The Aztec Civilization - 1

The Aztec Civilization 

Under the ruler Itzcóatl (1428–40), Tenochtitlán formed alliances with the neighboring states of Texcoco and Tlacopan and became the dominant power in central Mexico. Later, by commerce and conquest, Tenochtitlán came to rule an empire of 400 to 500 small states, comprising by 1519 some 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 people spread over 80,000 square miles (207,200 square km). At its height, Tenochtitlán itself covered more than 5 square miles (13 square km) and had upwards of 140,000 inhabitants, making it the most densely populated settlement ever achieved by a Mesoamerican civilization. Some historians estimate that nearly 200,000 people lived in the city during its peak.

 From the incredible Teotihuacan and the eye-opening Templo Mayor to the astonishing Tenayuca, Mexico offers visitors an absolutely mind-blowing array of places discover. The sheer breadth of Mexico’s ancient Aztec sites is staggering, with other popular attractions including Tenochtitlan, the Acatitlan and Calixtlahuaca. E.g.

1) Teotihuacan 

The holy Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan is a treasure trove of ancient structures. Built in around 400 BC in what is now Mexico, it is one of the country’s oldest archaeological sites. Whilst the founders of Teotihuacan have never been definitively identified, it is thought that the city was inhabited by the Toltecs and was an important Aztec site.

 2) Templo Mayor

Literally meaning, The Great Temple, Templo Mayor stands stubbornly and majestically as a powerful remnant of an ancient capital in the midst of Mexico’s modern one. Most of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan has been subsumed by the modern world, but this holy shrine to the deities Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, stands proud

 3) Calixtlahuaca

Literally translated as the ‘place of the plain houses’, Calixtlahuaca certainly does not live up to its name. Indeed there is nothing plain about its stunning pyramids, all reminders of the great city it used to be.be. Whilst originally home to the Matlatzinca people, the Aztecs took it over in the fifteenth century. As a result, this is not a typical Aztec site. Indeed many of the structures pre-date the Aztecs, making it a fascinating mix of cultures.

Indeed the Aztec Civilization has the best sites and interesting culture. On my next post I will talk about the Aztec Civilization Arts, Living & food style.