Question

Which of the following occurred at the beginning of the reign of Moctezuma 1?

O Several natural disasters
O The arrival of the Spanish
O A civil war when his brother attempted to seize the throne
O The discovery of a significant deposit of silver

Answer 1

During Moctezuma I's reign, several omens occurred that were later thought to predict the downfall of the Aztec Empire. These included a fiery sky object, an inextinguishable temple fire, and troubling dreams. Major events like the arrival of the Spanish and the finding of silver occurred during Moctezuma II's reign or after.

Step-by-step explanation:

At the beginning of the reign of Moctezuma I, none of the options provided occurred. Instead, several omens appeared that were interpreted after the fact as foretelling the destruction of the Aztec Empire. These included a fiery object in the night sky, a temple fire that water could not extinguish, a water spout in Lake Texcoco, and a woman's lament about the impending loss of her children. Moctezuma I also had dreams and premonitions of disaster. These omens are reflective of the importance of signs in Aztec culture. Events such as the arrival of the Spanish, a civil war with his brother, and the discovery of silver deposits occurred during the reign of Moctezuma II or after.