The term Aztec is widely recognized, but it often overshadows the more accurate and historically significant name: Mexica. The Mexica people, speakers of Nahuatl, rose to prominence in the 15th and early 16th centuries, establishing a vast and influential empire across central and southern Mexico. This empire, known as the Mexica Empire, controlled a significant portion of Mesoamerica, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to shape Mexican identity and culture. Understanding the origins and ascent of the Mexica Empire is crucial to grasping the complexities of pre-Columbian Mexico and the civilization that thrived before the arrival of Europeans.
Aztec round dance
The roots of the Mexica people are shrouded in some mystery, with their ancestral homeland, Aztlán, remaining a subject of debate among historians. The name “Aztec” itself is derived from this mythical Aztlán, often translated as “White Land” or “Place of Herons,” hinting at a possible origin in northwestern Mexico. Traditions suggest the Mexica were once a nomadic tribe of hunter-gatherers inhabiting the northern Mexican plateau before migrating into the heart of Mesoamerica around the 12th century CE. This southward migration might have been part of broader population movements following the decline of the Toltec civilization.
The Toltec civilization, centered in Tula, was a dominant force in central Mexico prior to the Mexica arrival. The collapse of Tula in the 12th century created a power vacuum and spurred migrations and shifts in the region. It’s plausible that the Mexica migration was influenced by or contributed to the instability following the Toltec decline. During this period of upheaval, various groups, including the Chichimec under Xólotl, moved into the fertile Valley of Mexico. The Mexica, initially considered relative newcomers, may have benefited from the knowledge and technologies disseminated by the Toltec diaspora.
According to Mexica legends, their migration was not merely a search for resources but a divinely guided quest. The god Huitzilopochtli, their patron deity, instructed them to journey southward in search of a promised land. This divine mandate was to be signified by a powerful omen: an eagle perched on a nopal cactus, devouring a serpent. This iconic image, deeply embedded in Mexican national symbolism even today, guided the Mexica on a long pilgrimage.
This pilgrimage culminated around 1325 CE when, after years of wandering, the Mexica people reached the marshy lands surrounding Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. It was here, on a small island within the lake, that they reportedly witnessed the prophesied sign – the eagle, cactus, and serpent. Interpreting this as their divinely ordained home, they began to settle and build a temple to Huitzilopochtli. Around this sacred center, they constructed their first dwellings, laying the foundation for what would become the magnificent city of Tenochtitlán.
Tenochtitlán’s strategic island location in Lake Texcoco offered natural defenses and access to vital resources. From this humble beginning, the Mexica people, through strategic alliances, military prowess, and sophisticated urban planning, transformed Tenochtitlán into a thriving metropolis and the heart of their expanding empire. The founding of Tenochtitlán in 1325 marks a pivotal moment in Mesoamerican history, signifying the rise of the Mexica Empire and the beginning of their dominance in the region. The Mexica, also known as Tenochca and Culhua-Mexica, skillfully navigated the complex political landscape of the Valley of Mexico, ultimately forging an empire that would leave an indelible mark on the world.
