Throughout human history, people have come together to form small, independent city-states or large, expanding empires. From the Egyptian Empire in the 16th century BC to the British Empire in the 19th century AD, humankind has seen large and small empires rise and fall. Some empires have been more conventional to the Western understanding, such as the Roman Empire where there was a central capital that had direct control over other territories in which it conquered. Other empires consisted of a more complex system, like the Aztec Empire which consisted of a capital, Tenochtitlan, but had very loose control over its conquered territories. The Aztec Empire and Tenochtitlan rested upon as very complex and important social structure that provided …show more content…
The state of Tenochtitlan was astonished the Spanish when they first arrived to the city. Tenochtitlan was one of the largest, cleanliest, and prosperous cities in the world. The prosperity of Tenochtitlan was largely attributed to its social structure in which reflected the formation of the city. Tenochtitlan was built on a small island in the middle of Lake Texcoco, a salt water lake in the middle of Central America. The Mexica founded the city after escaping from conflict with their former ally, the city of Culhuacan. The Mexica eventually won the battle and formed one of the greatest cities the Americas has ever seen as technological advances were made to create a fresh water lake around them and a complex agricultural system to grow corn. The Mexica officially established themselves as a state by becoming independent when they formed the Triple Alliance with the states of Texcoco and Tlacopan. The Mexica eventually created their own social structure to maintain the functions of day to day life within the city. The Mexica divided themselves into the nobility, those who identified themselves with the original Mexica ruler Acamapichtli, to commoners who …show more content…
With the capital city of Tenochtitlan founded upon a small island that became one of the biggest cities in the world of its time to the spread of the Aztec conquest throughout Central America, the Aztecs questioned the conventional definition of what makes up a city and an empire. New ideas of culture, social organization, and military conquests developed because of the Aztec Empire. The Aztec Empire however, eventually fell because of its flaws within the empire like the lack of fast travel and the lack of loyalty among the commoners of the conquered city
The Aztec's back then had a very stunning capital. Hernàn Cortès, the Spanish conquer, was very awed by the Aztec's capital. He said "there is one square....where their are more than 60,000 souls, buying, and selling". Tenochtitlàn was pretty advanced for its time
The Aztecs were a remarkable civilization. Th is civilization were distrusted and disliked because they tended to push others out of their way. They ruled an empire in Tenochtitlan in the time of 1350 to 1519. They also were known for their agriculture and human sacrifices. Agriculture was a very important part of their h istory because without their farming method the Aztec couldn't have created such great civilization. According to Document A of the Aztec DBQ, states that the Aztec empire grew more than 200 miles west to east, and north to south. Th is means that with the growth of the empire the population also grew and more effective agriculture techniques were needed to feed the people. They created the method of ch inampas because they
The Aztecs had one of the most successful and advanced empires of all time. They had a dwelling culture The Aztec civilization was located directly in the middle of two mountain ranges in the central valley of Mexico ( Platt 10). Although the Aztec empire eventually came to an end they were able to do well as an empire. Contributing factors that led to the rise of the empire was their political structure, social components, and religious traditions which they preformed earnestly.
Another society that emerged within Mesoamerica was the metropolis of Teotihuacan that arose around the third century B.C. The city was marked by the construction of pyramids that were dedicated to the gods. These pyramids showed the extreme dedication towards the gods and goddesses from each and every individual living in the surrounding area which allowed the society to unite on a religious ground. Economically, the society was able to grow due to the large marketplace in Teotihuacan that fostered the trade of cacao, feathers, meats, produce, rubber, and more to be traded. The trade of these materials brought increased revenue into the city, allowing its residents to thrive. Geographically, Teotihuacan
The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th century. They were a civilization with a rich mythology and cultural heritage. Their capital was Tenochtitlan on the shore of Lake Texcoco. From their magnificent capital city, Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs emerged as the dominant force in central Mexico, developing an intricate religious.
Mesoamerica was once a place filled with expanding, ruthless empires and civilizations, although none was like the Aztecs and their empire. Although they started off with a humble beginning, they quickly grew into a great civilization that dominated present day Central Mexico. They conquered and expanded into an empire stronger than the other neighboring empires. The heart of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, was a grand capital filled with many people and astounding temples. The Aztecs were also ahead of their time with fully-functional government and irrigation systems. They continue to astound many historians with their diverse way of life. They impacted the way of life for many people today with their customs and ways of life. Throughout the years, the Aztecs were able to grow and prosper with their sufficient supply of agriculture and blessed fertile lands of the Mexican Valley, and demonstrated to be an important part of Mexican heritage. The Aztec civilization was truly one of Mesoamerica’s most influential empires because of their history, vibrant culture, and unique architecture.
According to the famous legend, the Aztecs finally settled at a spot where an eagle sat upon a cactus eating a snake. This was a sign foretold by their patron god. The sign, found by the priests, finally appeared on a small island in Lake Texcoco. By 1325, on the island, the Aztecs built a temple to Huitziposhtli and began to construct the city of Tenochtitlan, the "Place of Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit." Over the next 200 years, the city slowly became one of the largest and most powerful cities of the world, and was the giant heart of the Aztecs Empire .
After landing on the coast of Mexico in the early 1500’s in what is now Veracruz, Cortés caught word of the possibility of much wealthier land if he were only willing to travel more inland. The Aztec empire centered around it’s powerful capital city of Tenochtitlán, and Cortés wanted it for himself and Spain. After arriving in the great city he said to have gasped at the sight of the large buildings, beautiful design, and overall substance. While the accounts written by him and his men are the only known surviving writings of the late empire, we are able to get a pretty clear glimpse into its beauty by the way he spoke. Built on a sizeable lake, the Tenochtitlán was only assessable by four very large bridges. Cortés was quite impressed by the way in which 10 of his men could ride side by side while crossing. The actual size of the city was not what impressed him most, seeing as it was comparable to the city of Seville that he had seen at home, but instead he found it intriguing how the people had developed roads that worked around the grand body of water.
The Aztec Empire was very successful during their time in power. Before settling Lake Texcoco, they were believed to be nomads. According to legend, Huitzilopochtli (god of sun and war) told them to go where they was an eagle sitting on a cactus with a snake in it’s mouth. Although, historians believe that other more powerful tribes had settled around Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs had no choice but to settle where they did. Overall the Aztec Empire was very powerful, and successful. Mainly they should be known for their innovations. Politically, through lightning quick attacks, chinampas, and emperors being chosen on merit. Economically, innovations such as chinampas, causeways/raised roads, and canals. Lastly, innovations were used socially through calpullis, aqueducts, and Calmecacs.
Tenochtitlan: Capital of the Aztecs and the center of a rigidly stratified society composed of hereditary classes of warriors, merchants, priests, common folk, and slaves.
The Aztecs were Mesoamerican people from the early centuries in the Americas. The home of the Aztecs was in the Valley of Mexico, they named it Tenochtitlan an island in Lake Texcoco. Before they got to Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs were from Aztlan led by chief man Tenoch. It was believed that “they were hated and rejected by all the surrounding inhabitants of the valley because they were uncivilized” (Aztec Culture). It was also believed that the chief Tenoch got a message from their God that said to lead his people to a place surrounded by Lake Texcoco and, where they saw an eagle eating a snake on a cactus that was their place for them to grow. During the next couple of years, the Aztec empire began growing into the greatest and most powerful tribe in Mexico. The Emperor who led them after Tenoch was Moctezuma II and it has also who led them to their downfall when the Spanish got to Tenochtitlan.
The Aztec empire thrived in Mexico from the 13th to the 16th centuries. In the early 16th century, Spanish Conquistadors overtook the Aztecs as a part of the “Age of Exploration.” Since then, historians have struggled to define how history should remember the Aztecs. The Aztecs were a sophisticated civilization because of their organized government, intricate religious rituals and memorable traditions.
began migrating to the Valley of Mexico. These people are what society calls Aztecs today. In A.D. 1325 the Mexica founded the great city of Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico City) on the island of Lake Texcoco. Tenochtitlan allied with the cities of Texcoco and Tacuba to form an alliance against the Tepanec people who were the dominant people of the region. This alliance was known as the Triple Alliance which was the basis of the Aztec Empire. The Triple Alliance dominated Central Mexico up until the time of the Spanish Conquest in 1521.
The Aztec empire thrived in central Mexico from the 13th to 16th centuries. In the early 16th century, the Spanish conquistadors overtook the Aztecs as part of the “Age of Exploration.” Since then, historians have struggled to define how history should remember the Aztecs. The Aztecs were a sophisticated civilization because of their innovative technology, complex religion, and balanced economy.
Tenochtitlan was built on a lake island called Aztlan and over the lake, the Aztecs built fertile, floating farms called “Chinampas”.The people who inhabited the Aztlan Island were originally called the Mexica people. The name Aztec is derived from the name of the Island. However primitive this empire may seem, the Emperors were quite affluent. They had lavish possessions