History/Background of The Aztec
Sacrificial Aztec knife
The Aztec were small families of hunters and gatherers. Back before they rose to power, they used to call themselves the Mexica. They lived in Aztlan (around Central Mexico, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona). They were looking for an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake. Once they did find the eagle, they were supposed to become the greatest civilization of their time. After hundreds of years of searching for the eagle, the Aztec came upon a tribe. At first the tribe was hostile and fought the Aztec, but after a little while, the other tribe wanted the Aztec to unite with them and become one tribe. The daughter of the king of the other tribe was going to marry the king of the Aztecs. Instead of the Aztecs preparing for the wedding, they killed and skinned the bride and gave her skin to the priest. When the other tribe saw this they banished the Aztecs. The Aztecs went to a nearby lake where, amazingly, their was an eagle with a snake in its mouth perched on a cactus. But, the cactus was on an island in the middle of the lake with only snakes and other cactus. Even so, the Aztecs went to the island and started to build a civilization. Because the island was small and made of sand, the Aztec made chinampas (floating gardens) so they could farm. The chinampas also doubled as plots of land were families could live. Eventually, these chinampas would grow into land that would one day create Mexico City.
Soon the Aztec had a growing population (and island) that now had organized religion, monumental architecture, advanced technology and other features that all civilizations have. On the original island, the Aztec had built humongous pyramids for the gods. To appease the gods, the Aztec would have human sacrifice. Now that the Aztec had a city of their own, they decided to go conquer other civilizations. In no time at all, the Aztecs had conquered and enslaved most all of Central America. Little did they know this would come back and haunt them.
Meanwhile, in Spain, Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez was setting out to the Americas. Once they did reach the Americas, they started to travel across Central America. Before this all happened, the Aztec had made a prophesy that in year 1 reed, Cristian year 1519, a banished Aztec priest named Quetzalcoatl would return to the earth and meet the Aztecs. Based on the prophesy, Quetzalcoatl was light skinned and would arrive floating on a cloud. Because the Spaniards were light skinned and rode horses, the Aztec thought that they might be Quetzalcoatl. Soon the Aztec realized that they were wrong, but by then it was too late. The Spaniards had already made alliances with all the Aztecs enemies (almost everyone they had conquered). During the first battle, the Spaniards came across the three bridges that the Aztec had connected to the shore. Even though the Aztec had rigged the bridges with trapped doors and draw bridges, Most of the Spaniards still made it across until the boats came. Aztecs crowded the boats, arrows in had. With in minutes, the water was more blood then water. Spanish bodies covered the bridges and floated in the water. If you were farther back in the Spaniards line up, when you crossed the bridges, there wasn't a single place you could step without disturbing the body of a fallen comrade. the Aztec had won the first battle. Although the Aztec had killed many Spanish, it wouldn't be enough for the second battle. During the second battle, after the Spaniards had recovered, the Spaniards came in and began the beginning of the end. Soon the Aztecs, the great warriors, the en-slavers, were enslaved. The Spaniards guns, germs (small pox) and steel (swords) had paid off. Now they had their god, gold and glory.
Soon the Aztec had a growing population (and island) that now had organized religion, monumental architecture, advanced technology and other features that all civilizations have. On the original island, the Aztec had built humongous pyramids for the gods. To appease the gods, the Aztec would have human sacrifice. Now that the Aztec had a city of their own, they decided to go conquer other civilizations. In no time at all, the Aztecs had conquered and enslaved most all of Central America. Little did they know this would come back and haunt them.
Meanwhile, in Spain, Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez was setting out to the Americas. Once they did reach the Americas, they started to travel across Central America. Before this all happened, the Aztec had made a prophesy that in year 1 reed, Cristian year 1519, a banished Aztec priest named Quetzalcoatl would return to the earth and meet the Aztecs. Based on the prophesy, Quetzalcoatl was light skinned and would arrive floating on a cloud. Because the Spaniards were light skinned and rode horses, the Aztec thought that they might be Quetzalcoatl. Soon the Aztec realized that they were wrong, but by then it was too late. The Spaniards had already made alliances with all the Aztecs enemies (almost everyone they had conquered). During the first battle, the Spaniards came across the three bridges that the Aztec had connected to the shore. Even though the Aztec had rigged the bridges with trapped doors and draw bridges, Most of the Spaniards still made it across until the boats came. Aztecs crowded the boats, arrows in had. With in minutes, the water was more blood then water. Spanish bodies covered the bridges and floated in the water. If you were farther back in the Spaniards line up, when you crossed the bridges, there wasn't a single place you could step without disturbing the body of a fallen comrade. the Aztec had won the first battle. Although the Aztec had killed many Spanish, it wouldn't be enough for the second battle. During the second battle, after the Spaniards had recovered, the Spaniards came in and began the beginning of the end. Soon the Aztecs, the great warriors, the en-slavers, were enslaved. The Spaniards guns, germs (small pox) and steel (swords) had paid off. Now they had their god, gold and glory.