Aztec Empire | World History | Khan Academy

Khan Academy
9 May 201705:13
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script delves into the distinction between the Aztec civilization and the Aztec empire, highlighting the latter's formation in the century preceding Spanish colonization. It focuses on the rise of Tenochtitlan, a city-state on an island in Lake Texcoco, which eventually becomes the dominant power in the region. The script outlines the establishment of the Aztec empire through a triple alliance with the city-states of Texcoco and Tlacopan, leading to the conquest of Azcapotzalco. The empire, initially an alliance, evolves into a tributary system with Tenochtitlan at its center. The narrative also touches on the advanced infrastructure of the Aztec civilization, including causeways, bridges, and a sophisticated dam system for water management. The empire's downfall is attributed to Hernando Cortes and his conquistadors, aided by indigenous allies and a devastating smallpox epidemic that decimated the population. The summary underscores the Aztec's advanced civilization and the dramatic shift brought about by the Spanish conquest.

Takeaways
  • 🏛️ The Aztec civilization and the Aztec empire are distinct; the former refers to a broader group of people over centuries, while the latter is a specific entity formed 100 years before Spanish colonization.
  • 🗺️ The Aztec empire originated from the city-state of Tenochtitlan, which was initially one of the weaker city-states around Lake Texcoco in southern Mexico.
  • 🏙️ Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan formed the Triple Alliance, which later became the foundation of the Aztec empire after conquering Azcapotzalco.
  • 🌟 Tenochtitlan evolved to become the capital of the Aztec empire, despite starting as an alliance among city-states.
  • ⏳ The Aztec empire lasted for approximately 100 years until it was defeated by Hernando Cortes in 1521.
  • 🎭 Hernando Cortes' conquest was facilitated by recruiting conquistadors and leveraging the support of neighboring city-states discontented with the Aztec empire.
  • 🌉 The Aztec civilization was highly advanced, with causeways, bridges, and sophisticated dam systems for freshwater collection and flood control.
  • 🏞️ The Spanish drained the lake to control flooding, leading to the formation of Mexico City on the former lake bed.
  • 🏛️ Unlike the autonomous city-states of the neighboring Mayans, the Aztec empire was a tributary state, with other city-states paying tribute to Tenochtitlan.
  • 📉 The Spanish conquest was aided by a smallpox epidemic that decimated approximately 50% of the regional population.
  • 🌐 The story of the Aztec empire's fall is a complex interplay of military strategy, alliances, and biological factors, highlighting the empire's advanced state until its conquest.
Q & A

  • What is the difference between the Aztec civilization and the Aztec empire?

    -The Aztec civilization refers to the broader groups of people over hundreds of years, while the Aztec empire is a specific entity that formed in the 100 years before Spanish colonization.

  • What is a city-state?

    -A city-state is a city that considers itself a state with its own political organization and way of functioning, independent of any other government forms, similar to Athens and Sparta in classical Greece.

  • When and where did the city of Tenochtitlan form?

    -Tenochtitlan formed in 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco, which is in what is now southern Mexico.

  • How did the Aztec empire come into existence?

    -The Aztec empire was formed after the city-states of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan formed a triple alliance and conquered Azcapotzalco, which had fallen into civil war.

  • What was the role of Tenochtitlan in the Aztec empire?

    -Tenochtitlan, sometimes referred to as Mexico Tenochtitlan, became the capital of the Aztec empire, even though it started as an alliance of city-states.

  • How long did the Aztec empire last before being defeated by Hernando Cortes?

    -The Aztec empire lasted for roughly 100 years before being defeated by Hernando Cortes in 1521.

  • How did Hernando Cortes manage to conquer the Aztec empire?

    -Cortes convinced several hundred conquistadors to join him and recruited tens of thousands of soldiers from neighboring city-states that had issues with the Aztec empire, eventually taking over Tenochtitlan.

  • What were some of the advanced features of the Aztec civilization?

    -The Aztecs had causeways and bridges leading into the island, an advanced dam system for freshwater collection and flood control, and a sophisticated political and tribute system.

  • What was the impact of the Spanish conquest on the Aztec civilization?

    -The Spanish conquest led to the destruction of many of the Aztec's advanced systems, the draining of Lake Texcoco, and the founding of Mexico City over the lake. Additionally, a smallpox epidemic contributed to the downfall, killing 50% of the region's population.

  • How did the Aztec tributary system differ from the neighboring Mayan city-states?

    -Unlike the Mayan city-states, which were autonomous with some having more power at different times, the Aztec tributary system involved other city-states paying tribute, revenue, and service to Tenochtitlan, the capital of the empire.

  • Why did Mexico City face issues with flooding after the Spanish conquest?

    -The Spanish drained Lake Texcoco to control flooding, which led to Mexico City, founded over the lake, facing issues with flooding for some time in the future.

  • What was the significance of the triple alliance in the formation of the Aztec empire?

    -The triple alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan was significant as it allowed these city-states to conquer Azcapotzalco and subsequently form the Aztec empire.

Outlines
00:00
🏛️ Formation and Structure of the Aztec Empire

The Aztec Empire, distinct from the broader Aztec civilization, is the focus of this video. It emerged in the 100 years prior to the Spanish conquest. The empire originated from a triple alliance formed by the city-states of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan, which conquered the powerful city-state of Azcapotzalco during a civil war. Tenochtitlan, later known as Mexico Tenochtitlan, became the capital of this alliance. The empire was characterized by a tributary system where other city-states paid tribute to Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs were highly advanced, with sophisticated causeways, bridges, and a dam system for freshwater collection and flood control. However, the empire fell to Hernando Cortes in 1521, aided by conquistadors and indigenous allies, marking the end of the Aztec civilization.

05:01
🤝 Alliance and Conquest: The Fall of the Aztec Empire

The video script highlights the fall of the Aztec Empire, which was brought about by Hernando Cortes and his few hundred conquistadors, along with the support of neighboring city-states who were discontent with the Aztec rule. A smallpox epidemic further weakened the Aztec population, leading to the death of 50% of the regional inhabitants. This combination of factors facilitated the Spanish conquest and the eventual establishment of Mexico City on the drained Lake Texcoco, where Tenochtitlan once stood.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Aztec civilization
The Aztec civilization refers to the broader cultural and social groups of the Aztec people that spanned over hundreds of years. It is distinct from the Aztec empire, which is a more specific political entity. In the video, the lecturer emphasizes the difference between the two, highlighting that the civilization encompasses a longer time frame and a wider range of people.
💡Aztec empire
The Aztec empire was a specific political entity that formed in the 100 years prior to the Spanish colonization. It originated from an alliance of city-states around Lake Texcoco and eventually became a tributary empire with Tenochtitlan as its capital. The video explains that the empire's formation was a significant development in the history of the Aztecs, leading up to its conquest by Hernando Cortes.
💡City-state
A city-state is a city that is also a state, having its own political organization and functioning independently of other governments. The video uses the analogy of classical Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta to illustrate this concept. In the context of the Aztec empire, city-states like Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan played crucial roles in the formation of the empire through alliances and conquests.
💡Triple alliance
The triple alliance refers to the political agreement formed between the city-states of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. This alliance was instrumental in conquering the powerful city-state of Azcapotzalco and subsequently led to the establishment of the Aztec empire. The video highlights the triple alliance as a key moment in the empire's history, showcasing the strategic cooperation among these city-states.
💡Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan was a city located on an island in Lake Texcoco and was initially one of the weaker city-states in the region. However, it eventually became the capital of the Aztec empire, growing in power and influence over time. The video describes how Tenochtitlan's strategic position and political acumen allowed it to rise to prominence and lead the Aztec empire until its conquest by the Spanish.
💡Hernando Cortes
Hernando Cortes was a Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that resulted in the conquest of the Aztec empire. The video recounts how Cortes was able to convince hundreds of conquistadors and recruit tens of thousands of soldiers from neighboring city-states to conquer the empire. His strategy and the alliances he formed were pivotal in the fall of Tenochtitlan.
💡Conquistadors
Conquistadors were the Spanish soldiers and explorers who traveled to the Americas during the Age of Exploration. In the video, the term is used to describe the group of men led by Hernando Cortes who played a significant role in the conquest of the Aztec empire. The video emphasizes the small number of conquistadors and their impact on the empire's downfall.
💡Smallpox epidemic
The smallpox epidemic refers to the outbreak of smallpox that had a devastating impact on the indigenous populations of the Americas, including the Aztecs. The video mentions that this epidemic killed approximately 50% of the population in the region, significantly weakening the Aztec empire and contributing to its conquest by the Spanish.
💡Causeways
Causeways are the raised roads or bridges that were constructed by the Aztecs to connect the island city of Tenochtitlan to the mainland. The video describes these causeways as an example of the advanced engineering and infrastructure of the Aztec civilization, which allowed for efficient transportation and communication within the empire.
💡Dam system
The dam system mentioned in the video refers to the advanced water management infrastructure used by the Aztecs to collect freshwater from rain and control flooding. This system was crucial for the survival and prosperity of Tenochtitlan, which was built in a lake environment. The video highlights the sophistication of the Aztec's dam system and its importance to their civilization.
💡Tributary empire
A tributary empire is a type of empire where other city-states or regions pay tribute, revenue, or service to the central power, in this case, Tenochtitlan. The video explains that the Aztec empire evolved from an alliance of city-states into a tributary empire, where other city-states were subjugated and made to pay tribute to the Aztec capital. This system of tribute was a key aspect of the empire's economic and political structure.
Highlights

The Aztec empire, distinct from the broader Aztec civilization, formed in the 100 years prior to Spanish colonization.

A city-state is a self-governing entity with its own political organization, similar to Athens and Sparta in classical Greece.

Tenochtitlan, initially a weaker city-state, was established on an island in Lake Texcoco in 1325.

Azcapotzalco's civil war and succession battle led to the formation of the Triple Alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan.

The Triple Alliance's conquest of Azcapotzalco marked the beginning of the Aztec empire.

Tenochtitlan, often referred to as Mexico Tenochtitlan, became the de facto capital of the Aztec empire.

The Aztec empire lasted for approximately 100 years until its defeat by Hernando Cortes in 1521.

Cortes managed to conquer the Aztec empire with a few hundred conquistadors and the aid of neighboring city-states.

A smallpox epidemic contributed to the downfall of the Aztec empire by killing 50% of the region's population.

The Aztecs had advanced infrastructure, including causeways, bridges, and a sophisticated dam system for freshwater and flood control.

The Spanish drained Lake Texcoco to control flooding, leading to the formation of Mexico City on its former site.

Unlike the Mayans, the Aztec empire was a tributary state where other city-states paid tribute to Tenochtitlan.

The Aztec civilization was highly advanced, with complex political and social structures.

The story of the Aztec empire's fall is a complex interplay of military strategy, alliances, and disease.

The Aztec empire's tributary system centralized power and resources in Tenochtitlan.

The conquest of the Aztec empire had long-lasting effects on the region's culture and political landscape.

The legacy of the Aztec empire can be seen in the modern city of Mexico City and its historical significance.

Transcripts

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Aztec EmpireTenochtitlanTriple AllianceHernando CortesSpanish ConquestCivil WarCity-StatesLake TexcocoTributary StateAdvanced CivilizationSmallpox Epidemic