The Aztecs (1325 to 1521)

Political control of the populous and agriculturally rich central valley of

Mexico fell into confusion after 11! "radually assu#ing ever$greater po%er
%ere the Aztecs& pro'a'ly a northern tri'e that had #igrated to the valley
and occupied a #inor to%n on the shore of the great central la(e! They %ere a
society that valued the s(ills of %arriors a'ove all others& and this
e#phasis gave the# an advantage against rival tri'es in the region! )y the
end of the 15th century& the Aztecs controlled all of central Mexico as a
#ilitary e#pire that collected tri'ute fro# rivals!
The Aztec culture dre% upon the experience of those that ca#e 'efore it and
invented little that %as ne%! They had an advanced agriculture that supported
a very large population! They 'uilt i##ense 'uildings of grand design and
flourished in #any arts! They %ere adept #etal %or(ers& 'ut had no iron!
*ac(ing any suita'le draft ani#al& they #ade no #otive use of the %heel!
+ne of the distinctive features of the Aztec culture %as its penchant for
sacrifice! Aztec #yths dictated that hu#an 'lood 'e fed to the ,un to give it
the strength to rise each day! -u#an sacrifices %ere conducted on a grand
scale. several thousand in a single day %ere not unco##on! /icti#s %ere often
decapitated or flayed& and hearts %ere cut fro# living victi#s! ,acrifices
%ere conducted at the top of tall pyra#ids to 'e close to the sun and 'lood
flo%ed do%n the steps! Although the Aztec econo#y %as 'ased pri#arily on corn
(or #aize)& the people 'elieved that crops depended on the regular provision
of sacrificial 'lood!
The incessant de#and for sacrificial victi#s #eant that the Aztecs tolerated
loose control over satellite cities 'ecause fre0uent revolts offered
opportunities for capturing ne% victi#s! 1uring ti#es of peace& 2garland
%ars2 %ere arranged strictly as contests of courage and %arrior s(ill& and
for the purpose of capturing victi#s! They fought %ith %ooden clu's to #ai#
and stun& rather than (ill! 3hen fighting to (ill& the clu's %ere studded
%ith o'sidian 'lades!
1espite their great agriculture and arts& the Aztecs appear in retrospect to
have 'een a %aning society! They passed on no significant technology or ideas
of religion or political theory! Their civilization %as 'rought to an a'rupt
end 'y the arrival of the ,panish in the early 14th century! Already
devastated 'y 5uropean disease passed 'y early traders& they fell to a s#all
,panish ar#y ar#ed %ith steel %eapons& firear#s& and riding a fe% horses! The
cruelty of the Aztecs contri'uted to their do%nfall 'y #a(ing it easy for the
,panish to enlist allies a#ong the non$Aztecs in Mexico!