Aztec Civilization and Their Practices

Overview

• The Aztec Empire stretched from northern Mexico to present-day Guatemala, ruling over 10 million subjects at its height between 1300 and 1500.
• Their capital, Tenochtitlán, was the largest city in the world at its peak.
• The Aztecs are known for their brilliance in arts, warfare, and religious fervor, notably human sacrifice.

Origins and Beliefs

• The exact origin of the Aztecs is contested, but legends suggest they emerged from a supernatural place called The Seven Caves.
• Their migration journey started in 1116, taking 200 years.
• The Aztecs believed they were chosen to maintain cosmic order through offerings, primarily blood offerings.
• The human heart was considered the most precious offering to the gods.

Society and Culture

• Human sacrifice was a religious act intended to sustain the universe by feeding the sun with human hearts and blood.
• Tlaloc, the rain god, demanded the sacrifice of young children, believed to bring rain through sympathetic magic.
• Aztec society included poetry, music, drama, and a rich tradition of arts and crafts.
• Their sculptures were created using primitive tools, depicting significant cultural and religious symbolism.

Tenochtitlán: The Aztec Capital

• Built on a small island, expanded to 2,500 acres using ingenious engineering techniques.
• Compared to Venice, crisscrossed by canals, and maintained a population of about 250,000.
• The Spanish were awed by the city's cleanliness, organization, and ecological practices.

Military and Conquests

• The Aztecs were a warrior society, with war being central to their culture.
• Capturing rather than killing in battle was preferred to secure sacrificial victims.
• They dominated neighboring city-states and relied on tributary states for economic support.

Spanish Conquest

• In 1519, the Spanish conquistador Cortez arrived, coinciding with the foretold return of the god Quetzalcoatl.
• Moctezuma II, the Aztec ruler, perceived Cortez as a returning god, leading to a series of strategic missteps.
• The Spanish utilized local discontent against the Aztecs, forming alliances to overthrow the empire.

Collapse and Aftermath

• The Aztec Empire fell after the Spanish invasion, aided by an outbreak of smallpox that devastated the population.
• Tenochtitlán was destroyed and later covered by modern Mexico City.
• Archeological discoveries continue to unearth remnants of the Aztec civilization, revealing their complex society.

Legacy

• Despite their fall, the Aztec's cultural and religious influences persist in Mexico today, with annual pilgrimages to historical sites.
• Misconceptions about the Aztecs as savages overlook their moral codes, artistic achievements, and societal structures.