The Aztec Empire came to an abrupt end with the arrival of Cortes in 1521.
The nomadic ancestors of the Aztecs entered present-day central Mexico in the 14th century. By the time the Spanish arrived, their Empire, or Triple Alliance, was the dominant military and political force in Mexico. The Spanish were surprised, awed and confused by the beauty, sophistication and complexity of Aztec culture.
Religion
The Aztecs divided the universe into several layers inhabited by deities for nearly every purpose. Some of the deities included Huitzilopochtli, god of the sun and war; Quetzalcoatl, god of the wind and creation; Tezcatlipoca, god of sorcery and hurricanes; Tlaloc, god of rain; Xipe Totec, god of spring and Coatlicue, goddess of the Earth. They worshiped the gods through sacrifice. Every day, ordinary people offered some of their own blood to a patron deity. During festivals, the priests thanked the gods for creating the universe through human sacrifice. The most important human sacrifices were given to Huitzilopochtli. They believed he was locked in a cosmic struggle with the moon-goddess Coyolxauhqui, so they kept him strong with human blood and hearts.
Warfare
Warfare played a prominent role in Aztec society. The Aztecs expected every man to train for war. Even priests were warriors. According to historian Michael E. Smith, the Aztecs' main military goal was forcing their rivals to pay them tribute in the form of variety of goods such as exotic food, feathers, textiles, clothing and precious stones. Their second goal was capturing prisoners for sacrifice. They even arranged "flower wars" with their neighbors for the sole purpose of capturing sacrifices.
Education
The Aztecs placed great importance on proper education. They had two kinds of schools for boys. Commoners studied at the "Telpochcalli," or House of Youth. Subjects included citizenship, morality, religion, history, music and warfare. Nobles and exceptional commoners studied at the "Calmecac," or Row of Houses, which prepared future priests and leaders. The "Calmecac" mainly taught religious matters such as creating calendars, setting the dates for festivals and performing rituals. Students also studied history, citizenship, government, music and warfare. Girls studied religion and domestic chores at schools run by priestesses.
Clothing
Ordinary Aztecs dressed very simply. Men wore a loincloth called a "maxlatl" and a tunic called a "tilma." Woman wore a blouse called a "huipilli" and a skirt called a "cuietl." Under Aztec law only nobles could show off in fine clothes and jewelry. Aztec finery included feathered headdresses and capes, jaguar-skin loincloths and a wide range of jade and gold piercings. People of every class wore sandals made from agave fibers. Nobles decorated their sandals with jaguar-skin, gold threads and precious stones.
Food
According to chef Rick Bayless, ordinary Aztecs ate very simple meals consisting of porridge, beans and corn tortillas. Nobles and wealthy merchants feasted on a wide range of foods that are still eaten in modern Mexican cuisine. Meats included duck, turkey, deer, fish and shellfish. Fruits and vegetables included avocados, chiles, pineapples, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkins and tomatoes. Beverages included a frothy chocolate drink and pulque, a kind of white wine made from the agave plant, the source of Tequila.
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