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M
E X I C A N A N D A Z T E
C H I S T O R Y
 Early
Mexico
There
is evidence of the existence of humans in Mexico in ~20,000
BC. A skeleton from Mexico analysed by Carbon dating was
found to be from the period of ~10,000 BC. It is known that
agriculture was in use in southern parts of Mexico in 3000
BC. The Mexico region or the Mesoamerica region was the
first approach to civilisation encountered on the American
continent. The Mesoamerican region included people of many
different ethnic origins with a variety of languages but
all had a similar culture in that they
 Several
cultures developed in the history of Mexico.The mysterious
Olmecs were the first and had a far reaching influence
on subsequent cultures, although little is known about where
they came from or why they disappeared. Next were the Teotihuacans
who occupied the central highland of Mexico. The city-state
of Teotihuacan is said to have had a population of 200,000
in 350 AD. It was probably one of the largest cities in the
world at the time and it influenced all areas of the Mesoamerican
region.
The Toltecs could be found in the north of the Valley
of Mexico, probably before the end of 600 AD. They built Tula,
one of Mexico's most impresssive ancient cities. The Toltecs
strongly influenced later Mayan and Aztec cultures. The
Mayans are thought to be one of the most influential cultures.
They invented complex systems of mathematics and were master
engineers and architects. They also controlled a huge empire
and were skilled traders. The Zapotec and Mixtec developed
in the valley of Oaxaca. They were excellent builders and
artists, they created temples, pottery and metal work. Descendants
of both these ancient cultures still inhabit the state of
Oaxaca today.
The
Aztecs
The
Aztecs arrived from the remote regions of the north around
about 1200 AD. For a long time they lived a nomadic lifestyle
enduring many hardships. At one stage the Aztecs were enslaved
by a more powerful tribe, but they proved to be too ferocious
to handle. After more wanderings, they finally settled on
the south-western borders of the main lake of Mexico in
1325. Legend has it that it was here that the Aztecs saw
what was believed to be an a sign showing them that this
should be the site of their future city. They saw a great
royal eagle perched on the stem of a prickly pear. He had
a serpent in his talons and his magnificent wings were spread
against the sunrise.
The low marshes near the lake were half buried under water,
so the Aztecs sank piles into the shallows and erected their
homes and floating gardens. They lived off wild fowl and
the vegetables they could raise in their gardens. This place
was called Tenochtitlan, though only known to Europeans
as Mexico, derived from their war-god Mexitli.
Conditions were far from ideal in the new settlement, and
to make it worse, a group of citizens broke off from the
main group and moved to a neighbouring marsh. This resulted
in domestic feuds and prevented the Aztecs from successfully
expanding into other areas. However they gradually increased
in numbers and improved their organsiation and military
discipline, soon gaining a fearsome reputation in the Mexican
Valley for being courageous and cruel in war.
In the early part of the 1400's an event took place that
changed the circumstances for the Aztecs. The monarchy of
the neighbouring city of Tezcucan was taken over
by another group The Tepanecs. This aroused a great
spirit of resistance in the prince of Tezcucan, Nezahualcoyotl,
who after much peril and some incredible escapes, mustered
up enough force with the help of the Aztecs to defeat the
Tepanecs and slaughter their leader. In return for their
assistance, the Aztecs were rewarded with the conquered
territories.
Then a league was formed between the neighbouring states
of Tezcuco, Mexico and the little kingdom of Tlacopan that
is unparallelled in history. It was agreed that the three
states should support each other in wars and distribute
the wealth among them. This alliance soon began to spread
out of the Mexican Valley and by the middle of the 1400's,
under the rule of the first Montezuma had spread
down the sides of the tableland to the borders of the Gulf
of Mexico. The Aztec capital , Tenochtitlan prospered and
feuds were ended to bring the people under one government.
 The
throne was filled by a succession of princes who were able
to profit from their enlarged resources and the enthusiasm
of the nation to engage in war. Year after year the armies
returned with spoils from conquered cities and captives.
No state in the Mesoamerican region was able to resist the
growing strength of the conquerers. By the start of the
1500's, the Aztec dominion had spread (under the bold and
bloody Ahuitzotl), across the continent from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and into the farthest corners of
Guatemala and Nicuragua.
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References:
MEXICO TRAVEL GUIDE
http://www.go2mexico.com/navigate.html
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - Map of Mexico
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