2. The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central
Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the
Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of
Mesoamerica from the 14th to 16th centuries.
"Aztec" is the Nahuatl word for "people from Aztlan",]a
mythological place for the Nahuatl-speaking culture of
the time, and later adopted as the word to define the
Mexica people. Often the term "Aztec" refers
exclusively to the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan (now
the location of Mexico City), situated on an island in
Lake Texcoco, who referred to themselves as Mexica
Tenochca or Colhua-Mexica.
3.
4. AZTEC PEOPLE
When used about ethnic groups the term "Aztec" refers
to several Nahuatl speaking peoples of central Mexico in
the postclassic period of Mesoamerican chronology,
especially the ethnic group that had a leading role in
establishing the hegemonic empire based at
Tenochtitlan, the Mexica. Other ethnic groups associated
with the Aztec empire are the Acolhua and Tepanec
ethnic groups and some of the ethnic groups that were
incorporated into the empire, and the term is also
sometimes used about them. In older usage the term
was commonly used about modern Nahuatl speaking
ethnic groups, as Nahuatl was previously referred to as
the "Aztec language".
5. In recent usage these ethnic groups are rather referred to as the
Nahua peoples. Linguistically the term "Aztecan" is still used
about the branch of the Uto-Aztecan languages that includes
the Nahuatl language and its closest relatives Pochutec and
Pipil.
6. Aztec culture
Aztec culture is the culture of the people referred to as Aztecs,
but since all ethnic groups of central Mexico in the postclassic
period shared most basic cultural traits, many of the basic traits
of Aztec culture cannot be said to be exclusive for the Aztecs.
For the same reason the notion of "Aztec civilization" is best
understood as a particular horizon of a general Mesoamerican
civilization.
Among the cultural traits that the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan shared
with many other cultures of central Mexico are the agricultural
basis of maize cultivation, the basic social organization dividing
society into classes of noble pipiltin and macehualli commoners,
the complex religious beliefs and practices including most of the
pantheon, the calendric system of a xiuhpohualli of 365 days
intercalated with a tonalpohualli of 260 days. Cultural traits
particular to the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan was the veneration of the
Mexica patron God Huitzilopochtli, the construction of twin
pyramids, and the ceramic ware known as Aztec I to III.[6]
7.
8. Aztec empire
The Aztec empire was a tribute empire based in Tenochtitlan,
which extended its power throughout Mesoamerica in the late
postclassic period. It originated in 1427 as a triple alliance
between the city-states Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan who
allied to defeat the Tepanec state of Azcapotzalco, that had
previously dominated the Basin of Mexico. Soon Texcoco and
Tlacopan became junior partners in the alliance which was de-
facto led by the Mexico of Tenochtitlan. The empire extended its
power by a combination of trade and military conquest.
![ The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central
Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the
Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of
Mesoamerica from the 14th to 16th centuries.
"Aztec" is the Nahuatl word for "people from Aztlan",]a
mythological place for the Nahuatl-speaking culture of
the time, and later adopted as the word to define the
Mexica people. Often the term "Aztec" refers
exclusively to the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan (now
the location of Mexico City), situated on an island in
Lake Texcoco, who referred to themselves as Mexica
Tenochca or Colhua-Mexica.](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)