The Aztec Empire

In 1325 the city of Tenochtitlan formed on an island in Lake Texcoco initially Tenochtitlan is one of the were city - states around Lake Texcoco. After roughly 100 years there is a situation where a city around lake Texcoco named Azcapotzalco falls into a civil war. Their ruler dies and there’s a succession battle and Tenochtitlan Texcoco and Tlacopan take sides and form what is known as a triple alliance. In conquering Azcapotzalco what is forming is the Aztec empire. But over time Tenochtitlan became the capital of the Aztec empire, which roughly continued for 100 year’s until 1521 it was defeated by Hernando Cortez.

In 1325 the city of Tenochtitlan formed on an island in Lake Texcoco initially Tenochtitlan around lake Texcoco. After roughly 100 years there is a situation where a city around lake Texcoco named Azcapotzalco falls into a civil war. Their ruler dies and there’s a succession battle and the various city states around lake Texcoco take sides. What eventually happens is Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan form what is known as a triple alliance and are able to conquer the Azcapotzalco. From the beginning of the Triple Alliance, Tenochtitlan was mostly in charge of the military and conquest, whereas the other two cities had other responsibilities. In conquering the Azcapotzalco what is forming is known as the Aztec empire.

It starts as an alliance between the three city – states and other city-states in the area, but over time Tenochtitlan essentially becomes the capital of the Aztec empire, which continues for roughly 100 years until 1521 it is defeated by Hernando Cortes. The Aztecs are so called from Aztlan (white land) The Aztecs travelled for a long time before finding lake Texcoco, they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a snake. The Aztecs carved the logo on the Aztec temple. The logo is in the middle of the modern-day Mexican flag. At its height, the Aztec empire contained 200,000 square kilometres of land and 3 million people. They were farmers, warriors, traders, engineers, artists and sculptures. The Aztecs believed that God had sent them a sign telling them where to live. With the eagle on a cactus eating a snake.

The Aztec empire fell due to lacking food and was ravaged by smallpox disease. The Aztecs ate humans to get the protein they needed to stay strong. Hernando Cortes allied with local tribes to conquer the Aztec empire. Hernando Cortes’s army surrounded Tenochtitlan for 93 days, and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to Aztecs travel for a long time before finding lake Texcoco, they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a snake. The Aztecs carved the logo on the Aztec temple. The logo is in the middle of the modern-day Mexican flag. The Aztec empire. much of the population died from hunger and smallpox.

During the siege, about 100 Spaniards lost their lives compared to as many as 100,000 Aztecs. Though Hernando Cortes didn’t die, he died later in 1547.

Author biography

Balqees is 11 years old. She loves to read books and is a participant in the prestigious Leaders of Tomorrow programme of theCircle by Ugail Foundation. She is often reserved but enthusiastic about how the world works. Her dream is to be an interior designer.

Cite this article as:
Balqees Hassan Ziyath, The Aztec Empire, theCircle Composition, Volume 1, (2021). https://thecirclecomposition.org/the-aztec-empire/