Did The Expansion Of The Aztec Empire Lead To Their Downfall? :: essays research papers

Did the Expansion of the Aztec Empire Lead to Their drop?The Aztec Indians originated from a get in called Aztlan, somewhere innorth or northwest Mexico. At that time the Aztecs were a miserable, nomadic tribeliving in the frame in territory on the margins of civilized Mesoamerica. (see mapI) In the 13th century they settled in the valley of central Mexico. The Aztecsfinally found refuge on a small island in Lake Texcoco, where about 1345, theyfounded the town of Tenochtitlan. The island was found through a prophecy whichsaid they would settle where they found an eagle perched on a cactus. (seediagram I)During the following(a) century the Aztecs grew to be greatest power in Mexico.As they grew in political status they became sophisticated and civilized,learning from established peoples who had been town dwellers for more than 1,000years. (Ekholm, Gordon F.)The Aztec pudding stone consisted of numerous, loosely connected urbancommunities. Land ownership was communal. Each loca l group was composed of afew families that jointly have a install of land. Part of the yield ofcultivated land was given to the state as a kind of tax.Technology depended more on valet skills than on robotic devices.Iron and steel were unknown, although copper and bronze were affaird for tools andMexican jewelers made ornaments from gold, silver, and their alloys. Wheat,barley, cattle, horses, sheep, and goats were unknown until introduced fromEurope and the Mexicans were efficient farmers who made full use of irrigation,terracing, and fertilization of the fields.Aztec Mexico was sizable and civilized. The state controlled every aspectof life. Schooling and training in the martial arts were compulsory for allboys, while the girls were trained in gathering, cooking, and the sewing arts.A centralized bureaucracy looked after the collection and storage of taxes,matters of legislation and punishment. (Peterson, Frederick)Life for the Aztecs was good. Because of the complexity of t heirgovernment all were happy. Then in 1519 Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, metthe Aztec leader Montezuma in Tenochtitlan. Montezuma believed that theSpaniards had come in peace, but he is proven wrong in 1521 when the Spanish,lead by Cortes, violently conquered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.The purpose of this chronicle is to answer the inquire Did the Expansionof the Aztec Empire Lead to Their Downfall ? I feel that it most likely did.This is because when the Aztecs were conquered they were the most powerfulcivilization in the newfangled World. The Spaniards saw them as the ones to beat togain supreme power in the Americas.Did The Expansion Of The Aztec Empire Lead To Their Downfall? essays research papers Did the Expansion of the Aztec Empire Lead to Their Downfall?The Aztec Indians originated from a place called Aztlan, somewhere innorth or northwest Mexico. At that time the Aztecs were a small, nomadic tribeliving in the border territory on the margins of civiliz ed Mesoamerica. (see mapI) In the 13th century they settled in the valley of central Mexico. The Aztecsfinally found refuge on a small island in Lake Texcoco, where about 1345, theyfounded the town of Tenochtitlan. The island was found through a prophecy whichsaid they would settle where they found an eagle perched on a cactus. (seediagram I)During the next century the Aztecs grew to be greatest power in Mexico.As they grew in political status they became sophisticated and civilized,learning from established peoples who had been town dwellers for more than 1,000years. (Ekholm, Gordon F.)The Aztec empire consisted of numerous, loosely connected urbancommunities. Land ownership was communal. Each local group was composed of afew families that jointly owned a piece of land. Part of the yield ofcultivated land was given to the state as a kind of tax.Technology depended more on human skills than on mechanical devices.Iron and steel were unknown, although copper and bronze were used for t ools andMexican jewelers made ornaments from gold, silver, and their alloys. Wheat,barley, cattle, horses, sheep, and goats were unknown until introduced fromEurope and the Mexicans were efficient farmers who made full use of irrigation,terracing, and fertilization of the fields.Aztec Mexico was rich and civilized. The state controlled every aspectof life. Schooling and training in the martial arts were compulsory for allboys, while the girls were trained in gathering, cooking, and the sewing arts.A centralized bureaucracy looked after the collection and storage of taxes,matters of legislation and punishment. (Peterson, Frederick)Life for the Aztecs was good. Because of the complexity of theirgovernment all were happy. Then in 1519 Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, metthe Aztec leader Montezuma in Tenochtitlan. Montezuma believed that theSpaniards had come in peace, but he is proven wrong in 1521 when the Spanish,lead by Cortes, violently conquered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitl an.The purpose of this report is to answer the question Did the Expansionof the Aztec Empire Lead to Their Downfall ? I feel that it most likely did.This is because when the Aztecs were conquered they were the most powerfulcivilization in the New World. The Spaniards saw them as the ones to beat togain supreme power in the Americas.