Aztec History

The Ancient Aztecs and Their Encounter with the Spaniards

The Aztec history was very involved and interesting. The ancestors of the Aztec Indians came from a land located to the north of the Valley of Mexico, which was called Aztlan. This is where the name “Aztec” was derived. The Aztecs then wandered many years before they settled in what was to be their homeland in the 1200’s. According to the documented Aztec history, the Aztec people were subjects of those who originally lived on the land. In 1325, however, they founded their own empirical city – Tenochtitlan.

The Growth of the Ancient Aztec People

After forming Tenochtitlan, the ancient Aztecs began to experience growth in their population. According to the Aztec timeline, Tenochtitlan had grown into a powerful city by the early 1400’s and controlled the entire region surrounding it. In addition, the Aztecs had formed an alliance with other nearby cities, Texcoco and Tlacopan, but Tenochtitlan remained the most powerful of these cities.

According to Aztec history, these three cities then went on to conquer the land to the south and to the east of Tenochtitlan while under the rule of Montezuma I. Montezuma I ruled from 1440 to 1469 and his successors continued to expand the empire. Montezuma II, who became ruler in 1502, was emperor of the Aztec empire during the height of its power. At this point, much of the Aztec economy was sustained through heavy taxes being levied on the people of the conquered countries. In addition, farming, which was largely dependent upon slavery, helped sustain the economy.

The Aztecs Encounter Spaniards

The Aztec history took a turn for the worse in 1519, when Hernando Cortes arrived on the east coast of Mexico. When Cortes arrived, he moved directly to Tenochtitlan. In addition to his own troops, Cortes was joined by a multitude of Indians who had been conquered by the Aztecs. Resentful of the taxes they were being forced to pay, they were willing to fight side-by- side with Cortes. Ultimately, this was how Cortes conquered the Aztecs.

The fall of the Aztecs was also made easier by the fact that Montezuma II did not put up opposition to the Spaniards. Many historians believe he did not resist because he believed Cortes represented the god Quetzalcoatl, who was said to have sailed away to the east. According to Aztec history, Cortes took Montezuma prisoner immediately and with no trouble.

When the Aztecs encountered the Spaniards in 1520, however, there was a great rebellion. According to Aztec history, this rebellion drove the Spaniards from the city. That same year, Montezuma died. The recorded history of the Aztec people has indicated that his death likely occurred from the wounds he received during the early stages of the rebellion. After the Spanish retreat, Cortes reorganized his army. In 1521, he launched a bloody attack against Tenochtitlan. At this time, Cuauhtemoc, who was Montezuma’s successor, surrendered as well.

The Remains of the Aztec Culture

The rich Aztec history can still be explored through the little architecture that remains. Unfortunately, Cortes and his troops destroyed the majority of Aztec artifacts. They believed it was their Christian duty to destroy the Aztec temples and any other traces of the Aztec history and their people. In the ruins of Tenochtitlan, they built the modern day Mexico City.

Several artifacts of the Aztec history have been subsequently recovered, as archeologists excavated the area where the Great Temple was located. Here, they were able to uncover all four sides of the building, as well as 6,000 objects. Objects recovered that shed new light on Aztec history included statues, jewelry, pottery, wall carvings, and remains from animal and human sacrifices.