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The name Aztec came from Aztlan. Their supreme deity inspired them to travel outside of their homeland until they found a new place to settle.The Aztec wondered for many years before settling in the valley in the 1200’s.
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The Aztec settled in lake Texcoco and in 1325 founded Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan remained their chief centre. It was the Aztec’s basis of success in creating a great state.
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The Aztec began to build a way of transportation. The people were working on ways of transportation. For example, water canals. Other causeways were built as well.
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The Aztec, the Texcocans, and the Tacubans formed an alliance with each other. They called it the triple alliance. The Aztec then defeat the Tepanecs.
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Montezuma became was emperor between 1440 to 1469. Montezuma’s name was also spelled Moctezuma and Motecuhzoma. His successors expanded the empire until it was between Guatemala and the Mexican state, San Luis Potosi.
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Tenochtitlan is struck by a severe flood in 1452. The next few years are hard on the Aztec. The Aztec suffered from starvation and famine in these years. The floods also affected the farming.
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In 1479 the artists carved the Aztec calendar. It is a circular stone measuring about 12 feet in diameter. The face of the Aztec sun god is in the center of the stone.
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The Aztec empire was still expanding and growing when the progress had to stop. The spanish explorers took the ninth emperor, Montezuma II as a prisoner. Hernan Cortes took Montezuma II prisoner.
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The Spanish killed Aztec dancers and priests. They also killed musicians at the sacred ceremony. The Aztec rebelled and drove the invaders from their city.
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Cortes and the spanish retreated. However, soon after they organized their army and attacked Tenochtitlan in May. Montezuma’s successor surrendered in August of the same year.
