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Articles
in this section:
1.
The Aztecs - the people from the North
2.
Who were the Aztecs and who were the Mexicas
Mayans
Olmecs
1.
The Aztecs - the people from the North
Postclassic period
Around the year 1300, the Aztecs
were the last tribe to arrive in Mesoamerica from the arid
northern region. They were a poor and backward people and
were not well received by the inhabitants of Toltec origin
who had settled in the Valley of Mexico.
Legend has it that the Aztecs
wandered for many years in search of a sign, an eagle and
a serpent fighting on a cactus, to show them where to found
their city. Huitzilopochtli as shown in the Borgia Codex.
They began their travels in Aztlán
(in Náhuatl, The Place of the Herons, or The Place
of Whiteness), without managing to settle even on the poorest
lands of the Valley. Finally, in 1325, they founded their
city, Mexico-Tenochtitlan.
Once they had settled, the Aztecs
lived for several decades under the dominion of the powerful
lord of Azcapotzalco, whom they served as paid soldiers.
By 1430, the Aztecs had assimilated
the features of the most advanced cultures in the Valley and
had become an efficient military power. They then attacked
and defeated Azcapotzalco and became one of the most powerful
peoples of the region. They later began a surprising military
campaign, which in just 70 years, would make their domain
the largest empire that had ever existed in Mesoamerica.
The Aztecs formed an alliance
with the lords of Texcoco and Tacuba and created what is known
as the Triple Alliance. Under the command of outstanding military
leaders like Moctezuma Ilhuiamina and Ahuitzotl, the Aztecs
conquered the center of Mexico, Veracruz, the coast of Guerrero,
part of Oaxaca, and dominated the Soconusco territory on the
border with Guatemala. Only a few peoples managed to resist
the force of the Mexicas: the Purépechas, the Tlaxcaltecas
and certain Mixtec lords.
Source: SEP, Department of Education.
2.
Who were the Aztecas and who were the Mexicas?
The Aztecs are the people who came
from Aztlan the place of origin of the Aztec peoples. Aztec
in Nahuatl means the people who came from Aztlan.
The Aztecs who left
Aztlan had wandered for many years and finally settled in Coatepec
(Snake Hill in Nahuatl) near Tula. There the Aztecs built a
city and lived for many years. When the Aztecs were in Coatepec,
a dispute arose. Some of the Aztecs who followed Huitzilopochtli
wanted to leave and some of the Aztecs who followed Coyolxuahqui
(Huitzilopochtli's Sister) wanted to stay in Coatepec. In the
battle that ensued the followers of Huitzilopochtli won and
they changed their name to Mexicas.
The Sculpture of
Coyolxuahqui's dismembered body lies today at the foot of the
Templo Mayor the religious center of the Mexica people.
Mexicas, therefore,
are the Aztecs that split from the other Aztecs in Coatepec.
The Mexicas were led by Huitzilopochtli. They continued south
and founded the city of Tenochtitlan or Mexico (what is now
Mexico City) in Anahuac. Tenochtitlan in Nahuatl means the place
of prickly pear cactus. Tenochtitlan was also refered to as
Mexico. The Empire of the Mexicas was also called Mexico. Mexicas
means people from Mexico. Hence, Mexicano or Mexican means the
same as Mexica, people from Mexico
The City of Tenochtitlan
was built in the middle of Lake Texcoco. Anahuac or the Valley
of Mexico was full of lakes at the time the first Europeans
came to Mexico. Anahuac in Nahuatl means "Near the water
or sea."
Tenochtitlan, like Venice in Italy, was a city built on water
with many canals. Canals and canoes were an important method
of transportation for the Mexicas.
In summary, the
Aztecs were from Aztlan. Aztecs means people from Aztlan. Mexica
means people from Mexico. Aztecs wandered until they found their
new homeland, Mexico. When the found it, they changed their
name to Mexica, people from Mexico. According to Dr. Alejandro
Villalobos a learned expert from Mexico City, the Aztecs turned
into Mexica once Huitzilopochtli appeared in a dream to four
priests (Teomama) when our people settled at Chapultepec. Dr.
Villalobos says the Huitzilopochtli gave his name to the Aztecs
since his was also known as Mexi. So Mexica also means sons
of Mexi or Huitzilopochtli.
Apparently in the
Mexicayotl Chronicle, Mexi is one of the names given to Huitzilopochtli.
Read more about Aztlan
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