The Rise and Fall of Aztec Civilization
The Rise, Fall and Contributions of the Aztec Civilization
Hist 2111-213
20 October, 2011 1
Aztecs were one of the most advanced civilizations in America and were the masters of their world. That world was the area that scholars today call Mesoamerica, a region that stretches from north central Mexico southward into Central America (The Aztecs 6). Their name is derived from the word Azteca which comes from Aztlan (“White Land”) believed to be today the north-west of region of Mexico. They built huge cities; some were as large as European ones. Religion was very important for the Aztecs and affected them in every way; they worshiped their Gods by building huge towering temples, making sculptures, and doing human sacrifices.
The Mexica, a small group of wanderers in search of a home originated in the northwest of Tula, entered the Valley of Mexico sometime after A.D. 1200. Settling among the local people, intermarrying with them and warring with them, the Mexica would rise to become the core of the Aztec Empire (The Aztecs 23). The Mexica, which were also known as the Chichimecs which is believed to mean “barbarians”, were the last ones to enter the Valley of Mexico; They were not only farmers but also hunters and gatherers. After wandering around from Chapultepec to Culhuacan, the Mexica finally find a home in the marshes of Lake Texcoco; since most of the land was taken, they made the little islands located in the lake their home. In one of these islands they saw an eagle perched on top of a tall nopal cactus; they thought it was a signal from their god Huitzilopochtli “telling” them to make that place their home; they made a temple there in honor to the god. Here is where they found a community caled an altepetl, naming it Tenochtitlan after their chief called Tenoch.
Since the Mexica saw that all of their boarding cities had kings, they chose one too; Acamapichtli, son of Opoctzin “the great lord”, became king of Tenochtitlan and soon after he was
Hist 2111-213
20 October, 2011 1
Aztecs were one of the most advanced civilizations in America and were the masters of their world. That world was the area that scholars today call Mesoamerica, a region that stretches from north central Mexico southward into Central America (The Aztecs 6). Their name is derived from the word Azteca which comes from Aztlan (“White Land”) believed to be today the north-west of region of Mexico. They built huge cities; some were as large as European ones. Religion was very important for the Aztecs and affected them in every way; they worshiped their Gods by building huge towering temples, making sculptures, and doing human sacrifices.
The Mexica, a small group of wanderers in search of a home originated in the northwest of Tula, entered the Valley of Mexico sometime after A.D. 1200. Settling among the local people, intermarrying with them and warring with them, the Mexica would rise to become the core of the Aztec Empire (The Aztecs 23). The Mexica, which were also known as the Chichimecs which is believed to mean “barbarians”, were the last ones to enter the Valley of Mexico; They were not only farmers but also hunters and gatherers. After wandering around from Chapultepec to Culhuacan, the Mexica finally find a home in the marshes of Lake Texcoco; since most of the land was taken, they made the little islands located in the lake their home. In one of these islands they saw an eagle perched on top of a tall nopal cactus; they thought it was a signal from their god Huitzilopochtli “telling” them to make that place their home; they made a temple there in honor to the god. Here is where they found a community caled an altepetl, naming it Tenochtitlan after their chief called Tenoch.
Since the Mexica saw that all of their boarding cities had kings, they chose one too; Acamapichtli, son of Opoctzin “the great lord”, became king of Tenochtitlan and soon after he was
Cited: “Aztec”. The World Book Encyclopedia. 2010. Print. “Aztec calendar”. The New World Encyclopaedia Britanica”. 15th edition. 2007. Print. Duiker, William J, and Spielvogel, Jackson J. The Essential World History .Boston, MA Wadsworth, 2011: Print Koch, Peter O. The Aztecs, the Conquistadors, and the Making of Mexican Culture. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., 2006. Sabloff, Jeremy A. The cities of Ancient Mexico: Reconstructing a Lost World. NY, NY Thames and Hudson, 1989: Print Spinden, Herbert J. Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America. NY, NY Biblo and Tannen, 1968: Print Zborover, Danny. “Aztec”.Encyclopedia of Latin America: Amerindians through Foreign Globalization, volume 1. (2010): n pag. Web. 3 October 2011. “Fall of the Aztec Empire.” infoplease.com. HighBeam Research, LLC, 2007. Web. 19 October. 2011 “The Fall of the Aztec Empire.” aztec-history.com