Aztec Mexico

The Aztec Ruins National Monument

The Aztecs developed an advanced civilization in Central Mexico, spanning the 14th to the 16th centuries. Also known as the Mexicas, the Aztecs brought numerous contributions to future societies.

From the legends, Aztecs allegedly came from Aztlan, which lies on the northern part of Mexico. However, some historians suggest that Aztlan is a mythical place. In the mid-1200s, Aztecs reached Chapultepec, from which they were expelled by the powerful Tepanecs from Azcapotzalco. They were forced to move to Tizapan, where the Culhuacans were settled. In 1323, the Aztecs were again expelled after they sacrificed the Culhuacan king’s daughter.

Legends say that the Aztecs were guided by a vision, where an eagle, grasping a snake, was perched on a cactus. This was where they were supposed to build their capital, Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan was built with a symmetrical layout, with the Great Pyramid in the center.

During the early 1400s, Maxtla, the new ruler of Azcapotzalco, assassinated the Aztec ruler Chimalpopoca. Itzcoatl, Chimalpopoca’s successor, sought the help of exiled leader Nezahualcoyotl. Their partnership would eventually form the Aztec Triple Alliance, which became dominant for the next century. Tenochtitlan became the most powerful area in the Aztec Empire.

The Aztec government was based on a tribute system. As long as city states paid their tribute, the Aztecs will not interfere with their affairs. The Aztec economy flourished with trade, where goods such as clothing, food, firewood, and jewelry, were exchanged. Money was in the form of cacao beans and pieces of cotton cloth.

The Aztec society was divided into classes, namely the nobility or pilli, the merchants or pochteca, the peasants or mepoplei, the slaves or tlacotin. Their language was Nahuatl.

One of the most useful contributions of the Aztecs is a system of communication using roads. Roads were traveled on foot, and were maintained using tribute. Along the road, there were places where travelers can rest and go to the bathroom.

The Aztecs also imposed mandatory education for all of their youth. Before they turn 15, children were educated at home; at 15, they enter school. There were basically two kinds of schools, one for practical and military education and another for writing, theology, astronomy and other areas.

One of the most unique aspects of Aztec culture is their religion. Their main god is Huitzilopochtli, the god of sun and war, who was believed to have guided them to Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice to unparalleled degrees, allegedly sacrificing over 84,000 prisoners in four days at one point. This, however, may be an overestimation.

When the Spanish arrived, they united with the Tlaxcala, Aztec’s enemy. In 1520, they massacred the Aztec king Montezuma in the Main Temple. A war began, which resulted in the destruction of the city. Along with this, an epidemic of smallpox occurred in the city, leading to a significant decrease in their population.

At present, there are various Aztec sites you can visit, including Tenochtitlan. Many museums in Mexico also hold Aztec statues and relics.