What was the role of state ideologies during the Postclassic period? How did Aztec religion function as ideology?

What is a "world system"? How did Postclassic Mesoamerica constitute a world system? How were the different zones tied together?

What did certain areas evolve into core zones?

What was the extent of the Aztec Empire? How was it organized? What was the Aztecs' strategy in dealing with its independent rivals?

How was the Tarascan empire different from the Aztec empire?

How was Oaxaca different from the other core zones?

What were the main characteristics of the Maya core zone? How did the core zones interact with each other?

What factors explained the location of semi-peripheral zones?

How did core zones dominate peripheral zones? What were the main features of peripheral zones?

What was the economic basis of Aztec growth and social stratification?

What were the main social classes in Aztec society?