Imperio Azteca

The Aztec Civilization
The Aztecs were a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. They called themselves Mexica hence Mexican people. The Republic of Mexico and its capital, Mexico City, derive their names from the word "Mexica” .The capital of the Aztec empire was Tenochtitlan, built on raised island in Lake Texcoco. Mexico City is built on theruins of Tenochtitlan. In the 13th century in the Valley of Mexico, there existed many city-states including Chalco. Xochimilco, Tlacopan, Culhuacan, and Atzcapotzalco. The most powerful were Culhuacan on the south shore of Lake Texcoco and Azcapotzalco on the west shore. As a result, when the Mexica arrived in the Valley of Mexico as a semi-nomadic tribe, they had nowhere to go. In roughly 1248,they first settled on Chapultepec, a hill on the west shore of Lake Texcoco, the site of numerous springs. In 1325 they went to a small island on the west side of Lake Texcoco, where they began to build their city Tenochtitlan, eventually creating a large artificial island. It is said that the Aztec god, Huitzlipochtli, instructed the Aztecs to found their city at the location where they saw aneagle, on a cactus, with a snake in its talons. The Aztecs, apparently, saw this vision on the small island where Tenochtitlan was founded.

Aztec Culture
Among the cultural traits that the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan shared with many other cultures of central Mexico are the agricultural basis of maize cultivation, the basic social organization dividing society into classes of noble and commoners, thecomplex religious beliefs and practices. Cultural traits particular to the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan was the veneration of the Aztec patron God Huitzilopochtli, the construction of twin pyramids, and the ceramic ware known as Aztec I to III The Aztec economy was based on agriculture. Staple crops included maize, beans, amaranth, and squash. The population explosion of the Late Aztec period broughtabout widespread intensification of agriculture throughout central Mexico. Stone terraces were built in hilly locations, rivers were dammed for canal irrigation, and the shallow swampy lakes of the southern Valley of Mexico were converted into highly fertile fields through the construction of raised fields (chinampas). In spite of the increasing yields of Aztec agriculture, famines and foodshortages became regular events in the Late Aztec period, resulting in periods of social unrest and a general pattern of malnutrition for commoners. A variety of alternative food sources were exploited, including fish, algae, and insect larvae from the lakes. Aztec artisans produced a variety of utilitarian and luxury goods. Cotton textiles, produced by women of all social classes, were the most importantcraft product, both numerically and socially. In addition to their use as clothing, textiles were the primary item of tribute payment and also served as a form of money in the marketplaces. Ceramic cookware and ritual objects were produced throughout the Aztec realm. The volcanic glass obsidian was one of the most remarkable crafts in ancient Mesoamerica. Prismatic blades of obsidian,manufactured by specialists using a difficult and sophisticated method, had the sharpest edge known to science. These tools were used for a variety of domestic and production tasks, and they were one of the most important trade goods in the Aztec artisans produced a variety of utilitarian and luxury goods. Cotton textiles, produced by women of all social classes, were the most important craft product, bothnumerically and socially. In addition to their use as clothing, textiles were the primary item of tribute payment and also served as a form of money in the marketplaces. Ceramic cookware and ritual objects were produced throughout the Aztec realm. The volcanic glass obsidian was one of the most remarkable crafts in ancient Mesoamerica. Prismatic blades of obsidian, manufactured by specialists...