The Aztecs: All You Need to Know

Summary

This video explores the Aztec civilization, one of the largest empires in the Americas. Originating from Mesoamerica, the Aztecs founded their capital, Tenochtitlán, in 1325 CE. They expanded through conquest and alliances, forming the Triple Alliance in 1428. The Aztec society was stratified with a sovereign, nobility, and commoners. Their empire declined with the arrival of the Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés, who exploited local rivalries and the devastating effects of European diseases to conquer the Aztecs by 1521.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican civilization with their capital, Tenochtitlán, founded in 1325 CE in the Valley of Mexico.
• 🗺️ The Aztec civilization was related to the Toltecs and believed to have been divinely guided to settle in the Valley of Mexico.
• 👥 The term 'Aztecs' is a historical designation; they called themselves the Mexica, meaning 'people from Aztlan'.
• 🏺 The Aztec political system was despotic, with city-states ruled by kings or quasi-kings and often involved in alliances or conflicts.
• 🌟 The Triple Alliance formed by Mexico-Tenochtitlán, Texcoco, and Tlacopan in 1428 marked the beginning of the Aztec Empire's golden age.
• 📈 The Aztec Empire expanded rapidly through military conquests and assimilation of other tribes into their culture.
• 🏰 Under Moctezuma I, the Aztecs built significant temples and expanded their influence to regions beyond the Valley of Mexico.
• 🧑‍👩‍👧‍👦 Social classes and hierarchy were crucial in Aztec society, with distinct roles and possibilities for upward mobility even for slaves.
• 🛡️ The Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés, arrived in Mexico in 1519 and eventually conquered the Aztec Empire with the help of native allies and diseases.
• 🌐 The fall of the Aztec Empire was due to a combination of Spanish military campaigns, alliances with native groups, and the devastating effects of newly introduced diseases.

Q & A

Who were the Aztecs and where did they originate?

The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican civilization, originating from a place called Aztlan in Northern Mexico. They later moved to the Valley of Mexico and founded their capital, Tenochtitlán, in 1325 CE.

What was the significance of the city of Tenochtitlán in Aztec civilization?

Tenochtitlán was the capital of the Aztec Empire, founded in 1325 CE. It was located in the Valley of Mexico, which is now part of modern-day Mexico City.

How did the Aztec Empire expand its territories?

The Aztec Empire expanded through a combination of conquest and alliances. Key to this expansion was the formation of the Triple Alliance with the city-states of Texcoco and Tlacopan in 1428.

What was the Triple Alliance and why was it formed?

The Triple Alliance was a political and military alliance formed between the city-states of Mexico-Tenochtitlán, Texcoco, and Tlacopan in 1428. It was formed out of necessity to counter the influence of the Tepanecs and allowed the Aztecs to gain control over the Valley of Mexico and beyond.

What was the role of Moctezuma I in the Aztec Empire?

Moctezuma I was an important ruler during the Aztec Empire. He began the construction of significant Aztec temples, including the great temple of Tenochtitlán, and initiated military campaigns that expanded the empire's influence.

How did the social structure of the Aztec civilization impact the lives of its citizens?

The social structure of the Aztec civilization was highly stratified, with clear distinctions between the sovereign, dignitaries, nobles, commoners, landless peasants, and slaves. This hierarchy determined rights, duties, and privileges, and even allowed for some degree of upward mobility.

What was the role of commoners in the Aztec society?

Commoners in Aztec society were primarily workers. They were expected to take up roles similar to their parents, with males becoming warriors or working in trades and females taking on domestic roles.

How did the arrival of the Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés, lead to the decline of the Aztec Empire?

The arrival of the Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés, resulted in the decline of the Aztec Empire due to a combination of military conquest, alliances with local tribes discontent with Aztec rule, and the introduction of new diseases that devastated the Aztec population.

What was the impact of European diseases on the Aztec population?

European diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza had a devastating impact on the Aztec population, as they had no immunity to these diseases, leading to the death of hundreds of thousands in a short period.

How did the Spanish ultimately defeat the Aztec Empire?

The Spanish, with the help of native allies and the advantage of superior weaponry and armor, laid siege to Tenochtitlán, cutting off supplies and spreading disease. This led to the capture of the Aztec emperor Cuauhtemoc and the fall of the empire on August 13, 1521.

What was the Aztec's view on the Spaniards when they first arrived?

Initially, the Aztecs were cautious and curious about the Spaniards. They even offered them gifts and gold in an attempt to establish peaceful relations, but the Spaniards' reaction to the gold only confirmed the wealth of the Aztec Empire and strengthened Cortés' resolve to conquer them.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Origins and Early Aztec Civilization

The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican civilization originating from the region spanning present-day Central America to Northern-Central Mexico. Their capital, Tenochtitlán, was established in 1325 CE. The Aztecs, also known as the Mexica, believed their civilization was divinely guided by the god Huitzilopochtli. They were thought to be related to the Toltecs, another prominent civilization in Northern Mexico. The Aztecs did not refer to themselves as 'Aztecs'; instead, they called themselves the Mexica, and the term 'Aztec' was derived from 'Aztecah,' meaning 'people from Aztlan.' The political system was despotic, with city-states ruled by kings and quasi-kings who engaged in alliances or conflicts. The Aztec Empire was formed through conquest and assimilation of various tribes and was best understood as a political alliance of city-states, with a system of taxes and tributes to elevate the status of the sovereigns and nobility.

05:01

🏰 The Triple Alliance and Expansion

The golden age of the Aztec Empire began in 1428 with the formation of the Triple Alliance between Mexico-Tenochtitlán, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. This alliance was a robust form of political cooperation that allowed the Aztecs to gain control over settlements in the Valley of Mexico and beyond. The alliance was formed out of necessity due to hostilities with the Tepanecs, and it resulted in the Aztecs becoming the dominant influence in the region. Moctezuma I, who became emperor in 1440, initiated significant temple construction and further expanded the Aztec influence. The Aztec civilization transformed from a collection of semi-aligned city-states into one of the largest empires in the New World, controlling a vast territory with a population of 3-4 million people. The social hierarchy of the Aztecs was defined by class, with rights, duties, and privileges determined by one's social standing, but upward mobility was possible even for slaves.

10:01

🛡️ The Fall of the Aztec Empire

The arrival of the Spaniards in the New World marked the beginning of the end for the Aztec Empire. Hernán Cortés, a Spanish Conquistador, was commissioned to explore and expand Spanish influence in Central Mexico. Despite the Spanish crown's withdrawal of support, Cortés set sail with about 500 soldiers and made allies with local tribes, including the Tlaxcala, who were resistant to Aztec control. Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlán and was initially welcomed by Moctezuma, but he soon took Moctezuma prisoner and ruled under the guise of the Aztec emperor. After a period of conflict and retreat, Cortés returned with a large force, including Spanish soldiers and native troops, and laid siege to Tenochtitlán. The city was weakened by the siege, lack of resources, and the outbreak of diseases like smallpox, to which the Aztecs had no immunity. On August 13, 1521, the Aztec emperor Cuauhtemoc was captured, and the Spanish claimed victory, leading to the decline of the Aztec Empire.

Keywords

💡Mesoamerica

Mesoamerica refers to a historical region in the Americas that stretches from Northern-Central Mexico to the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It is the cradle of several pre-Columbian cultures, including the Aztecs. In the video, Mesoamerica sets the geographical context for the Aztec civilization's origin and development.

💡Tenochtitlán

Tenochtitlán was the capital of the Aztec Empire, founded in 1325 CE in the Valley of Mexico, which is now within Mexico City. It exemplifies the Aztec's urban planning and architectural achievements. The city's founding is tied to Aztec mythology and is central to understanding the Aztec's historical and cultural identity.

💡Toltecs

The Toltecs were a civilization prominent in Northern Mexico during the 11th and 12th centuries. They are believed to be related to the Aztecs, influencing their culture and possibly serving as a model for the Aztec's own civilization. The Toltecs' legacy is mentioned to draw a lineage between the two civilizations.

💡Nahuatl

Nahuatl is the language spoken by the Aztecs, also known as the Mexica people. It highlights the linguistic aspect of the Aztec civilization and is indicative of their cultural identity. The term 'Aztec' is derived from 'Aztecah,' meaning 'people from Aztlan,' which is associated with their Nahuatl roots.

💡Triple Alliance

The Triple Alliance refers to the political coalition formed in 1428 between the city-states of Mexico-Tenochtitlán, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. This alliance was pivotal to the Aztec Empire's expansion and consolidation of power, illustrating the political strategy and military might of the Aztecs.

💡Moctezuma

Moctezuma I was an Aztec emperor known for his military campaigns that expanded the Aztec Empire's influence. His reign is highlighted in the video to demonstrate the Aztec's political leadership and the empire's growth during his time.

💡Social Classes

Social Classes structured the Aztec society into distinct tiers with specific rights, duties, and privileges. The video discusses the Sovereign, Dignitaries, Nobles, Commoners, Landless Peasants, and Slaves, showing how social stratification affected daily life and the functioning of the Aztec Empire.

💡Hernán Cortés

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish Conquistador who led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire. His arrival and actions are critical to the narrative of the Aztec's decline, illustrating the impact of external forces on the civilization.

💡Conquistadors

Conquistadors were the Spanish soldiers and explorers who sought to expand their empire into the Americas. They played a significant role in the decline of the Aztec Empire, as depicted in the video, showing the encounter between the Aztecs and Europeans.

💡Smallpox

Smallpox, along with other European-borne diseases, had a devastating effect on the Aztec population, who had no immunity to them. The video emphasizes the role of these diseases as a 'silent weapon' that greatly contributed to the fall of the Aztec Empire.

💡Cuauhtemoc

Cuauhtemoc was the last Aztec emperor, who was captured by the Spanish in 1521, marking the end of the Aztec Empire. His capture symbolizes the final chapter of Aztec civilization and is used in the video to conclude the narrative of their history.

Highlights

The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican civilization with their capital, Tenochtitlán, founded in 1325 CE.

The Aztec civilization was likely related to the Toltecs, a prominent civilization in Northern Mexico during the 11th and 12th centuries.

Aztec mythology describes their migration and the founding of Tenochtitlán as divinely guided by the god Huitzilopochtli.

The Aztecs, or Mexica, did not originally identify as 'Aztecs'; this term was later used by historians.

The Aztec political system was despotic, with city-states ruled by kings and quasi-kings.

The Aztec Empire was formed as a political alliance between multiple city-states in the Valley of Mexico.

The Triple Alliance between Mexico-Tenochtitlán, Texcoco, and Tlacopan marked the beginning of the Aztec Empire's golden age.

The Aztec Empire expanded its control over the Valley of Mexico and beyond through a series of military campaigns.

Moctezuma I's reign was marked by significant construction projects, including the great temple of Tenochtitlán.

Aztec social classes and hierarchy played a crucial role in determining the rights, duties, and privileges of its citizens.

The Aztec society had a system where even slaves could achieve social mobility and emancipation.

The arrival of the Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés, marked the beginning of the decline of the Aztec Empire.

Cortés formed alliances with native groups, such as the Tlaxcala, who were resistant to Aztec rule.

The siege of Tenochtitlán by Cortés and his forces, along with the introduction of European diseases, led to the fall of the Aztec Empire.

The Aztec Empire's collapse was due not only to military conquest but also to the devastating effects of foreign diseases.

The Aztec civilization's legacy is explored in-depth in the book 'Aztec History' by Captivating History.

Transcripts

This video is brought to  you by Captivating History.

In this video, we will explore one of  the largest empires of the Americas,  

and the ancient world, the Aztecs. Who were  they? Where did they come from? How did they  

live? What regions did they conquer,  and how did their civilization perish?

Who were the Aztecs and where did they come from?

The Aztecs were considered  a Mesoamerican civilization.  

Mesoamerica is the area of current- day Central  America, extending from Northern-Central Mexico,  

through the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Their  capital, Tenochtitlán (or Mexico-Tenochtitlán)  

was founded in 1325 CE, in the Valley of Mexico,  within the region that is Mexico City today.  

Historians believe the civilization was likely  related to the Toltecs, a civilization that grew  

to prominence in Northern Mexico in the 11th and  12th centuries. It is unclear why the Aztecs chose  

to move to the Valley of Mexico, however,  Aztec mythology describes their migration  

south, as well as the founding of the city of  Tenochtitlán, as being brought about by divine  

intervention. As legend has it, the Aztec god,  Huitzilopochtli came to the priest, Quauhcoatl,  

and commanded him to build their new home  where they would find an eagle perched on  

top of a tenochtli cactus. Shortly following  this vision, Quauhcoatl minions are said to  

have encountered the omen, prompting Quauhcoatl  and his people to settle in that territory.

It’s important to note that the Aztecs people  didn’t identify as “Aztecs.” This is the name  

historians use to describe the empire formed by  the Nahuatl-speaking people who called themselves  

the Mexica. The word “Aztec” was derived from the  term Aztecah, which means “people from Aztlan,”  

believed to be a place in Northern Mexico  where the semi-nomadic Mexica had originated.  

Although this was not the name the  Aztecs used to describe themselves,  

it became the historically-accepted designation.

Government, City-States, and Expansion Aztec civilization can be divided into two  

time periods: the Early Aztec Era and the Late  Aztec Era. Many of the city-states that would  

become a part of the Aztec Empire, were founded at  the beginning of the 12th century. The beginning  

of the Late Aztec period is usually associated  with the founding of Mexico-Tenochtitlán in 1325;  

however, when the Mexica arrived, there  was little available land left unsettled.  

Different tribes and ethnic groups occupied  the territory, but over time and through  

conquest and alliances, many of these tribes  would assimilate into the Aztec culture.

The political system of the Aztecs was despotism.  Kings and quasi-kings ruled over city-states and  

interacted with one another; sometimes city-states  would be cooperative with each other, typically  

via trade and military alliances, but often they  fought one another to establish dominance or  

settle other grievances. Relationships between  city-states were ever-changing and unpredictable.  

The Aztec Empire is best understood as a political  alliance between some fifty or more city-states  

that occupied the Valley of Mexico. The primary  political foundation that bound them was a system  

of taxes and tributes designed to raise the  status of the sovereigns and the nobility,  

ultimately oppressing and pacifying the commoners.

The golden age of the Aztec Empire began  in 1428 with the formation of the Triple  

Alliance between Mexico-Tenochtitlán, Texcoco,  and Tlacopan. This represents the most robust  

form of political cooperation between  the city-states in the Valley of Mexico.  

The economic and military might of these combined  city-states propelled the Aztecs to eventually  

gain control over virtually all settlements in  the Valley of Mexico and the regions beyond.

This alliance, however, was born of necessity. In  1426, hostilities between the Mexica (or Aztecs)  

and the Tepanecs, a city-state with considerable  influence in the Valley of Mexico, intensified.  

The Tepanecs attempted a blockade of  Tenochtitlán to extract higher taxes  

and tributes and simultaneously were engaged  in hostilities with the Acolhua in Texcoco.  

When the Tepanecs forced Netzahualcoyotl, the  sovereign of Texcoco, to flee the city, the  

Mexica leader, Moctezuma, seized the opportunity  to ally with Texcoco to defeat their common enemy.  

Moctezuma rallied the support of the city-state of  Tlacopan, whose citizens had grown intolerant of  

the Tepanec’s heavy-handed governance. War broke  out in 1428, and the combined forces of Texcoco,  

Tlacopan, Tenochtitlán, and a fourth city-state,  Huexotzinco, proved to be the undoing of the  

Tepanecs. With the Tepanecs defeated, the  Mexica were positioned to fill that power void  

and become the dominant influence in the Valley  of Mexico. Tenochtitlán, being the largest and  

wealthiest of the three city-states, with  the biggest and most formidable military,  

became the obvious choice as the capital  of this newly formed imperial alliance.  

The leader of Tenochtitlán became the de facto  Emperor of the new Empire of the Triple Alliance.

After joining forces, the newly formed Aztec  Empire quickly set its sights on gaining control  

over the entire Valley of Mexico. Campaigns  throughout the 1430s brought the cities of Chalco,  

Xochimilco, Cuitlahuac, and Coyocan under the  influence of the Triple Alliance. Following  

these conquests, the Aztecs looked further south,  advancing into the modern-day state of Morelos.  

There, they would conquer Cuauhnahuac, the  modern-day city of Cuernavaca, and Huaxtepec.

In 1440, the first Emperor of the Aztec  empire died, and Moctezuma I was chosen as  

his successor. Moctezuma’s reign was an important  period in Aztec history. He began construction on  

some of the more important Aztec temples,  including the great temple of Tenochtitlán.

In 1458, Moctezuma I began military campaigns that  would further dramatically expand the sphere of  

Aztec influence in the region. The Aztecs extended  their control well beyond the Valley of Mexico,  

establishing dominance throughout most of  the modern-day states of Morelos and Oaxaca.

Throughout the 100 years of the Triple Alliance,  the Aztecs converted their civilization from  

a loose collection of semi-aligned  - but often warring - city-states,  

into one of the largest empires in the New World,  

and the largest empire to have ever existed  in Mesoamerica. Their systems of expansion  

and consolidation were steady and directed.  Emperors who expanded territory were followed by  

leaders who consolidated and organized the newly  acquired lands and cities; and by the end of this  

period, the Aztecs controlled a vast expanse of  territory populated by some 3-4 million people.

Social Classes and Hierarchy Social classes and hierarchy dramatically  

influenced the life of the Aztec citizen. Rights,  duties, and privileges were all determined because  

of one’s social standing. However, when looking  closely at the lives of the most distinct classes,  

upward mobility was possible. Even a slave  was not predestined to that social station  

for their entire life and could achieve  emancipation, and upward social mobility.

The Sovereign, the Dignitaries, and the Nobles 

The ruling classes of Aztec society can  be crudely stratified into three groups.  

At the top was the sovereign, given the title of  tlahtoani. Each city-state had its own tlahtoani.  

Below the sovereign were the dignitaries, usually  close relatives or friends of the sovereign.  

Underneath the dignitaries were the nobility.  These three groups were responsible for the  

administrative, bureaucratic, and  gubernatorial duties of the empire.

Commoners The life of a commoner in Aztec civilization was  

dedicated nearly entirely to work. From the moment  of birth, gender roles were ascribed to children;  

males were expected to grow up to be warriors  and work in the same occupation as their fathers.  

Females were expected to serve more  domestic roles such as cooking,  

cleaning, weaving, and bearing children. Because an Aztec commoner was expected to work,  

they were introduced to this way of life at an  early age. According to the Codex Mendoza - one  

of the most significant and primary sources of  recorded information of the Aztec Empire - by  

the age of five, boys were already carrying  firewood and other goods to nearby marketplaces,  

and girls were already being taught  how to hold a spindle and spin.

Landless Peasants How one became landless is hard to discern,  

especially since it was part of Aztec custom  to grant each person a tract of land to  

work so they could pay the taxes and  tributes required by the local lord.  

However, with warfare being a near-constant  occurrence, and people being displaced as their  

towns and cities were conquered, this landless  class did, indeed, grow as the empire advanced.

Slaves The lowest class in Aztec society was the slaves.  

While the life of the slave was by no means  comfortable and luxurious, it was far better  

than the forms of slavery that would come to exist  in the Americas with the formation of European  

colonies. Accounts from the Spanish explorers  expressed surprise at the rather benevolent  

treatment of slaves. As mentioned previously,  the Aztecs had social constructs in place  

that granted slaves the capability of raising  their social station and achieve emancipation.

Arrival of the Spanish and  the Decline of the Empire

With the landing of Christopher  Columbus in the West Indies in 1492,  

the Spaniards were officially the first  Europeans in the New World and were eager to  

expand their influence into the Americas. They  had heard of a great empire in Central Mexico,  

with stories of great riches. And the Spanish  crown commissioned a Spanish Conquistador,  

Hernán Cortés with the mission of the expedition.  Shortly before he set sail for Mexico,  

the Spanish crown rescinded its support for  the mission, but Cortés set sail regardless.

In 1519, Cortés arrived with about  500 soldiers on the coast of Mexico,  

near the modern-day city of Veracruz. They were  greeted by messengers from the Aztec emperor,  

Moctezuma, who had heard of these  strange men exploring the coast.  

Moctezuma was cautious of these new strangers and  thought they might be gods. Upon Cortés’ arrival,  

the Aztecs greeted him with offerings of gifts and  gold as a way of forging peaceful relations. When  

given the gold, the Spaniards reportedly went  crazy, and the encounter confirmed the riches  

of the empire and served to strengthen only  the resolve of Cortés to conquer these people.

Cortés began his march inland, making allies along  the way. Cortés first allied with the Totonacs,  

then the Tlaxcala, a powerful city-state that  had resisted the control of the Triple Alliance.  

And after an initial conflict, Cortés  convinced the Tlaxcalans to join him  

on his journey inland towards Tenochtitlán. When  Cortés finally forged his way into Central Mexico,  

he had several thousand troops under his command.

When Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlán, Moctezuma  welcomed him by putting him up in what was the  

equivalent of a royal palace. Cortés  responded by taking Moctezuma prisoner  

and ruled Tenochtitlán under the guise he was  acting on the behest of the Aztec emperor.

In 1520, Cortés received word from his scouts  that a Spanish expedition had been sent to Mexico  

to arrest him for setting sail against the  wishes of the Crown. He mobilized half of his  

forces and left Tenochtitlán to ward off the  threat. Upon returning to the Aztec capital,  

Cortés found that tensions had risen  in the city that placed him and his men  

in great danger. They planned to flee the city  and retreated to the mountains in Tlaxcala.

In these months, Cortés regrouped considerably.  He marched again on Tenochtitlán with some 700  

Spanish soldiers and approximately 70,000 native  troops. They laid siege to the city for months,  

cutting off all sources of fresh water and  stopping all shipments of food. This assault,  

combined with diseases such as  smallpox wreaked havoc on the city,  

decimating its population and weakening the city’s  military resolve. Eventually, on August 13, 1521,  

Cuauhtemoc, who had replaced Moctezuma as  emperor, was captured, and the Spaniards claimed  

victory over Tenochtitlán, thus, ushering  in the demise of this great civilization.

To the uninitiated, it may appear that  Cortés defeated the great Aztec Empire  

with little more than a few hundred Spanish  soldiers. However, his forces were much larger.  

Long-standing rivalries, combined with resentment  towards taxes and tributes imposed by the Aztecs,  

made it easy for Cortés to gain allies  in the fight to take down Tenochtitlán.  

That, and illnesses such as smallpox, measles, the  mumps, influenza, and many other diseases, which  

were alien to Mesoamerica, ultimately overwhelmed  the unimmunized Aztec Empire. Europeans had been  

exposed to these diseases for centuries and had  developed immunities, while the Aztecs had not.  

Hundreds of thousands of them would die from  these afflictions in a short window of time.  

This silent weapon of mass destruction  proved one of the primary reasons the  

Spaniards seized controlled of such a  powerful empire in such a short while.

To discover more about the Aztec Empire, check out  our book Aztec History, A Captivating Guide to the  

Aztec Empire, Mythology, and Civilization.  It is available as an e-book, paperback,  

and audiobook. Also, grab your free mythology  bundle e-book for free while still available.  

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