The Aztecs were a very interesting group of people. They were a small, nomadic Native American tribe who lived in northern Mexico. The Aztecs called themselves Mexica or Tenocha. During the 12th century, they migrated all the way down to the valley of Mexico. They made their capital at Tenochtillan, an island, in the middle of Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs built temples, public buildings and homes in their city. They were also very smart. They built causeways of stone across the Lake to other islands to travel upon. Also, the Aztecs constructed an aqueduct to carry water from the river that was 4 miles away, to their city. The Aztecs were also great warriors. While constructing their city, they fought to gain new pieces of land. At the end of the 15th century, they ruled over much of what today is modern Mexico.
The Aztecs state was authoritarian. That means the power was in the hands of the monarch. The Aztecs rulers claimed they were descended from the gods and after one of these rulers died, another was chosen from the royal family.Growing up in the Aztec society was much different than it is in our society. The boys were born warriors and the girls were born housewives. If you were in a noble family, the girls were trained to become priestess. The father of the family taught his son between the ages of 3 to 15. The mother taught her daughters basic housework. If you were a noble you started school at an early age. In the Aztec society you had very hard discipline.
Many Aztecs lived in small, adobe homes and wealthier Aztecs lived in larger ones. The Aztecs ate a different variety of foods like: maize, porridge, tamales, beans, squash, amaranth, avocadoes, sweet potatoes, rabbits, deer, wild pigs, wild fowl, worms, ants, and tadpoles. The favorite drink of the rich was cocoa, sweetened with honey and vanilla. Aztec markets were very big and busy. When the Spanish arrived, they were shocked to see their markets. A Spaniard