The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. Known for their complex societal structure, religious practices, and extensive empire, the Aztecs left a significant cultural and historical legacy.
The Aztecs, or Mexica, were one of the last indigenous people to arrive in central Mexico. They migrated from the north, possibly from a mythical place known as Aztlán, around the 12th or 13th century. They initially settled in Chapultepec, but conflicts with other tribes forced them to move to various locations until they settled in the marshy lands of Lake Texcoco, founding the city of Tenochtitlán in 1325.
Under the leadership of various rulers, particularly during the reign of Moctezuma I and Ahuitzotl, the Aztecs expanded their control through a combination of diplomacy, warfare, and tribute systems. By the early 16th century, the Aztec Empire stretched from the Pacific to the Gulf coasts and from central Mexico to Guatemala. The empire was not a single, homogeneous entity but rather a complex of alliances and conquered city-states, where the Aztecs imposed their rule through a system of tribute.
Aztec society was highly structured with a rigid class system. At the top were the nobles (pipiltin), followed by commoners (macehualtin), serfs, and slaves. Religion played a central role in Aztec life, with numerous gods and goddesses, like Huitzilopochtli, the patron god of Tenochtitlán, and Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god. Their religious practices included elaborate ceremonies, human sacrifices, and the construction of impressive temples, like the Templo Mayor.
Aztec culture was also known for:
The Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico in 1519, leading to the eventual downfall of the Aztec Empire. Cortés, with the help of indigenous allies like the Tlaxcalans, who were enemies of the Aztecs, captured Tenochtitlán in 1521 after a brutal siege. The fall of the empire was also facilitated by diseases brought by the Europeans, to which the Aztecs had no immunity.
The legacy of the Aztecs is vast, influencing modern Mexican culture in terms of language (Nahuatl words are part of everyday Spanish in Mexico), cuisine (like chocolate and maize-based foods), and cultural practices. Many of their architectural and artistic works are preserved or have influenced modern-day structures and designs.
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