Early Civilizations in the Americas Almanac | The Rise of the Aztecs

• Dates of predominance
• Name variations and pronunciation
• Location
• Tenochtitlán
• History
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The Aztec empire was at its peak when the Spanish conquistadores (conquerors) arrived in 1519. The first soldiers who arrived with the expedition of Spanish commander Hernán Cortés (1485–1547) were amazed by the civilization they found in the Valley of Mexico. The size, magnificence, beauty, wealth, order, cleanliness, and sophistication of the capital city of Tenochtitlán (pronounced tay-notch-teet-LAHN) rivaled the top European cities of the time, and outdid them in many ways.

At the same time, however, the conquistadors were horrified by the massive human sacrifices (killing...