By the early 16th century, the Aztecs had come to rule over up to small states, and some 5 to 6 million people, either by conquest or commerce. The Aztec civilization was also highly developed socially, intellectually and artistically.
It was a highly structured society with a strict caste system; at the top were nobles, while at the bottom were serfs, indentured servants and enslaved workers. The Aztec faith shared many aspects with other Mesoamerican religions, like that of the Maya , notably including the rite of human sacrifice. The Aztec calendar, common in much of Mesoamerica, was based on a solar cycle of days and a ritual cycle of days; the calendar played a central role in the religion and rituals of Aztec society.
The first European to visit Mexican territory was Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, who arrived in Yucatan from Cuba with three ships and about men in early In March , Cortes landed at the town of Tabasco , where he learned from the natives of the great Aztec civilization, then ruled by Moctezuma or Montezuma II.
Defying the authority of Velasquez, Cortes founded the city of Veracruz on the southeastern Mexican coast, where he trained his army into a disciplined fighting force. Cortes and some soldiers then marched into Mexico, aided by a native woman known as Malinche, who served as a translator. Thanks to instability within the Aztec empire, Cortes was able to form alliances with other native peoples, notably the Tlascalans, who were then at war with Montezuma.
Though the Aztecs had superior numbers, their weapons were inferior, and Cortes was able to immediately take Montezuma and his entourage of lords hostage, gaining control of Tenochtitlan. The Spaniards then murdered thousands of Aztec nobles during a ritual dance ceremony, and Montezuma died under uncertain circumstances while in custody. European diseases like smallpox, mumps and measles were also powerful weapons against the local population, who lacked immunity to them.
After his victory, Cortes razed Tenochtitla and built Mexico City on its ruins; it quickly became the premier European center in the New World. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!
Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. The Maya Empire, centered in the tropical lowlands of what is now Guatemala, reached the peak of its power and influence around the sixth century A. The Aztecs also practices human sacrifice, offering a human heart to the sun god, for example, to win favor from the gods. Geography: This area is characterized by an extraordinary diversity in topography and climate and is crossed by two major mountain chains, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental.
The Aztec civilization developed in the Valley of Mexico, wedged between high mountains and surrounded by lakes that provided fish, waterfowl, potable water and reeds for thatching and weaving. The climate was mild. They were subject to the Tepanec, whose capital was Azcapotzalco, and had to pay tribute to them. In , the Mexica allied with two other cities—Texcoco and Tlacopan. They formed the Aztec Triple Alliance and were able to win the battle for regional control, collecting tribute from conquered states.
Key to the rise of Tenochtitlan was the agricultural system that made it possible to feed the population. Chinampa s, small, artificial islands created above the waterline, were one feature of the system. Recordkeeping was important to tracking tributes. Two pictographic texts that survived Spanish destruction—the Matricula de tributos and Codex Mendoza— record the tributes paid to the Aztecs. The codices also recorded religious practices. A day ritual calendar was used by Aztec priests for divination , alongside a day solar calendar.
The Spanish reaction to Aztec religious practices is believed to be partially responsible for the violence of the Spanish conquest. They were looking for gold, and the gifts from the Mexica ruler, Motecuhzoma, proved that gold was present. This was not the end of the interactions, however. The Spanish conquistadors laid siege to the Aztec capital from the middle of May of until they surrendered on August 13, They were aided by Texcoco, a former Triple Alliance member.
A great deal of Tenochtitlan was destroyed in the fighting, or was looted, burned, or destroyed after the surrender. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.
The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society.
National Geographic Society. Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society.
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