Quick history of Aztecs

By Brian Freeman

The area that is now Mexico City is home to many historical moments. One of the most famous and saddest historical moments comes from the period of 13^th and 16th century. During this time period lived an ancient Mesoamerica group called the Aztecs. This ancient group during its peak dominated much of Mesoamerica for centuries till the foreign Spanish invaders forced the downfall of there society. The Aztecs had made many scientific advances, especially in the areas of astronomy and medicine. The Aztecs were in many ways more advanced than the Europeans, but nonetheless they were conquered by the Spanish. The Aztec empire is important part of Mesoamerican history due to its foundation, technological achievements and destruction by outside invaders.

In 1810 Alexander von Humboldt originated the modern usage of "Aztec" as a collective term applied to all the people linked by trade, custom, religion, and language to the Mexica state and the Triple Alliance. The word Aztec is actually referring to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, who spoke the Nahuatl language. Middle in the 13^th century the Acolhuas of Texcoco and the Tepanecs of Tlacopan, who together with the Mexica formed the Aztec Triple Alliance which has also become known as the "Aztec Empire". The forming of this alliance causes serious problems for the Aztec researchers. Much of the information known about the Aztecs is based archeology rather than historical books of the Aztecs. When alliance formed a new Emperor Tlacaelel completely reformed the Aztec state and religion. Tlacaelel ordered the burning of most of the extant Aztec books claiming that they contained lies. When he committed this act he rewrote the history of the Aztec people. The rewriting led directly to the belief that the Aztecs were always a powerful and mythic nation; forgetting forever a possible true history of modest origins.

The Aztecs made many scientific advances, mostly in the areas of astronomy and medicine. One of the most interesting and remarkable demonstration of the advances made by the Aztecs is Aztec Calendar. The current calendar our society uses today Gregorian calendar which was decreed by Pope Gregory XIII on 24 February 1582. The Aztec calendar has been dated around circa 1479 which is 103 years before the Gregorian calendar. It had 18 months, with each month containing 20 days. Thus, 360 days would constitute one year. The Aztecs, however, had determined that the year contained 365 days. Therefore, they added 5 days called the "Nemontemi", or sacrificial days. These days, when added to the already existing 360, raised the number of days in a year to the astronomically correct number of 365.

In 1519 King Charles of Spain sent Hernán Cortés to the new world. When Cortes arrived, the Aztec civilization was at its height. However, many subject Indian groups, rebellious against Aztec rule, were only too willing to join the Spanish. Initially, the invaders were aided by the fact that the Aztec believed them to be descendants of the god Quetzalcoatl. The story of Cortes recently is being heavily debated among scholars due to the inaccuracies in the written history. Eventually the Aztec revolted, Montezuma was killed, and Tenochtitlán was razed.

The story of the Aztec people is a very interesting and provocative. The Aztec empire is important part of Mesoamerican history due to its foundation, technological achievements and destruction by outside invaders.