History of the Aztec Civilization, a Mesoamerican Empire

The Aztec civilisation spanned from around 1300 CE until 1521, and at its greatest extent, the empire covered most of Northern Mesoamerica. Although we refer to these peoples as ‘Aztecs,’ that is not what they called themselves. They were known as Mexica, which is where the name Mexico comes from. The Aztec Civilization would become one of the largest empires in Mesoamerica.

Tenochtitlan (which today is beneath Mexico City), came to house over 200,000 inhabitants which made it the largest city in the Pre-Columbian Americas. It was both the religious and political capital, as well as a centre for trade in which they exported goods like gold, turquoise, cotton, pottery, tools, weapons, foodstuffs, cacao beans, and slaves. The city boasted magnificent architecture and monumental buildings, with the Templo Mayor or Great Temple pyramid, dominating the central sacred precinct. It was an island city that was uniformly designed with canals and a grid formation which was divided into four quadrants.

The religion and mythology of the Aztecs was closely intertwined as it was with most ancient cultures. Their mythology explains that the Mexica people migrated from their home region of Aztlan because of the vision sent to them by one of their most important deities, Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war.

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— CHAPTERS —
0:00​ Introduction
1:25 The Beginning of the Aztec Civilization
2:52 Aztec Warriors, Military and Tenochtitlan
5:28 Aztec Religion and Human Sacrifice
8:18 Art of the Aztecs
9:43 Fall of the Aztec Empire
14:20 Outro

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— ATTRIBUTIONS —

— THUMBNAIL IMAGE —
Double Headed Serpent Aztec BM.jpg
Neil Henderson from Grangemouth, Scotland
CC BY SA 2.0

World History Encyclopedia

#aztec #azteccivilization #mesoamerica

[WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

The Aztecs are considered one of the greatest world empires. Do you agree?

[pinedwood]

Hi. I'm mexican and this is a great summary/presentation of the mexicas. Thank you for presenting accurate images (other channels videos always put images from other cultures mixed with aztecs).

[Gen.berseker]

I'm a Mexican History student and the Mexica are very important for our Historical heritage!

[DiegoGutierrezGuerrero]

Great video. The Aztecs were a warrior tribe that were ferocious and non-bending. Many tried to stop the Aztecs but failed and later were vassalized by the Aztecs.

[stevenbrown]

The Aztec empire, with its combination of beautiful art and brutality, always remind me of the Assyrians.

[Tekmirion]

Well presented as always Kelly and thank you for the marvelous information!

[blablabla]

Great and unique civilization... and tragic end.

[ChrysAureus]

... concise and well presented,
... would there perhaps be any relation/connection between the Aztlan and Atlantis?

[thdimensionexplained]

And I got to say that the Ancestors of the Aztecs =Mexicas from aztlan are even more impressive they have interaction with an extraterrestrial race and there's scientific artifacts already tested that proves that is Undeniably evidence!

[darekdarek]

I can't understand the Aztecs. Did they really believe in Gods so much that they were capable of such crimes?

[matthewserros]

It was just small pox that did the damage not spanish weapons.