The Aztec Civilization
What is the history of the Aztecs?
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The Aztec civilization was a Mesoamerican culture that lived in Central Mexico.
Aldan-2 [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The Aztec Empire was made up of city-states. Each city-state had its own large city which ruled over the area.
The Aztec government was like a monarchy: An emperor, or king, ruled over the people. The capital city of the Aztec Empire was Tenochtitlan, and Montezuma was the ninth Aztec emperor.
Montezuma ruled from 1502 to 1520. During his reign, the Spanish arrived and invaded the land of the Aztecs.
In 1521, Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, conquered Tenochtitlan and defeated Montezuma II and the Aztecs. He then claimed Mexico for Spain. Montezuma II was killed during the conquest, which ended the Aztec Empire. Tenochtitlan became what is known today as Mexico City.