Aztec Religion, Culture, and Daily Life
The Spanish conquistadores (conquerors) arriving in Tenochtitlán (pronounced tay-notch-teet-LAHN) in 1521 marveled at the extremely refined and artistic culture they found there. Many claimed that the capital city of the Aztecs surpassed the cities of Europe in architecture, engineering, and the arts. The city's laws were sophisticated and there was little crime. Its markets were orderly and its streets were clean, fragrant, and brightly painted. The Spaniards' first sights, walking down the streets of Tenochtitlán, might have led them to believe they had discovered a serenely peaceful civilization. During the battle for the conquest of the city, however, the Spaniards witnessed some of their fellow soldiers,...
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