AZTEC EMPIRE 1200-1521

Geography

South-central Mexico Mountainous area

The capital city was Tenochtitlan, an island inpresent day Mexico City

The Myth Behind Tenochtitlan According to Aztec legend, in 1323,

the Mexicas were shown a vision of an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, eating a snake. This vision indicated that this was the location where they were to build their home.

The Mexicas eventually arrived on a small swampy island in Lake Texcoco where they founded the town of Tenochtitlan in 1325.

Tenochtitlan

Aztec Government

The Aztec Empire was very diverse including many ethnicities due to the amount of people conquered by the Aztecs

The empire did not directly rule over its conquered people and allowed local authorities to remain in control

The conquered people were only expected to pay a tribute tax to the Aztecs and if completed then they were left alone

Although conquered enemy soldiers were used as sacrifice in their rituals

Aztec Religion

The Aztecs were polytheistic and believed in over 100 gods

Their main god was the sun god, Huitzilopochtil

There also regular human sacrifices to appease the gods Some people considered the sacrifice to

be an honor

Aztec Temple

Article About Religious Practice