The Aztec Empire was established in 1325 in Mexico, growing to a population of 5-6 million people ruled from their capital of Tenochtitlan, a large island city connected to the mainland by causeways. They conquered neighboring peoples and extracted tribute, developing an advanced urban civilization with extensive agriculture, trade networks, and an economy that supported large populations and significant public works projects. However, they engaged in frequent human sacrifice of war captives to appease the gods. In contrast, the Inca Empire spanned a vast Andean region, assimilating conquered peoples through relocation, education in the Quechua language, and obligations to the state instead of tribute, with an emphasis on centralized bureaucratic control rather than war