At the time of Spanish contact with the Aztec ruler Montezuma, the Aztecs were a successful, advanced society and major political power that was on par with their contemporaries in Europe.

When we think of the ancient Aztec Empire, images of monumental temples, fierce warriors, and ritual sacrifice might come to mind. While these were elements significant to the ancient civilization, it turns out that there is much more to this culture. Written records and archaeological evidence have shown that when the Spanish conquistadors first met with the Aztec ruler Montezuma, the Aztecs were a complex society with major achievements in science, art, and economy.

For a more complete picture of the Aztec Empire, we’ll start from the beginning — their origins and how they became a political power to their eventual demise and the cultural evidence left behind.

The Origins of the Aztecs

Seated Female Deity Stone Sculpture, ca 15th-early 16th century CE, via The Metropolitan Museum, New York

Modern-day Mexico is a region with a history that goes back thousands of years, with several culture that thrived long before Spanish contact. Perhaps the most famous of these cultures is the Aztecs. While there are myths surrounding the origin of the Aztecs, it is believed that theirs was a culture that splintered off from the Azcapotzalco people in the 13th century CE, moving on to settle in modern-day Central Mexico and Guatemala.

This newly independent people formed a coalition with the Texcocos and Tacubas, beginning an expansion campaign over much of Mesoamerica. By the time the Spanish had arrived in the 16th century CE, the Aztecs controlled over 370 city-states. Their society was complex and socially divided, with a defined nobility that included the ruler, priests, and the military. While the populace was relegated to labor, they attended schools and received training to help refine their skills. All citizens were educated in religion, their cultural history, and Nahuatl, their written language.

The First Spanish Contact 

The Meeting of Cortés and Montezuma by Unknown, ca. 1650 via The Library of Congress

In his letters to Emperor Charles V, the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés wrote in detail about Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital city. The impressive metropolis was built on an island in Lake Tetzcoco, the site of current-day Mexico City. At the time of Spanish contact, this city held approximately 200,000 people and was one of the world’s largest cities. Cortés wrote of massive bridges into the city, markets that sold local and imported goods, and even specialty shops like apothecaries, barbers, and restaurants.

Celebrations held for the coronation of emperor Moctezuma II of Mexico in the Durán Codex, 1579, via Bibliotexa Digital Hispanica

Cortés also wrote of the hospitality and diplomacy he and his men experienced when they first visited Tenochtitlan and met with the Montezuma, the leader of the Aztecs. According to these letters, Montezuma took great trouble to make Cortés and his men comfortable during their initial visit to Tenochtitlan. Sadly, despite the wonderful things he reported back to Spain, Cortés went on to defeat the Aztecs and almost completely destroyed the great city of Tenochtitlan. Thanks to archaeologists, historians, and other researchers, we are able to understand the true splendor of the Aztec Empire under Montezuma.

The Great Architecture of the Aztecs 

Map of Tenochtitlan from Nuremberg, via Library of the University of British Columbia

According to legend, the Aztec god of war, Huitzilopochtli, instructed the people to build their capital city where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus while eating a snake. In the early 14th century CE, the Aztecs saw this exact image on an island in Lake Texcoco. They went on to build the great metropolis on that island.

Building a city that spanned five square miles on an island was no easy feat and required knowledgeable hydrologists and architects. At the time of Spanish contact, the city was divided into four sectors, each with its own purpose, plus a central area that housed the major temples and palaces. Each sector was separated by causeways that formed canals to control the water level.

With water from the surrounding lake controlled, Aztec engineers and architects were now able to build housing, temples, pyramids, and public areas. As we can imagine, the soil of the island was muddy and soft, causing structures to sink over time. Adapting to this environment, builders would add layers to buildings over time, creating multi-level structures and the monumental pyramids that are associated with the Aztecs.

Artist Rendition of Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan via Discover Magazine

Utilizing local materials, the Aztec builders employed a variety of architectural styles. Private homes and palaces, public plazas, ball courts, temples, and pyramids spanned Aztec territory at the time. Homes for the populace were usually constructed from adobe bricks and lumber, while the more monumental palaces, temples, and pyramids were built from carefully cut and arranged stone blocks.

The Templo Mayor was the primary temple of the Aztec people, and its ruins can still be seen in modern-day Mexico City. Construction began between 1427 and 1440 CE and continued until the Spanish Conquest. Different stages of construction can be seen in the ruins, and it seems that each ruler aimed to build a pyramid that was superior to what their predecessors constructed. Over the years, more and more layers were added to the stone pyramid, culminating in twin temples on top of the pyramid.

This pyramid was built on an east-west axis, and with such exact geometry that from the top of the western stairway, one could see the sacred Mt. Tlaloc between the twin temples. During the equinox, one can even see the sunrise between the temples.

For the rest of this article please use source link below