The Aztecs lived on an island in central Mexico, where they developed a sophisticated civilization. They had a complex religious system centered around major gods like Huitzilopochtli and advanced knowledge of agriculture, architecture, mathematics, and astronomy. The Aztec empire grew powerful through conquest and tribute from conquered cities, though this later led to resentment from their own people. Gender roles divided labor, with men focused on education, warfare, and ruling while women managed households.