Aztecs :: essays research papers fc

AZTECSThe Aztecs came from Azatlan which is the mythical place of origin(Aztecs of Lost Civilization). Huizilopochtli, the god of war, told the Aztecs to leave Azatlan and revolve until they saw an eagle perched on a cactus growing out of a rock and eating a snake(Los Aztecas). The Aztecs traveled some years to chance upon the legend and finally found it while at Lake Texcoco. Lake Texcoco was ruled by the Toltecs between the 10th and 11th centuries(Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia). Since many other tribes also migrated to Lake Texcoco at the same time, the Aztecs were pushed out to the westside of the lake to a swampy area. The only instalment of dry ground they had was a modest island surrounded by marshes. all over a long period of time they built their empire with chinapas. Chinapas were organize by piling up mud from the lake bottom to make little islands(Aztec Empire History). Tenochtitlan (currently Mexico City), which means "Place of the Cactus", became the c apital in 1325 and soon at that place came many islands in which bridges were built to connect the mainland (Los Aztecas). They also remove canals and constructed aqueducts. There were many religious structures, and they built temples and pyramids. By 1502 the Aztec Empire spread out from Guatemala to San Luis Potosi which is in Central and Southern Mexico and extended 800 miles along a northwest-southeast axis. The Aztecs conquered many cities and all became part of the empire which was wedged between high mountains and surrounded by lakes(Aztecs of Lost Civilization/ Azetc Empire History).      The three social classes of the Aztecs were slave, commoner, and nobility. The slaves (lowest class) were essentially servants, although they could buy there way to freedom or if they escaped from their know and reached the royal palace without being caught they would earn their way to freedom. There were deuce kinds of commoners (middle class). The maceualtin were given a lifetime ownership of a plot of land in which they would build their house on. The tlalmaitl were tenant farmers. The nobility (highest class) were usually rulers, chiefs, or nobles(Aztecs/ Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia). The Aztecs typical home was on a log raft cover with mud which had plants on it that stabled the raft with its roots. The home usually had its back end to a canal with a canoe tied at the gateway so they could have efficient transportation(Aztec Empire History).