Return to Lecture Notes Index
AZTECS
A. Sources
1. Sahagun
2. Diego Duran
B. Geography
1. Basin of Mexico
a) Lake Texcoco
C. Origins of the Mexica
1. Toltecs and Tula
a) refugees from Tula established new centers in Valley of
Mexico
b) Chichimeca immigrants to Valley of Mexico
2. Settlement of Valley of Mexico
a) Toltec descendants to the south
1) Colhuacan
a> Culhua name may derive from Nahuatl "colli" or "grandfather"
b> was the surviving Toltec city of the region
2) Xico
b) Chichimec tribes to the north
1) Mixcoatl-Camaxtli
a> legendary leader of immigrants to Valley of Mexico
b> linked with Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, god of morning star
1> attire in codices similar to that of Mixcoatl
2) Xolotl
a> 12th century figure steeped in legend
1> linked with god of the evening star
b> may be Tochintecuhtli, 13th-century ruler of Tenayuca
c> arrived with large band
d> settled at Tenayuca ca. 1244
3) Acolhua
a> founded Coatlinchan ca. 1260
b> led by Huetzin
c> settled in Texcoco, on eastern side of lake
d> preceded Tepanecs in founding a small empire
e> later became allies of Mexica
4) Otomí
a> founded Xaltocan ca. 1250
b> may have been related or incorporated into Mexica
5) Tepanecs
a> rulers of Azcapotzalco
1> took over older town originally founded by refugees from
Teotihuacan
2> ruler was Tezozomoc (1340-1426)
3. Aztecs or Mexica
a) early history
1) "people whose face nobody knows"
a> also referred to as Chichimeca -"People of the Dog"
1> Teochichimeca - true hunters & gatherers
2> Tamime - neither truly nomadic or barbaric
a: lived in caves or grass huts
b: some agriculture
c: associated with settled peoples
2) claimed to have come from Aztlan "Place of the Herons"
a> stories of wanderings incorporate many elements of myth
1> some talk of sea crossings
a: for Spanish, this was significant
2> itenerary shares elements with that of other groups
a: stopping places include:
1: Chicomoztoc, or the Seven Caves
A. also jumping-off spot for Tlaxcalans, Xochimilca, Chalca,
Tepanes, Culhua, and Tlahuica
2: TeoculhuacÝn
3> related to stories of origins in Seven Caves
b> traditional date for departure is 1111
c> location of Aztlan unknown
1> described as island surrounded by lagoon
2> Wigberto Jimenez traces it to lagoon in Nayarit
a: Mexcaltitlan has island in the middle
d> more recent analyses tend to see Mexica as a blend of
peoples to the north of the Valley of Mexico fused with
elements of smaller, migrant tribe
e> some elements don't go together
1> deities of Mexica are different from those of northern
peoples
2> they had few characteristics of nomadic tribes, although
their legends have them wandering for centuries
a: they built shrines and farmed crops
3) claimed to have been guided by Huitzilopochtli
a> "Hummingbird-on-the-left"
b> carried on the shoulders of four priests
c> demanded human sacrifice
1> there were reportedly some dissenters
2> wanted to stay in Tula in spite of god's command
3> were sacrificed
d> may be a Toltec god, substituted for more ancient gods of
Mexica - Tetzahuiltl (lunar) and Texitli (earth)
1> son of Coatlicue, mother goddess and alter ego of Cihuacoatl
(principal god of Culhuacan)
a: Coatlicue and Cihuacoatl linked to Chimalma, mother of
Tolpitzin-Quetzalcoatl
2> Tetzahuitl linked to Tezcatlipoca
e> trip was fraught with problems
1> ditched Malinalxochitl (Wild Grass Flower), a witch who was
reportedly a sister of Huizilopochtli
f> "new fire" ceremony celebrated at 52-year intervals
4) fierce warriors
5) continual squatters, occupying other peoples' territory
6) raided other peoples for women
7) settled in Chapultepec
a> former Toltec stronghold
1> location where Huemac hanged himself
b> attacked and expelled for the first time ca. 1315
c> selected chief Huitzil°huitl to manage defense
d> attacked again in 1319, by other groups and probably
Tepanecs
e> ejected from Chapultepec in very bad state
1> went to Culhua as wretched suppliants
2> invited to live at Tizaapan
a: lived on snakes and small animals
8) some became servants of people of Culhuacan
a> married into noble families of Culhua nobility
1> used as tie to Toltec ancestry
b> assisted Culhua with battle against Xochimilco
1> used home-made equipment and weapons
c> requested daughter of Achitometl, one of Culhua rulers, as
bride for Huitzilopochtli
1> sacrificed and flayed
a: father discovers priest in her flayed skin
d> Mexica chased out of Tizaapan by angry Culhua
9) became wanderers again
a> reached swampy islands near western shore of Lake Texcoco
1> date interpreted as 1325 or 1345
2> tribal prophecy that they were to build a city where an
eagle was seen sitting on a cactus with a snake in its mouth
a: "tenochtli" means "place of the fruit of the cactus"
b: eagle was a symbol of the sun
c: prickly-pear fruit represented human hearts
b> this group is interpreted as an ethnic mix
1> evidence for worship of both Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc
2> possible mix of Mexicas, Otom°s, and Nahua-Toltecs
10) tribe split into two by 1344 or 1345
a> Tenochtitlan
1> southern capital
2> strategic location for lake resources, communications, and
defensive location
3> said to have been laid out in four quarters
a: Moyotla, Teopan, Atzacualco, and Cuepopan
b: city in the reeds
1: evoked image of Tollan, a name used in Aztec times to mean
"metropolis"
4> first leader known as Tenoch
b> Tlatelolco founded in 1358
1> situated to the north
2> "tlatelli" means "built up mound of earth"
3> governed by son of Tepanec
4> probably contemporaneous with pyramid of Tenayuca
a: adjacent to Aztcapotzalco, Tepanec capital
c> swamps drained and cities merged
11) needed basic goods from Tepanecs
a> sought active trade
b> wound up as tributaries to Tezozomoc
12) served as mercenaries for the Tepanecs of Atzcapotzalco in
1367
a> ruled by Tezozomoc (ca. 1340-1426)
1> acceded to the throne ca. 1370
2> ruled for over 50 years
3> powerful and dynamic ruler
4> created Tepanec Empire
5> true preceptor of Aztec greatness
6> conquered many cities in Valley of Mexico
a: overthrew Culhuacan, Tenayuca, and Texcoco
1: Texcoco grew to be a rival power under Quinatzin
b: domain included almost all of Valley of Mexico and dominated
many territories beyond
b> shared loot, and were taken under protection by Tepanecs
1> however, very hard tribute was imposed
a: requested tribute of fish, frogs, and greens
b: rafts planted with every kind of vegetable
c> sought leader from among the Culhua
1> Aztec dynasty emerges ca. 1371
2> came up with Acamapichtli (1372-91)
a: name means "handful of reeds"
b: was son of Mexica noble and Culhua woman
1: dynasty from which he came had links to Acolhua
2: provided link to Toltec past
3: wife was of Culhua nobility
A. may have been wife and mother
B. may have been real ruler
c: conquests of Xochimilco and Cuernavaca
1: beginning of conflict with Chalco
d: reigned peacefully, building up city and constructing
houses, chinampas, and canals
e: died ca. 1391, after reign of ca. 19 years
f: co-ruler Cuacuapitzahuac of Tlatelolco
1: name means "Pointed Horn"
2: son of Tepanec ruler
d> succeeded by son Huitzil°huitl (1391-1415)
1> "Humming Bird's Feather"
2> first wife was from Tacuba
3> second wife was a Tepanec princess, granddaughter of
Tezozomoc from Azcapotzalco
a: resulted in favorable treatment from Tezozomoc
b: after birth of son Chimalpopoca, delegation came from
Azcapotzalco
4> third wife
a: mother of Tlacaelel
5> fourth wife was from Cuernavaca
a: mother of Moctezuma Ilhuicamina
6> heavy tribute was lifted
7> Aztecs appear to be wooed as associates by Tepanecs
8> began to make laws for Aztec state
9> more forward-looking than father
10> marriage facilitated economic advances
11> died ca. 1415
e> Huitzilihuitl succeeded by son Chimalpopoca (1415-1426)
1> "Smoking Shield"
2> half Tepanec
3> oversaw war with Texcoco
a: in Texcoco, authority was challenged by Ixtlilxochitl
1: acceded to throne in 1409
2: asserted right to be called "Lord of the Chichimecs"
3: Tezozomoc demanded tribute in cotton work
4: Ixlilxochitl refused, and had himself declared "Universal
Monarch" in 1414
5: war broke out between Acolhua and Tepanecs, the latter
assisted by the Mexica
6: Ixlilxochitl was forced to flee Texcoco, and was killed by
former friends from Chalco and Otumba
A. son, Nezahualcoyotl, escaped to Tlaxcala and Huexotzingo,
beyond the volcanoes
7: actual city of Texcoco given to the Mexica
f> Nezahualcoyotl
1> prince of Texcoco
2> saw father killed by peoples from Chalco and Otumba
3> lived in Tenochtitlan as a young man
a: associated with Izcoatl before the latter became a ruler
b: accompanied by loyal follower Coyohua
4> allowed to return to Texcoco by Tezozomoc
a: elder ruler tried to persuade friend to kill him
b: continued run-ins with Maxtla
5> took refuge again in lands east of volcanoes
b) consolidation of power
1) Tezozomoc succeeded by son Maxtlatzin
a> died in 1426
b> Maxtla was an enemy of Tenochtitlan
1> war declared upon him by Tlacaelel
a: made three visits to Azcapotzalco
b: bargain struck with Mexica people
1: rulers agreed to be eaten if they lost
2: people pledged to serve and pay tribute
2) Chimalpopoca succeeded by uncle Itzcoatl (Obsidian Serpent)
a> Itzcoatl acceded in 1426 at the age of 46
1> may have had Chimalpopoca killed
b> chief advisor was nephew Tlacaelel, son of Huitzilihuitl
1> younger brother of Moctezuma I
2> assumed title of Cihuacoatl (Woman Snake)
3> chief reformer of Aztec state
a: destroyed pre-Aztec books and records
b: promoted view of Aztecs as heirs to Toltec tradition
c> reign characterized by troubles with Tepanecs
1> latter demanded signs of submission
d> war broke out between Mexica and Tepanecs upon death of
Itzcoatl
e> formation of Triple Alliance in 1428
1> Mexica sought help from peoples of Puebla-Tlaxcala
a: major power was Huexotzingo
2> Huexotzingo
a: Nezahualcoyotl was there after escape from Texcoco
1: appears to have had traditional friendship with local
dynasty
b: delegation arrives from Tenochtitlan, complaining of
Tepanecs
1: led by Moctezuma, who had escaped imprisonment in Chalco
c: embassy also arrives from Cuauhtitlan, recently defeated by
Maxtla
1: offerings were poor, and they were put in jail
d: delegation also from Tlatelolco
e: Tepanec envoys were killed as a result of the bad stories
3> Huexotzingo assisted Nezahualcoyotl to return to Texcoco in
1428
4> joint forces of Huexotzingo and Nezahualcoyotl beseiged
Azcapotzalco
5> Mexica took Tlacopan and then blockaded Azcapotzalco
a: Tlacopan a Tepanec city leaning towards the allies
b: seige lasted for 114 days
c: Maxtla captured in a steam bath
1: sacrificed in public by Nezahualcoyotl
2: given a royal funeral
6> Atzcapotzalco destroyed
a: land distributed to individuals as well as peoples
1: Tlacaelel and Moctezuma I took much land
2: proportion of individually-owned land was way out of
proportion
3: state land kept for upkeep of palace and officials,
maintenance of temples, etc.
4: communal lands (calpulalli) in the hands of freemen
(macehuales)
7> "Triple Alliance"
a: Izcoatl was "Ruler of the Culhua"
b: Nezahualcoyotl was "Ruler of the Acolhua"
1: kept in Tenochtitlan for four years after war
2: installation as ruler controlled by Aztecs
3: Texcoco became known as a center of learning
A. the "Athens of the Americas"
c: se§or of Tlacopan was "Ruler of the Tepanecs"
1: definitely the "junior partner" in this relationship
2: division of tribute was 2/5, 2/5, and 1/5
f> later conquests
1> Coyoacan
2> Xochimilco
3> Cuitlahuac
4> Cuernavaca
5> emphasis on consolidation of Valley of Mexico
g> major accomplishments were consolidation of Mexican state
government and central territory
3) Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina ("Heaven Shooter"), 1440-1468
a> began construction of Templo Mayor
b> first conquest was with region of Chalca
1> latter people had captured and killed two sons of
Nezahualcoyotl
2> Mexica took 500 prisoners for sacrifice
3> war lasted 20 years
c> difficult famine caused cessation of war from 1451-1454
1> started with plague of locusts in 1446
2> flooding in 1449
3> early frosts
4> empire not organized to deal with this calamity
5> children sold to Gulf Coast region for food
a: 400 cobs for a girl, 500 for a boy
d> rains began again in abundance in 1455
1> New Fire ceremony celebrated
e> "Flowery Wars"
1> instituted by Tlacaelel
f> Empire expansion
1> campaign towards Oaxaca begun in 1458
a: pretense was killing of merchants
b: conquered kingdom of Atonal
2> drive to Gulf Coast
a: fertile Tototac lands sought as protection against famine
b: Tlaxcalans neglected to come to assistance of Gulf Coast
peoples
c: common people denounced their rulers
1: rulers were killed at insistence of Tlacaelel
d: new chiefs were chosen and double tribute imposed
e: captives were not sacrificed, but distributed to nobles
3> Huaxtecs conquered next
4> completely encircled Tlaxcala territories
g> took over Huasteca
1> Huastecs brought into Tenochtitlan in time for feast of
Flayed Men
2> prisoners were tied to large stone and given sheild and
wooden club
a: attacked by Aztec warriors, sacrificed, and flayed
b: priests wore their skin for 20 days
h> last great campaign waged at Tepeaca and neighboring cities
in 1466
1> strategically located on Aztec military and trade routes to
south and south-east
2> people ordered to oversee trade through their area
i> war with Chalco continued, ending in 1464
j> known for buildings and gardens
1> major effort was construction of great temple
a: was to be the principal temple of Huitzilopochtli
b: painted in bright colors, with 360 steps leading to the top
2> baths and gardens built by Nezahualcoyotl in Texcoco
a: "university", gardens with fountains, labyr