The Aztecs were a fierce warrior race who believed that their gods would die if they did not offer human sacrifices. With this belief, they could not stop engaging in warfare, wherein they captured several enemies to offer to their gods. By the time the Spanish conquistadors came, the Aztecs were already powerfully dominant in … Read more
According to legends, the Aztecs came from Aztlan and migrated to what is now known as Mexico around the 13th century. They built their city, Tenochtitlan, following the directions of Huitzilopochtli, their patron god. The god said the city should be in a location where a giant eagle was eating a snake while resting on … Read more
It is rare to find actual images of Aztec (Mexica) people today, as the remaining population of Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs nowadays would rather speak Spanish to avoid discrimination. Thus, most of the physical features described here are from codices, paintings, and existing images. Like other Native Americans, the Aztecs have brown to light brown skin color … Read more
The Aztec Empire thrived in Central Mexico before the arrival of Spanish conquerors. As a civilization, the empire expanded its territory—displaying its military prowess and establishing its reputation as the most powerful and dominant people in the region. Tenochtitlan was its central city and base of power. Many people ruled the empire, most of them … Read more
The Aztecs were polytheistic, and they worshiped more than 200 gods and goddesses that oversaw every part of their daily lives. They believed these deities controlled the various aspects of the universe, such as wars, fertility, agriculture, and weather. They had four primary gods: Huitzilopochtli, Quetzalcoatl, Xipe Totec, and Tezcatlipoca, who were children of their … Read more
The Aztecs’ diet consisted mainly of grains, vegetables, and fruits. Top agricultural produce were maize, beans, and squash, which they included in the two meals they ate each day. Maize was sacred to the Aztecs for many reasons. As a crop, the stalks provided support for the climbing beans, which improved the nitrogen in the … Read more
The Aztecs were fierce people who fought to kill, but they also took many prisoners as human sacrifices to celebrate their victory. Most Aztec warriors fought one-on-one, using wooden swords embedded with rows of sharpened volcanic glass or obsidian and spears. Spanish conquistador Hernándo Cortés reached the area in 1519 and was impressed by the … Read more
The Aztecs, later known as Mexicas, came from Northern Mexico. The nomadic tribe settled on an island in Lake Texcoco in the 13th century, and founded their capital city, Tenochtitlan. They shortly became the dominant force in the region, and with their intricate commercial, religious, political, and social organization, the Aztecs brought many of the … Read more
The Aztecs may be known for being a warrior society but they were also into the arts. Many artisans from the empire created various sculptures and other artifacts that display their excellent skills and depth of artistic knowledge. Introduction The Aztecs may be known for being a warrior society but they were also into the … Read more
Despite being a warrior society, the Aztecs had several accomplishments and inventions, many of which modern society still uses. They expanded their empire and ruled millions of people, increasing their territories and wealth through tributes and commerce. Due to their need for a place to live, they expanded the swampy land available to them by … Read more