Table of Contents
Why did the Aztecs migrate?
Where Did the Aztecs Come From? The Aztecs, or more properly, the Mexica, as they called themselves, were not originally from the Valley of Mexico. Rather, they migrated from the north. They left their homes in northern Mexico and the southwestern U.S. because of a terrible drought.
When did the Aztecs move to Mexico?
The legendary origin of the Aztec people has them migrating from a homeland called Aztlan to what would become modern-day Mexico. While it is not clear where Aztlan was, a number of scholars believe that the Mexica—as the Aztec referred to themselves—migrated south to central Mexico in the 13th century.
Did the Aztecs live in Mexico?
The Aztecs were the Native American people who dominated northern Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century. A nomadic culture, the Aztecs eventually settled on several small islands in Lake Texcoco where, in 1325, they founded the town of Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City.
Where did the Aztecs primarily settle in Mexico?
Mexico-Tenochtitlan The capital city of the Aztec empire was Tenochtitlan, now the site of modern-day Mexico City.
Why did the Aztecs expand their empire?
The duality of war and agriculture was crucial for the Aztec economy. The Aztecs expanded their empire through military conquest and sustained it through tributes imposed on the conquered regions. Every 80 days, the new subjects of the Aztecs had to pay tributes to Tenochtitlan.
What did the Aztecs do in Mexico?
From their magnificent capital city, Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs emerged as the dominant force in central Mexico, developing an intricate social, political, religious and commercial organization that brought many of the region’s city-states under their control by the 15th century.
Why was the calendar so important to the Aztecs?
Aztec Calendar One calendar was used for tracking religious ceremonies and festivals. This calendar was called the tonalpohualli which means “day count”. It was sacred to the Aztecs and was very important as it divided time equally among the various gods and kept the universe in balance. The calendar had 260 days.