How was the Aztec Empire formed?

The Aztec Empire ruled from 1345 to 1521 AD in what is now modern day Mexico and came to dominate the region for well over 150 years. Their beginnings however, stretch all the way back to 1100 AD. read more

Maximum extent of the Aztec Empire shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1519. It was the work of the Aztec's first emperor, Itzcoatl, that did much to expand the empire. read more

The Aztec Empire was an example of an empire that ruled by indirect means. Like most European empires, it was ethnically very diverse, but unlike most European empires, it was more a system of tributes than a single unitary form of government. read more

Aztec empire history Many years after the Mexica people first built their proud city, Tenochtitlan (later to become Mexico City), they formed an alliance with two other cities - Texcoco (Tetzcoco) and Tlacopan (these three cities are shown as yellow dots in the map above). read more