New Aztec history facts

May 3, Mexico Aztec headdress could go home from Austria (temporarily)

Thu, 03 May 2012 01:07:29 GMT

The BBC reports that the famous Aztec headdress could go back to Mexico from Austria - but only temporarily. Click the link to read the full story.

May 3, Aztec Creation Story

Thu, 03 May 2012 01:03:30 GMT

You could say that the Aztec creation story was actually many creation stories. Let's examine how the Aztecs believed the world began, and what their place was in it...

Jan 7, Aztec Children

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:23:26 GMT

The fascinating lives of Aztec children - from before birth to adulthood. How were children in the Aztec empire treated? How were they trained? What games did they play? Find out here...

May 4, Aztec history search

Wed, 04 May 2011 16:02:34 GMT

Check out the Aztec history search, your place to find information about the Aztec empire, its culture and its people...

Jan 18, Possible Deal to Return Aztec Headdress

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:01:35 GMT

The Mexican government says talks with Austria on a temporary return of a feather headdress associated with the last Aztec emperor could be a model for the return of other hotly contested artifacts...

May 10, Aztec Agriculture

Sun, 10 May 2009 01:32:34 GMT

For the peoples of central Mexico, Aztec agriculture was a lot more than growing a few stalks of corn. Aztec farming has been admired and studied ever since...

Mar 27, The Aztec Calendar - mysterious origins and later uses

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:11:22 GMT

What was the Aztec calendar, and how was it used? Where did it come from? Actually, there's more than one Aztec calendar, and its origins are ancient...

Mar 18, Aztec Timeline

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:21:50 GMT

A detailed Aztec timeline, including the Aztec empire's emperors, important battles, and other events of significance during the time of the Aztec civilization...

Mar 13, Aztec Artifacts - 5 Surprising Finds

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:23:13 GMT

Since the fall of the empire, Aztec artifacts have been surfacing, telling the world about a civilization that once ruled supreme in Mexico...

Mar 13, Teotihuacan

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:08:57 GMT

Teotihuacan, though not an Aztec city as many believe, was still very important in the Aztec empire. But to really understand it, you must go back another 1500 years or more...

Mar 13, The Fall of the Aztec Empire

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:53:52 GMT

There are many factors that caused the fall of the Aztec empire. We may wonder how history would have been different if not for the fall of the Aztec empire...

Mar 13, Aztec ball game

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:45:56 GMT

The Aztec ball game, known as Ullamaliztli, is one of the most well known Mesoamerican games of ancient times. But it wasn't just a game - it had deep religious significance...

Mar 13, Ancient Aztec Games

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:32:36 GMT

Perhaps the most well known of ancient Aztec games was ullamaliztli, played on a tlachtli ball court. But there were many other Aztec games and sports, such as patolli...

Feb 27, The Aztec Civilization: What was it like?

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:28:20 GMT

An introduction to the Aztec Civilization: What it was, what it was like, and where the Aztec empire came from...

Feb 24, Aztec Gods - Who's Who

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:00:58 GMT

The Aztec gods were many - hundreds. Read about some of the primary Aztec gods - what people believed about them, and how people worshiped them...

Feb 21, Aztec Food

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:13:08 GMT

What was Aztec food like? Is it still eaten today? What is an Aztec food recipe like?

Feb 20, A Look at Aztec Clothes

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:58:53 GMT

Let's take a look at Aztec clothes and how the clothing was worn in the time of the ancient Aztec empire by both men and women...

Feb 14, Mysterious Grave Site Uncovered

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:36:39 GMT

A very unusual grave site, possibly of Aztec warriors, was recently found in Mexico City. Reported on the 10th of February 2009, it is a surprising mystery which will take some work to unravel, if we can unravel it at all.

Archeologists believe that the burial site may date from the time of the conquest. And almost all of the bodies were male - a hint that they were probably Aztec warriors from a battle - maybe one of the last battles with the Spanish.

But that's not the mystery - the surprising part was how they were buried. From the Canadian Press article on the Aztec grave:

The men also were carefully buried Christian-style, lying on their backs with arms crossed over their chests, though many appear to have been wrapped up in large maguey cactus leaves, rather than placed in European coffins.

The mass grave contained evidence of an Aztec-like ritual in which offerings such as incense and animals were set alight in an incense burner, but Spanish elements including buttons and a bit of glass also were present.

If the warriors were buried by the Aztecs, why the Christian burial? And why not the more usual method of cremation?

But if the Spanish were involved, why would they bury the enemy so carefully? And why would they allow the Aztec religious rituals?

When was this burial from, and why the mixed religious messages? Another reminder of how little we really understand what went on in the era of the conquest...

Oct 21, Aztec Houses

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:18:44 GMT

How were Aztec houses built? What were they like? Find out what recent discoveries in Mexico have taught us about the houses of the rich and poor in the days of the Aztec empire.

Sep 8, Aztec Warriors

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:06:42 GMT

In the ancient Aztec empire, the Aztec warriors had a particularly high status in society, in spite of the high risk in their job. But what was the life of an Aztec warrior really like?

Jul 28, Your own Aztec Posters

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:41:15 GMT

So you want your very own Aztec posters? Here are some of my favourite poster art of the Aztec empire...

Mar 28, Aztec Symbols

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:18:56 GMT

Discover the rich tradition of symbols that were used in the Aztec Empire. What Aztec symbols were there, and how were they used?

Jan 25, Mayan Civilization

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:28:25 GMT

What was the ancient Mayan civilization? What was it like, and how did the ancient Mayan people influence the Aztec history that would come later?

Jan 23, The Aztec Empire

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:27:54 GMT

The Aztec empire is well known today even though it vanished centuries ago. Take a look at this Aztec empire history to see what the "empire" really was...

Jan 22, Aztec Inventions

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:02:24 GMT

Are there Aztec inventions that Mexico has given the world? Learn about the surprising impact of the Aztecs on the world...

Jan 16, Aztec Language

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:02:29 GMT

Where did the Aztec language come from, and what was it like? Learn more about the language spoken by the peoples of the Aztec empire...

Jan 15, Aztec Chicken Recipe

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:15:38 GMT

You could say that this Aztec chicken recipe is a reincarnation of a traditional Aztec recipe. Modern ingredients are used to recreate an authentic Aztec taste with a twist...

Jan 9, Traditional Mexican Food

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:38:22 GMT

Some of the traditional Mexican food that is eaten is thousands of years old, but the dishes that the Aztecs and others ate are still popular today...

Jan 8, Aztec Art History

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:46:28 GMT

Learn the secrets of Aztec art history here - where did the art of the Aztec empire come from? How did it develop throughout history?

Dec 31, Moctezuma

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:38:23 GMT

The name Moctezuma has become legendary, and will be forever linked with the last Mexican empire before the arrival of the Spanish. But the name has been used to refer to more than one person...

Dec 31, Verification

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:54:02 GMT

Oct 29, Moctezuma II

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:22:02 GMT

Who was Moctezuma II? Learn more about the emperor of the Aztecs who ruled during the great clash of civilizations...

Oct 29, Ancient Aztec Pottery

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:07:23 GMT

If you want to know more about ancient Aztec pottery, this is the place to start! What did it look like? What designs were used? Where was it made?

Oct 16, The ancient Olmec Civilization

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:39:13 GMT

The ancient Olmec civilization was a complex society that predated both the Mayans and the Aztecs. The Olmecs probably influenced future societies in many ways - let's take a look...

Oct 16, Aztec Calendar Wheels

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:36:54 GMT

Discover the mysteries of the Aztec calendar wheels - where did they come from? How do they relate to even more ancient calendars? How does the calendar wheel work? Let's look at the answers...

Oct 3, Hernan Cortez biography

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:27:55 GMT

Fascinating facts about the man who tried to bring down the Aztecs in this Hernan Cortez biography. Who was Hernan Cortes and what drove him to conquer?

Aug 30, Aztec jewelry

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:09:01 GMT

Enough with the fakes - what did Aztec jewelry really look like? What was it made with? How did this ancient Aztec art fit with the culture of its day? Find out here!

Aug 28, Aztec sun god

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:09:18 GMT

Who was the Aztec sun god? Hint: there's no simple answer. To find the sun god's identity we must look at the the mesoamerican creation legends, and investigate Nanauatl, Tonatiuh and Huitzilopochtli.

Aug 24, Aztec Society Family

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:28:03 GMT

Find out how an Aztec society family functioned, how children were raised, male and female roles, and other fascinating things about Aztec family culture...

Aug 10, Cholula Pyramid

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 22:51:55 GMT

Explore the Cholula Pyramid through time and space - when was it built? What relationship did the Aztecs have with it? How does the Great Pyramid of Cholula relate to other pyramids around the world?

Aug 6, Aztec emperor's tomb?

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:25:57 GMT

Those words might shock you - an Aztec emperor's tomb? Such a thing has never been found! Or has it?

This month archaeologists announced that they just might have found the tomb of an Aztec emperor for the first time, in Mexico City. And not just any emperor. Ahuizotl himself. Ahuizotl was a powerful emperor who doubled the size of Aztec dominance, reigning between 1486-1502.

Using radar, archaeologists found what they believe to be four underground chambers, filled with water rocks and mud. They need to constantly pump out the water, and work very slowly. But they hope to actually enter the chambers in the fall.

What will they find there? I don't know - we've never seen anything like this! But it may be that the water has actually preserved things that would never have survived otherwise!

Jul 5, The ruins of Teopanzolco

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:40:47 GMT

The mysterious ruins of Teopanzolco - why were they abandonded? And what surprising discovery is changing the way we view the peoples of Cuauhnahuac?

Feb 3, Cholula

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 12:58:50 GMT

This past week I pointed the nose of my burro toward the pyramid of Cholula. I have to admit, I was surprised how interesting it was, but I shouldn't have been. At the time of the Aztec Empire, Cholula was the second largest city in the Empire. It was humming with life, prestigious, religious and powerful. The pyramid of Cholula was the largest pyramid and monument ever built in the world, and as interesting as it was I have no doubt it's hiding many more secrets to be discovered in the future.

Keep your eyes open for an upcoming article on Cholula - the city, the pyramid and the people that made the city great. Meanwhile, here's one of the pictures I took at the site. Cholula, Mexico is an amazing place.

Dec 30, Teopanzolco

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 00:46:27 GMT

Today I hopped on the burro and rode over to see Teopanzolco in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. This is a lesser known site, conquered by the Mexicas of the Aztec Empire in 1427. Earlier, the city was able to develop a unique culture, though in many ways similar to the surrounding tribes. As excavations were done over the years, a tomb was discovered which had some surprises in store. Much of the site is now covered by urbanization, but the largely ceremonial center remains.

I'll write more about Teopanzolco and show you some pictures in the future - stay tuned! Meanwhile, look to the right to see a picture of the large pyramid.

Oct 17, Aztec monolith uncovered

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:54:04 GMT

There's been a BIG find in Mexico City - a large Aztec monolith found in the central square. The famous eagle bowl (calendar stone) is heavier, but this huge slab is bigger on one side, so it's being called the "largest" ever found. It seems to contain an elaborate carving of the Aztec god Tlaltecuhtli among others. It was found on October the 13th.

Archaeologists are still digging around the monolith. They're interested not only in the carving, but also the significance of its size. There is speculation that it may mark the entrance to an uncovered chamber. If that's the case, Alberto Diez (a member of the team) suggests that there may be a large offering hidden behind it that will soon be brought to light.

It is believed the monolith was created only 20 years before the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico. Here's one news story with a photo on the Aztec monolith find.

Oct 7, Aztec homes

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 23:52:50 GMT

Discover what Aztec homes were really like. You may be surprised at some of the features in the common Aztec shelter...

Oct 1, Codex Zouche-Nuttall

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 03:35:55 GMT

Yesterday I came across a published edition of the so called Codex Nuttall or Codex Zouche-Nuttall. It was written by the Mixtecs, probably in the 14th century. Written on deer hide and folded like a fan, it contains pages and pages of bright coloured glyphs, showing the genealogy and conquests of Mixtec rulers.

The Mixtec people were conquered by the Aztec emperor Auítzotl only a few years before the Spanish conquest. Many of the gods familiar to the Aztecs are shown in the pages of this codex.

You can see some of the pictures with explanation of the Codex Nuttal here. You can also see larger sections (available for purchase) at the Mesoamerican Heritage Institute.

Sep 23, Ice from Popocatépetl

Sat, 23 Sep 2006 14:23:43 GMT

Popocatépetl is Mexico's second highest mountain, at 17,883ft or 5452m. In Aztec legend, Popocatépetl was a warrior in love with Iztaccíhuatl (the name of a neighbouring mountaint). Popo is an active volcano, but it's so high it's snow capped. In the last days of the Aztec Empire, runners still made daily trips to its peak for ice. The ice would refrigerate fish, and would also cool the emperor's drinks.

Here's the mountain, east of Mexico City, as it appears today:

Photo courtesy of monterd

You can also see the mountain Popocatépetl on webcam here. Is the smoke still rising?

Sep 19, Aztec dancing

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:20:56 GMT

Aztec dancers are still common in Mexico today. I recently came across this brief video showing Aztec dancers outside the National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología) in Mexico City.

Sep 19, Welcome to the new updates page

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 14:57:02 GMT

What's new at Aztec-History.com? That's what this page will be all about! You'll be able to visit here to quickly find out about the newest articles and interesting facts that have been added to the site. Also, I'll be able to include other current items that may be of interest to any fan of the Aztec culture.

So come back soon as we continue our Aztec conversation!