecs known for in history?

The Aztecs were famous for their agriculture, cultivating all available land, introducing irrigation, draining swamps, and creating artificial islands in the lakes. They developed a form of hieroglyphic writing, a complex calendar system, and built famous pyramids and temples.

Why is Aztec culture important?

The Aztec language, Nahuatl, was the dominant language in central Mexico by the mid-1350s. Their relatively sophisticated system of agriculture (including intensive cultivation of land and irrigation methods) and a powerful military tradition would enable the Aztecs to build a successful state, and later an empire.

Who were Aztecs?

The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th century. They were a civilization with a rich mythology and cultural heritage. Their capital was Tenochtitlan on the shore of Lake Texcoco – the site of modern-day Mexico City.

What was Huitzilopochtli the god of?

Huitzilopochtli, whose name means "Blue Hummingbird on the Left," was the Aztec god of the Sun and the war. He was shown as a blue man fully armed with hummingbird feathers on his head. Aztecs used to offer human sacrifices to Huitzilopochtli.

What did the Jaguar mean to the Aztecs?

Along with the Aztecs and Mayans, the Inca also built temples to the jaguar. The jaguar is representative of power, ferocity, and valor; he is the embodiment of aggressiveness. For some, the jaguar represents the power to face one's fears, or to confront one's enemies.