The Aztec Empire is among the most famous Mesoamerican cultures that existed before the arrival of Europeans in the early 16th century. Formed after a ‘Triple Alliance’ of city states in the valley of Mexico – namely Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan – the empire was the dominant force in the region for almost 100 years.
While many aspects of Mexican culture are Hispanic, there are also many ties to the Aztec civilization as well as other Mesoamerican cultures, making the modern country a true blend of New and Old World.
1. They called themselves the Mexica
The word ‘Aztec’ would not have been used by the Aztec people themselves. ‘Aztec’ refers to the ‘people of Aztlán’ – the ancestral home of the Aztecs, thought to be in northern Mexico or the southwestern United States.
The Aztec people actually called themselves the ‘Mexica’ and spoke the Nahuatl language. Some three million people continue to speak the indigenous language in central Mexico today.
2. The Mexica originated from northern Mexico
Nahua speaking people began to migrate to the Basin of Mexico around 1250 AD. The Mexica were one of the last groups to arrive, and most of the fertile farming land had already been taken.
A page from the Codex Boturini depicting the departure from Aztlán
Image Credit: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
3. They founded Tenochtitlan in 1325 AD
They moved to an island in Lake Texcoco, where an eagle nested upon a cactus eating a snake (the symbol in the middle of the modern Mexican flag). They saw this as a prophesy and founded Tenochtitlan on this island on 13 March 1325.
4. They defeated the Tepanecs to become the most powerful state in Mexico
From 1367, the Aztecs had been militarily supporting the nearby state of Tepanec and benefited from the expansion of that empire. In 1426, the Tepanec ruler died and his son Maxlatzin inherited the throne. He sought to reduce Aztec power, but was crushed by the former ally.
5. The empire wasn’t strictly an empire as we might think
The Aztecs didn’t directly rule their subjects in the same way a European empire like the Romans did. Rather than direct control, the Aztecs subjugated nearby city states but left the local rulers in charge, then demanded regular tribute – leading to great wealth for Tenochtitlan.
6. Their combat became focused on capture over killing on the battlefield
While the Aztec did fight pitched battles, from the mid-1450s fighting became something rather more like a blood sport, with ornately dressed nobles attempting to make their enemies submit so they could be captured and then sacrificed.
Folio from the Codex Mendoza showing a commoner advancing through the ranks by taking captives in war. Each attire can be achieved by taking a certain number of captives
Image Credit: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
7. The ‘flowery wars’ prioritised military training and religion over conquest
The ritualised ‘flowery war’ was practiced against enemies like Tlaxcala and Cholula – whereby the Aztecs could have conquered the cities, but decided not to as the constant war helped train Aztec soldiers and served as a source for gathering sacrifices.
8. Their religion was based on existing Mesoamerican belief systems
The polytheistic pantheon that the Aztec religion was based upon had existed for thousands of years prior to their own civilisation. For instance, a feathered serpent – which the Aztecs called Quetzalcoatl – were present in Omec culture which dated to 1400 BC.
The pantheon of the Teotihuacan city state, which was one of the world’s largest cities between 200-600 AD, had many similarities with the Aztec pantheon. Indeed, the word ‘Teotihuacan’ is Nahuatl language for ‘birthplace of the gods’.
9. There were over 200 deities within their Pantheon
Aztec gods were divided into groups, such as for the weather, agriculture and warfare. The patron god was called Huitzilopochtli, who was associated with war and sacrifice. Tlaloc, the god of rain, and Quetzalcoatl, the god of knowledge and wisdom are other prominent gods common in art and stonework.
10. Their religion practiced human sacrifice
Captives would be sacrificed to please the gods, which was common throughout Mesoamerican religion. While the Aztecs certainly increased the amount of sacrifice that occurred in the region, the true extent of how much it occurred is unclear. Spanish sources are almost certainly exaggerated.
Aztec ritual human sacrifice portrayed in the Codex Magliabechiano
Image Credit: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
11. They lacked metallurgy for warfare
In terms of military technology, the peoples of the Mexico region were a long way from the Europeans at the time – they had not developed either bronze or iron for widespread battle use and most metalwork was for jewellery or small ornaments.
Most Aztec weaponry was based on a volcanic glass called obsidian, which was sharp and strong enough to fashion primitive weapons. Militarily they were only as advanced as European peoples in the Neolithic (Stone Age) period.
12. …and pack animals for building
There were no horses, cows or sheep native to the region. This meant armies could not be easily supported and all of the structures in the region were built purely by man power. Communications in central Mexico could only run as fast as a man.
13. They were advanced in architecture, art and astronomy
Despite primitive technologies and the lack of load bearing animals, the Aztecs constructed many great religious buildings – notably the large Templo de Mayor complex at the heart of Tenochtitlan. Aztec society placed great emphasis on skilled masonry, and intricate stonework is a regular feature on many of their buildings. The remarkable 24 ton Aztec Sun Stone consists of detailed motifs and the heart of Aztec cosmogony.
14. They were agricultural innovators
For centuries prior to the Aztec arrival the Valley of Mexico had complex irrigation systems called chinampas. The Aztecs developed these for large scale cultivation. Soil from the bottom of the shallow Lake Texcoco was piled up to create ridges between ditches, and small rectangular fields were formed.
The rich soil combined with a constant water supply and a favourable climate meant there were three harvests every year, leading to a very high population density.
15. Maize was the principle Aztec crop
Maize (corn) was the staple of the Aztec diet – similar to rice in Asia or Wheat in Europe. This could be eaten on the cob, in corn tortillas or in a gruel. Maize was so important to the Aztecs that they had a god for it – Centeotl – which translates to “Maize cob Lord.”
Aztec woman blowing on maize before putting it into the cooking pot
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
16. Tenochtitlan was one of the largest cities in the world by 1500
The city’s population was over 200,000 by the early 16th century – only Paris and Constantinople were bigger cities at the time.
17. Moctezuma was emperor of the Aztecs when they met the Spanish conquistadors under Hernan Cortes
He was the ninth ruler of the Aztecs, reigning from 1502 until his death in 1520. Under his rule, the Aztec Empire reached its greatest size, but was also conquered. He first met the Spanish expedition led by Cortez in 1519.
18. Moctezuma was already facing internal problems when the Spanish arrived
Many subdued tribes under Aztec rule were very discontent. Having to pay regular tribute and provide sacrificial victims built up resentment. Cortes was able to exploit the poor communications and turn city states against the Aztecs.
His first meeting with indigenous people, with the Totonacs at Cempoala near modern day Veracruz, quickly informed him of the resentment towards the Aztec overlords.
19. The empire was crushed by the Spanish conquistadors and their allies in 1521
Cortes was initially cordial towards the uncertain Moctezuma, but then took him hostage. After an incident when Moctezuma was killed, the Conquistadors were forced out of Tenochtitlan. They rallied with indigenous allies like Tlaxcala and Texcoco, to build a vast force which besieged and sacked Tenochtitlan in August 1521 – crushing the Aztec empire.
20. Spanish brought smallpox that devastated the Aztec population
The defense of Tenochtitlan was severely hindered by smallpox, a disease from which Europeans were immune. Very shortly after the Spanish arrival in 1519, between 5-8 million people in Mexico (about a quarter of the population) died from the disease.
It subsequently ravaged the indigenous population of the Americas at a greater scale than even the Black Death in Europe during the late 14th century.
21. There were no revolts in favour of the Aztec empire once it had fallen
Unlike the Incas in Peru, people in the region did not rebel against the Spanish conquerors in favour of the Aztecs. This is possibly indicative of the empire’s fragile and fractured power base. Spanish rule of Mexico ended exactly 300 years later – in August 1821.
