Azetec civilization

AZETEC CIVILIZATION :

The legendary origin of the Aztec people has them migrating from a homeland called Aztlan to what would become modern-day Mexico. While it is not clear where Aztlan was, a number of scholars believe that the Mexica—as the Aztec referred to themselves—migrated south to central Mexico in the 13th century.

The Mexica founding of Tenochtitlan was under direction from their patron god Huitzilopochtli, according to legend. The legend recounts that Huitzilopochtli told them to found their settlement in the place where a giant eagle eating a snake was perched on a cactus. This settlement, in the region of Mesoamerica called Anáhuac located on a group of five connected lakes, became Tenochtitlan. Archaeologists date the founding of Tenochtitlan to 1325 C.E.

The Aztec Empire was a confederation of three city-states established in 1427: Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Mexica or Tenochca, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan, previously part of the Tepanec empire, whose dominant power was Azcapotzalco. 

The Aztec region of Mesoamerica, called Anáhuac, contained a group of five connected lakes. The largest of them was Lake Texcoco. The Aztec built their capital city, Tenochtitlan, on Lake Texcoco. Built on two islands, the area was extended using chinampas—small, artificial islands created above the waterline that were later consolidated. Tenochtitlan eventually reached an area of more than 13 square kilometers (five square miles). Causeways that doubled as dikes connected the island to the mainland and separated freshwater from salt water, protecting the chinampas.

The Teotihuacan pyramids are some of the largest of their kind in the Americas. The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon began construction around the year 100 C.E before the Aztec had arrived in Teotihuacan.These marvels still stand at an incre.

The Aztec lived under the region’s ruling group, the Tepanec. The Aztec paid taxes to them and served as soldiers in their military. But this didn’t last. In 1428, the Aztec joined two other city-states to overthrow the Tepanec. And soon, the Aztec took control of the alliance and became the region’s rulers.

Over the next hundred years, Aztec kings conquered territory until the empire spanned about 80,000 square miles from the Gulf of Mexico in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. Dividing the territory into states, the Aztec ruled over a total of about six million people.

The local leaders of these states could govern without too much intervention from their Aztec rulers—but they had to pay tribute to the emperor back in Tenochtitlan. These tributes could be things like food, cotton textiles, feathers, and precious stones like turquoise.

But tributes could also be human sacrifices to the gods. Sometimes women and children were sacrificed, but most victims were warriors from these neighboring states who were taken in battle. These people were often sacrificed atop the Templo Mayor, meaning “Great Temple” in Spanish, at the center of Tenochtitlan.

By the end of the 1400s, their subjects were so unhappy with the tribute system and the brutal sacrifices that that they started to rebel against Aztec rule. And then in 1519, Spanish explorers led by Hernán Cortés arrived. The Spanish first pretended to befriend King Moctezuma II but then took him prisoner. With the help of other local groups who no longer wanted to be ruled by the Aztec, the Spanish conquered Tenochtitlan in 1521, ending the Aztec Empire. However, many Aztec descendants still live in Mexico today.

Aztec Agriculture :

Aztec agriculture was incredibly advanced for its time. The Aztecs were skilled farmers who developed sophisticated irrigation systems and farming techniques. They cultivated a wide variety of crops, including maize, beans, squash, and chili peppers. The Aztecs also used a system of chinampas, or floating gardens, which allowed them to grow crops in the shallow waters of Lake Texcoco.

Aztec Socio-political Organization :

Aztec socio-political organization was highly centralized and hierarchical. The emperor was at the top of the social and political hierarchy and was considered a divine figure.

Below the emperor were the nobility, who held significant power and wealth. The common people were at the bottom of the social ladder and were often forced to pay high taxes to support the ruling elite.

Aztec Religion :

Aztec religion was complex and multifaceted. The Aztecs worshiped a wide variety of deities, many of whom were associated with the forces of nature. Human sacrifice was an essential aspect of Aztec religion, and it was believed that sacrificing humans would ensure that the gods would continue to provide for the people. Aztec priests played a significant role in religious ceremonies and were among the most powerful people in society.

Nahuatl: The Aztec Language :

Nahuatl was the language spoken by the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican peoples, and it is still spoken by millions of people today in Mexico and Central America. The language is complex and sophisticated, with a rich literary tradition. It was an essential part of Aztec culture and played a significant role in their religion, poetry, and literature.

The Nahuatl language has a long and fascinating history. It was first written down by Aztec scribes in the 16th century using a system of hieroglyphs. However, after the Spanish conquest, the language was written using the Latin alphabet, and the Aztecs adopted Christianity as their religion.

The Nahuatl language has continued to evolve over time, and many modern varieties of the language exist today. The language has also influenced other languages, including Spanish and English. For example, the words "tomato," "chocolate," and "avocado" all have Nahuatl roots.