Aztec Empire

Aztec Empire

The Aztec Empire, also known as the Triple Alliance, was a powerful Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1428 to 1521. The empire was a confederation of three city-states: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan; these allied to defeat their rivals and expand their territories, controlling a region that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, and from central Mexico southward to Oaxaca.

History

The Aztec Empire's origins can be traced back to the migration of the Mexica people, who were a nomadic tribe from northern Mexico. They settled in the Valley of Mexico in the 13th century and founded their capital, Tenochtitlan, in 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco. Over the next century, the Mexica established dominance over other city-states in the region through warfare, marriage alliances, and tribute.

In 1428, under the leadership of Itzcoatl, Tenochtitlan formed the Triple Alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan, marking the beginning of the Aztec Empire. The empire expanded through military conquest and the imposition of tribute on conquered city-states. At its height, the empire was highly organized with a complex social structure, a pantheon of gods, and a calendar system derived from earlier Mesoamerican civilizations.

Society and Culture

Aztec society was highly stratified, with a ruling class, a warrior aristocracy, commoners, serfs, and slaves. The emperor, known as the Huey Tlatoani, was the highest authority, considered semi-divine and responsible for military conquests and maintaining the favor of the gods.

The Aztecs were known for their contributions to agriculture, particularly the chinampa system of floating gardens that allowed them to cultivate crops on the lake's surface. They were also skilled in astronomy, mathematics, and architecture, with the capital Tenochtitlan being one of the largest cities in the world at the time.

Religion played a central role in Aztec life, with a pantheon of gods representing natural and cultural forces. The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice as an offering to the gods, a practice that has become one of the most well-known and controversial aspects of their culture.

Collapse

The Aztec Empire came to an end with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés in 1519. Through a combination of military conquest, alliances with discontented tributary states, and the introduction of diseases to which the indigenous population had no immunity, the Spanish were able to capture Tenochtitlan in 1521, marking the fall of the empire.

Legacy

The Aztec Empire left a lasting legacy in Mexico, influencing the culture, language, and art of the region. The ruins of Tenochtitlan are now a major archaeological site in modern-day Mexico City, and the Aztec language, Nahuatl, is still spoken by millions in Mexico.