In 1519, the Aztec Empire had dominance and was the most powerful kingdom in Mesoamerica. The kingdom was so large that it stretched for more than 80,000 square miles through modern day central and southern Mexico. Fifteen million people resided the kingdom and worshipped their emperor Moctezuma II in Tenochtitlan; Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the Aztec Empire. The Mexica were Indians that ruled over the Aztec Empire at Tenochtitlan, which is the Valley of Mexico. The Mexica were once newcomers and outcasts of the Valley of Mexico, but with their intelligence and power, they conquered the Valley and became rulers of the empire. It is said that the Mexica originally came from a region known as Atzlan-Chicomoztoc; the name Aztec comes from the Mexica’s homeland. The Mexica left their homeland, Aztlan, in A. D. 1111, to settle in Chicomoztoc because it is believed that they cut down a forbidden tree, which offended their god, Huitzilopochtli. Because of that occurrence, the Mexica were forced to leave Aztlan and find another place to settle until they received some kind of sign from their gods. There has been a lot of speculation about Aztlan and its location. Some people believe that it wasn’t a real place and that it was just an idea, but many historians believe it was an actual place. Historian Paul Kirchhoff theorized that Aztlan was located along the tributary of the Lerna River, which is west of the Valley of Mexico. Other experts say that Aztlan might be the island of Janitzio and many people consider that it might be located in California, New Mexico, or in Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico. The Mexica wasn’t the first group to arrive at the Valley of Mexico. They went through a series of hardships to settle into their kingdom. The first group of migrants who settle at the Valley was the Alcolhua, Tepanec, Culhua, Chalca, and Xochimilca. The second group was the Tlahuica, Matlatzinca, the Tlaxcalans, the Huexotzinca, and the Malinalca. The Mexica were the last to arrive, around A.D 1248. Since it was so populated, the good, rich and fertile lands were all taken and the Mexica were forced to occupy the unwanted and poor lands of the Valley. Through various outcasts and discriminations of the other groups, the Mexica finally found their promised land, in A.D. 1325, when they saw a cactus growing on the rock with an eagle on top of the cactus. Their new home, Tenochtitlan, was rich in fertile lands and had waterways for transportation.
With the help of the Triple Alliance, the Mexica conquered more lands and became more powerful. They became independent and stronger. They were incredibly intelligent and courageous. They became known as the most powerful nation of all Mesoamerica, The Aztecs.
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