When Hernando Cortez arrived at the Valley of Mexico in 1519, he found a huge city standing in lake Texcoco. This city was Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan was the head of all Aztec civilization. From there all armies were sent out to conquer the other cities. When the Spanish came the Aztecs ruled the land from the Gulf of Mexico and down southward to present day Guatamala. The barbarian Aztecs came to Mexico in about A.D. 1200, from there on they put out a pure militaristic empire.
At the time their emperor, Montezuma ll., did not have an orginized empire. When the slave cities were taken over, he had no governers or stading armies to control them. Montezuma ll. had to re-conquer them. This weakness helped the Spaniards to conquer the warlike Aztecs in about two years.
Small floating islands fringed the oval island. They were made of mud dragged up from the lake bottom, hanging on a bunch of branches and water grass. At first , the farmers could tow their crops with canoes. Then, as trees sent their roots to the bottom of Lake Texcoco, they became permanent island farms which were called chinapas.
Religion was the strong force in Aztec life. In sculpture they gave their greatest efforts to please their gods by making the strongest and most beautiful temples possible.
They had hyrogliphics and number symbols with whitc they had recorded religious events. They had stole the idea from the Maya how to determine the solar year correcly. With this knowledge their priests kept a precise solar calender. An almanac gave dates for fixed festivals and listed the various deities.
The Aztecs the most advanced civilization when Cortez was there, but they did not start it . When the Aztec warriors were sent out to take over a city they also took the culture of earlier, more advanced people-the Toltecs, Maya, and many others.
A trade system linked the far parts of the empire with Tenochtitlan. Soldiers guarded the traders, and troops of porters carried the heavy loads.
But sacrifice also afforded atonement to the Aztec sacrificer. ... ("The Mystery of Aztec Sacrifice"). ... The Aztecs offered many children, "upon the mountains." ... Aztec human sacrifice was a necessary part of their culture. ... Aztecs also took part in cannibalism after the sacrifices. ...
The Aztecs praised and admired remarkable athletic talent. ... The Aztecs built canoes to be able to fish and hunt. ... Aztec engineers were quit innovative and ahead of their time. ... The Aztecs had a rather intense view of games and play. ... The vast majority of Aztec games involved betting. ...
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico. ... The Aztec religion was mostly based on keeping nature in balance. ... Human sacrifices were a big and very sacred thing in the Aztec religion. ... The Aztecs believed in an afterlife, but it was a little complicated. ... The culture of the Aztecs was a unique and diverse culture. ...
The Aztec priest would give him final instructions on what messages needed to reach God. ... In 1454, the Aztecs learned these truths the hard way when a great famine began. ... From then on, the Aztec practice of human sacrifice took on a high role of importance. ... It is clear that religion played a major role in the Aztec life. ... The Aztecs had a complex and varied composition of Gods and Goddesses. ...
The Aztecs were also great warriors. ... The Aztecs state was authoritarian. ... Many Aztecs lived in small, adobe homes and wealthier Aztecs lived in larger ones. ... Aztec markets were very big and busy. ... Then he went to the Aztecs city. ...
Women in Aztec Society In the Aztec society women were fated to a domestic life. ... In Aztec society, marriage represented social maturity. ... Women in all social classes played important roles in Aztec society. ... Like the Aztecs, weaving was a very important female art. ... Women in Inca society, like in Aztec society were expected to marry. ...
In the past, the Aztecs would experience this life usually. ... Based on theories and facts, nobody knows what history can conclude about the Aztecs. ... Specifically, the Aztecs believed if they didn't please their gods, then the gods would return back a way of treating the Aztecs poorly and they will eventually all die. ... Within the Aztecs' system, "The War Council enforced laws concerning the military... ... Certainly, the Aztecs were mainly the most advanced people of their time, and for many other years. ...
The Aztecs The Aztecs came from Azatlan, which is the mythical place of origin (Aztecs of Lost Civilization). ... The Aztecs conquered many cities and all became part of the empire, which was wedged between high mountains and surrounded by lakes (Aztecs of Lost Civilization/ Aztec Empire History). ... Ceremonies, public events, and festivals, which were all important in Aztec life, were held at the temple (Aztecs). ... The language of the Aztecs was called Nahuatl. ... (Aztec's of Lost Civilizations)...
Aztec Religion and Sacrifice In the years before the Spanish conquest in the early 1500's, the Aztecs of Mexico ritually sacrificed at least 20,000 people per year. ... The Aztecs used war and crime as a way to find captives for sacrifice and cannibalism. ... In order to please the Aztecs" insistent gods, the Aztecs would follow their sacrificial rituals to accommodate each need of the god that was being offered to. ... The Aztecs zealous ways and profuse amount of sacrifice shows the adamancy of the Aztec's religion. ... This is the reasoning behind the Aztecs" practices. ...
