Civilization · 1428 – 1521
Aztec Empire
The Triple Alliance that ruled central Mexico from its island capital.
Capital: Tenochtitlan · Central America & Caribbean
Overview
The Mexica founded Tenochtitlan on Lake Texcoco around 1325. Their Triple Alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan controlled central Mexico by tribute and warfare until Cortés and Indigenous allies destroyed the capital in 1521.
Timeline
- c. 1325Founding of Tenochtitlan
- 1428Triple Alliance formed
- 1502 – 1520Reign of Moctezuma II
- 1519 – 1521Spanish conquest
Rulers
Founded the Triple Alliance
Expanded the empire
Ruled at Spanish contact
Wars & conflicts
- Flower Wars
- Spanish conquest
Architecture
Templo Mayor, causeways, chinampa agriculture, twin pyramid temples.
Religion
Polytheistic; Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc, Quetzalcoatl; ritual human sacrifice.
Economy
Tribute empire; cacao, cotton mantles, obsidian, feathers, gold.
Technology
Chinampa (floating garden) agriculture, aqueducts, pictographic codices.
Art
Featherwork, monumental stone sculpture (Coatlicue, Sun Stone).
Influence
Foundation of modern Mexican national identity.
Decline
Cortés, Indigenous allies (especially Tlaxcalans) and smallpox in 1519 – 1521.
Key sites
- Templo Mayor
- Teotihuacan
- Cholula
- Malinalco