Aztec Empire JCC Background Guide April 13th Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Table of Contents 1 | Page Welcoming Letter from Chair……………………..………………………………. 3 Background ……………. ………………………………………………………………. 4-10 Topic at Hand………………………………………………………………………….. 11 What is Crisis ………………….…………………………………………….……… 12-14 Character List ………………….…………………………………………….……… 14-16 Welcoming Letter From Chair 2 | Page Staff Welcome Letter Dear Delegates, Welcome to KUMUNC XI! My name is Angel Rodriguez and I’m a junior from Reading, PA, majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Forensic Science. I have been part of Model UN since September 2017 and this is my first time as a chair. From 2017 until now I have been part of big conferences such as NMUN, McMUN and several others. In my spare time, I love playing basketball and recording myself playing my guitar too, later on, submit it to social media. I have a passion for Forensic Sciences and CSI fascinates me (not the TV show though). Fun facts about me, I cannot do horror movies under any circumstances, I speak two languages, English and Spanish, and a third one but partially which is Italian. The Aztecs culture is best known for the chocolate, amazing architecture, and their sometimes questionable religious ceremonies. Get ready to learn more this April… it is going to be amazing! I want everyone here to have a good time and a fun experience at KUMUNC XI. Although I am a first-time Chair, I know we will have a great time. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions that come to mind. Best of luck, Angel Rodriguez ([email protected]) 3 | Page History Early Mexica The Mexica or Aztlan migrants arrived in the basin area of central Mexico in the mid 13th century. They struggled to find land suitable for agriculture, due to it having all been previously claimed. The Mexica instead were able to persuade the king of a small city-state, Culhuacan, to allow them to settle on a patch of land called the Chapultepec. The land was not suitable for agriculture however, so the migrants opted to become mercenaries for Culhuacan. Following the Mexica’s service in the battle to the city-state of Culhuacan the King appointed one of his daughters to rule over them. According to accounts, the Mexica responded to this action by flaying her skin on the command of their god. Tenochtitlan Upon learning the fate of his daughter the ruler of Culhuacan used military force to drive the Mexica out of the Tizaapan. The Mexica were forced to settle on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. As legend has it, they saw an eagle perched upon a nopal cactus. They took this as a sign from their god and in the year 1325 founded the city that would later become the center of an empire, Tenochtitlan. On this island, the Mexica became known for their skills in battle being recognized as warriors. The newly established city-state formed an alliance with and paid tribute to Tezozomoc, the ruler of Azcapotzalco. With the help of the Mexica Azcapotzalco began forming a small empire with newly conquered cities paying tribute to them. It was at this point that the 4 | Page ruler of the Mexica was officially recognized as a king and the leaders of the Mexica were able to successfully convince the ruler of Culhuacan to provide a daughter to marry into the Mexica line. In 1372 the son produced from that marriage, Acamapichtli, was named the first leader of the city of Tenochtitlan. The Tepanecs of Azcapotzalco continued to grow in power with the help of the Mexica. In the eastern lake basin, the Alcohua of Texcoco also was growing in power. A small war eventually ensued resulting in the conquest of Texcoco. The Mexica having played an essential role in this conquest were rewarded with Texcoco as a tributary province. At this point, Tenochtitlan was a major city in the region. Civil Unrest The Tepanec ruler, Tezozomoc, perished in 1426 resulting in a war of succession. The Mexica were in support of Tezozomoc’s preferred heir, Tayahauh, who initially took the throne but was usurped by his son Maxtla shortly thereafter. Maxtla turned against factions that had supported his father. This included the Chimalpopoca, the current ruler of the Mexica people. Chimalpopoca died soon after Maxtla turned on him, it is possible that he was murdered by the new king. Mexica’s new ruler Itzcoatl continued to defy Maxtl resulting in blockades of Tenochtitlan and increased payments of tribute from the Mexica people. Maxtla also turned against Texcoco and the Alcohua. Their king Nezahualcoyotl fled into exile. While in exile Nezahualcoyotl recruited military help from the people of Huexotzinco. During this time 5 | Page the Mexica joined forces with Tlacopan, another city that opposed the rule of Maxtl. The four cities, Huexotzinco, Tlacopan, Texcoco, and Tenochtitlan, united in a war against Azcapotzalco in 1427. In 1428 the cities claimed victory in that war. Triple Alliance Huexotzinco left the alliance two years later and the remaining three cities signed a treaty that would later be known as the triple alliance. The lands controlled by Azcapotzalco were divided among the three remaining cities, and the rulers of these cities were declared, huetlatoani, or emperor. The newly formed alliance quickly began expanding their rule starting with the cities of Coyoacan which was in the basin as well as Cuauhnahuac and Huaxtepec. These cities provided vast amounts of tribute primarily agricultural goods. When Itzcoatl died Moctezuma I assumed the role of emperor of Tenochtitlan. He continued the expansion and with the help of the other cities emperor’s changed the religious practices, and also had the history re-recorded with the Mexica people placed at the center of it. Reform Moctezuma enacted reforms and policies that allowed him to better control cities and territories that had been conquered. These included using Mexica puppet rulers to replace kings who were uncooperative and establishing a new tax system that bypassed local rule and taxed individuals. One of the other leaders of the triple alliance Nezahualcoyotl came up with a system that encouraged loyalty from conquered lands. The 6 | Page kings of conquered lands would be assigned a tributary from another conquered land, and if they rebelled they would lose that tributary. Moctezuma furthered the separation between the nobles and common people. He instituted new laws and created new educational standards. Every single neighborhood established a school called a telpochcalli where students received basic religious and military training. Calmecacs were also established as a more refined institution for higher learning usually reserved for nobles. A non-hereditary term for nobility was also created for the select few commoners who were able to rise in rank, quauhpilli. Out of these reforms came the Flower Wars. Wars fought between the Aztecs their nearby enemy Tlaxcala from 1450-1454. Because it was more popular to capture enemy soldiers in combat rather than kill them the wars were fought with the purpose of capturing enemies from each side. These captured enemies would become sacrifices to the gods. Purepécha The Aztec expansion was briefly halted in 1450 due to a draught. The halting of expansion caused the empire to have to reclaim many cities that it had previously conquered. Following this, the empire continued to expand in the direction of the Gulf of Mexico. Moctezuma I died in 1468, his son Axayacatl. Shortly before the death of Moctezuma, the Purépecha empire had expanded into areas previously taken over by the Aztecs. In 1472 under the rule of Axayacatl, the Aztec empire re-conquered and defended the territory that had been taken from them by the Purépecha empire. In 1479 an assault was 7 | Page launched against the Purépecha empire. The Aztec army was decimated and Axayacatl was injured. The Purépecha empire was not attacked again. When Axayacatl died in 1481 he was succeeded by his brother Tizoc. Tizoc was most likely assassinated five years later due to his incompetence. He was succeeded by his brother Ahuitzotl. Ahuitzotl spent much of his time stifling rebellions and fighting the Purépecha. He established a military base in the conquered city of Otzoma to defend against the Purépecha, killing most of its residents in the process. He also expanded towards the Pacific reaching the coast of Guerrero. The Mexica had become the clear power in the triple alliance under the rule of Ahuitzotl. After anointing himself as "huehuetlatoani," ("Eldest Speaker") Ahuitzotl began using the title to put himself above the rulers of Texcoco and Tlacopan. Following his death, Moctezuma II assumed the throne in 1502. Mexica Reign of Moctezuma II For the first several years of his reign, Moctezuma II built up the power of the Aztec empire. He then attacked the Purépecha empire in 1515. Having been reduced to raiding the Aztecs were defeated yet again and ceased the offensive. After Nezahualcoyotl, the emperor of Texcoco, died the Mexica emperors became the de facto rulers of the alliance. Moctezuma used this new authority to his advantage wiping out the quauhpilli social class and again building up the military power of the empire. He also removed and executed many of Ahuitzotl’s advisors. 8 | Page Religion The Aztec religion is a polytheistic religion that grew with its people. As new conquests were made and the empire was expanded, new gods were also added and accepted into the religion. The religious affairs of the Empire are controlled by a hierarchy of priests whose task is to make sure the gods are pleased to ensure good will upon the people of the Aztec Empire. The priests do this through education, festivals, and most importantly religious sacrifices.