Aztec Vocabulary

Exploring Ancient

Civilizations: Key Terms

and Concepts

Apothecaries: Ancient Pharmacies

●Definition: Apothecaries were early pharmacies in cities

●People went there to get medicines

●Example: In ancient Rome, apothecaries sold herbs and
remedies

Autonomy: Self-Governance

●Definition: The ability to govern without outside
interference

●Important for independent cities and states

●Example: Ancient Greek city-states like Athens had
autonomy

Causeways: Connecting Lands

●Definition: Human-made land bridges

●Used to cross water or marshy areas

●Example: The Aztecs built causeways to connect their
island city to the mainland

Tributary Empire: Payment for Protection

●Definition: An empire that required regular tribute from
conquered territories

●Tribute could be goods, services, or money

●Example: The Aztec Empire was a tributary empire

Triple Alliance: Aztec Power

●Definition: Alliance between three Aztec city-states

●Members: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan

●Worked together to control the Aztec Empire

Calpulli: Aztec Neighborhoods

●Definition: A neighborhood in the Aztec empire

●Organized social and economic life

●Example: Each calpulli had its own schools and temples

Chinampas: Floating Gardens

●Definition: Human-made islands for growing crops

●Built by the Mexica (Aztecs) in shallow lake beds

●Example: Chinampas were used to grow corn, beans, and
squash

City-State: Independent Urban Centers

●Definition: A city that operates as an independent
country

●Controls the surrounding territory

●Example: Ancient Mesopotamian cities like Ur and Babylon
were city-states

Crop Rotation: Smart Farming

●Definition: Changing which crops are grown in an area

●Helps maintain soil nutrients

●Example: Growing corn one year, then beans the next year