Aztec

   These people lived in central and southern Mexico between the 14th and 16th century. They were originally members of the Toltec civilization, which eventually collapsed. Even though they were surrounded by powerful neighboring tribes, also from the Toltec civilization, they believed they were destined to create a great civilization. This is because of a legend which said they would establish a great civilization in a marshy area, where they would see a cactus growing out of a rock, and an eagle sitting on the cactus eating a snake. When they arrived at the marshy land which they occupied, this is exactly what they saw. This legend fulfilled, they had no doubt they would create a great civilization. By 1325 AD they had founded the capital city of Tenochtitlan, where Mexico City is now located. Great builders, the Aztec's city of Tenochtitlan had giant, stepped, limestone-faced pyramids, aqueducts, canals, bridges and causeways. When Hernan Cortes began his conquest in 1519, the market in Tenochtitl« n was attracting about 60,000 people daily, who brought in goods that were traded throughout the Central Americas. The Aztec Empire extended form central Mexico to the Guatemalan boarder, and was protected by a strong military, and military alliances. Cortes was able to defeat the Aztec due to some internal strife, and because the emperor Montezuma welcomed Cortes, believing him to be the god Quetzalcoatl. Aztec society consisted of three classes: Slaves - Who were servants, but could buy their freedom, or were set free if they could escape their master and reach the palace without being caught. Commoners (called Maceualtin) - Who were given a plot of land to build a house on. There was a low group of commoners (called Tlalmaitl) who were tenant farmers and not allowed to own land. Nobility - These were nobles by birth, priests and warriors or others who earned the rank. Human and animal sacrifice were an important religious ritual, where the victim was stretched across a convex stone, and his heart ripped out with a sharp knife. Their writing system was pictographs. See Aztec Calendar Stone and Tlalocan.