[Q&A Podcast] Misunderstood Moments in History - Rise of the Aztecs

A podcast with our historical researcher, Sean Kiskel, to follow up on the Moments episode on the Rise of the Aztecs. We answer a ton of community questions related to the episode and also issue some error corrections. See below for more details.

Researcher
Sean Kiskel (/u/400-Rabbits on r/AskHistorians)

----Below is a list of reading recommendation---

Reading on an introduction to the Aztecs
"Handbook to Life in the Aztec World" by Manuel Aguilar-Moreno

Reading on important figures
"Tlacaelel Remembered" by Schroeder 2016

Reading on Aztec Law

Reading on the Aztec Warfare
"Aztec Warfare" by Ross Hassig
cf. Isaac 1983 “Aztec Warfare: Goals and Battlefield Comportment” Ethnology 22(2) and Isaac 1983 “The Aztec 'Flowery War:’ A Geopolitical Explanation J Anthropological Research 39(4)

Reading on the Spanish Conquest
"Mexico and the Spanish Conquests" by Ross Hassig

Reading on the context of Aztec sacrifice
Brumfiel 1996 “Figurines and the Aztec State: Testing the Effectiveness of Ideological Domination” in Gender and Archaeology ed. Wright

[InvictaHistory]

Thanks to all who submitted questions and to Sean Kiskel for taking the time to answer them! Check the description for recommended reading and below for timestamps.
[0:00] - Introduction
[3:20] – Episode Recap
[5:03] – Error Corrections
[14:18] – Q&A Section 1 - Aztec Origins
[25:50] – Q&A Section 2 - Seeking a Home
[26:10] – How Reliable is Aztec History?
[34:53] – What’s up with the story of the flayed princess?
[40:50] – Q&A Section 3 - Finding a Home
[41:02] – How did the gods “talk” to the Aztecs?
[44:25] – What was the role of a Tlatoani?
[47:40] – Q&A Section 4 - Vassals of the Tepanecs
[48:19] – Who were the other key players in the Valley of Mexico?
[54:28] – Q&A Section 5 – Uprising
[54:48] – What was the role of the other city-states in the Triple Alliance?
[1:02:26] – Q&A Section 6 – The Aztec Empire
[1:01:49] – What were some of the other major powers at the time?
[1:13:06] – Q&A Section 7 – Reign of the Tlatoani
[1:13:24] – Who is your favorite Aztec ruler?
[1:18:16] – Who are some of the other important figures of the era?
[1:22:34] – What remains of the Aztec empire today?
[1:26:35] – Q&A Section 8 – General Questions
[1:26:45] – Questions on Aztec Warfare
[1:34:01] – Questions on Aztec Daily Life
[1:39:54] – Questions on Aztec Trade
[1:49:38] – Questions on Aztec Law
[1:55:18] – How accurate was the movie Apocalypto by Mel Gibson?
[ 1:59:25] – Aztec sacrifice and modern perceptions

[amaradejo]

Thanks A LOT for this wonderful podcast. Julien, you did a great job as a moderator and also congrats on that pronounciation: other than the few corrections pointed out by Sean, you sounded super natural and accurate with the names in your Aztec videos. Also, thanks of course to Sean for his clarity and his likeable personality. I can perceive from both of you a great passion for the topics and that passion is infectious.
The Aztec are definitely one of my favourite cultures to hear about. My research is based on peoples from the Andes, but I return to the Aztecs time and again. Currently I'm creating a Dungeons & Dragons campaign centered in Tenochtitlán and I've been exploring your amazing videos to learn more and more things.

[jacintogardea]

Beautiful and most informative video! I HAVE A QUESTION: Has anyone ever done a drawing of the main buildings of Tenochtitlan layered over present-day Mexico City?

[Alkis]

Great to have a podcast like this and cover a lot of historical subjects in one go.
In my view, they don't seem to be that much more brutal or blood thirsty than the romans, just a different kind of brutal. Romans had their arenas, mass crucifixion of revoltees, Triumphs, decimation, brutal invasions, etc.. And sure, every expanding warmonger society relishes on getting fame as bad boyz to do the least amount of fighting necessary. None of that gets in the way of me appreciating all the engineering, art and institutions the romans created. Human history is not for the faint of heart.
I absolutely loved these videos about aztec society and would love to see that about other pre colombian ones.

[Personaje-de-ficcion]

It's great to hear such an excellent explanation on the Aztecs and their rich culture, which often gets overlooked because of the more sensationalist aspects! Greetings from Texcoco!

[swest]

I had a feeling 400 rabbit was involved with these recent videos! Glad to see this cooperation, it has resulted in some great content. I hope you continue to make videos on Mesoamerican history.

[prequelczar]

Please make a video about the Aztec sacrifice and exaggeration, modern perception, and the clarifications made at the end of the podcast. That really deserves a video by itself. A lot of people won't get to the end of this podcast, so I think it's important for you to at least get those views out there.

[MajoraZ]

Oh man, I'm really disappointed I missed out on this, my hard drive died the day this happened, and I didn't know it was going on. 400 rabbits's posts on Askhistorians and the sub in general is some of the best info online about Mesoamerican history, coming across his stuff is a huge part of what ignited what was an a light fascination with Mesoamerica into a full blown hobby of mine.
A comment, though, on him pointing out how the Mexica myth for how the Purepecha/Tarascans came to be not making sense since linguistically/culturally they were entirely seperate: I've heard/read that the original ruling dyansty of some of the cities around Lake Patzcuaro that would become the core cities of the Purepecha empire had their ruling dyansities descend from a group called the Uacusecha, who actually DID have partial Chichimeca, potentially Nahua ancestry. Still wouldn't match up with the Mexica myth I don't think of course, but I think it's interesting to note!

[qus.]

Very lucky to have such an informative video available online. Nice video!

[jollysalad]

Aztecs are my favorite. keep up the good work😀

[fireearth]

Finally good information with more details on the aztecs, can you please do some research on the purepechas indians

[LordSteeleCastleClashPsteele]

Amazing video from beginning to end I loved every minute of it really glad you took the time to set this up would love more of these podcast type videos

I had to turn on the bell your videos are simply amazing

[mexicoenimagenes]

Guys, at 5:35 you are using a very famous mural painting by Diego Rivera. One of the most iconic mexican artist of the XX century, you should at least give him credit on the image. Besides that, I just wanna say how much I enjoy your channel and content, you guys are awesome at recreating ancient history, even just by words. Cheers from Mexico City, formerly known as Tenochtitlán...

[Dragons_Armory]

Super interesting, I love the MesoAmerican series

[Eevcee]

Amazing podcast! I can’t believe I overlooked this video for sooo long even after watching your other videos. Something to reinforce the point about the exaggeration of the Aztec propaganda. Calling the entire society barbaric would be like calling the entirety of modern American society cruel for the imperialism that it still engages in around the world. Human sacrifice was the political-religious tool that was used by elites, much like drone strikes of schools and hospitals is a political-economic tool for the US today. It’s a type of dehumanization that people find too much say to buy into.

[victormai]

These podcasts are the best videos you make

[joseavila-mogt]

Yo this channel is so awesome. Especially because of this topic

[elliottjames]

I flayed your daughter and wore her skin surprise!😆 Mexicans love a good prank.🤣🤣🤣👍🏼

[kuetlachtli]

Great podcast/video. Not too many people highlight the advancements and greatness of the Mexica. People will complain about the sacraficed that the Spaniards recorded but how different is it from the Spanish inquisition and all other killings of Europeans against Native Americans, and abortions today. Again, great video.

[glasido]

Man you are great! Thank you for doing this. Also thank you Sean for sharing your knowledge!