The Aztec Empire
Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), Mexico
The Aztecs built a powerful empire in central Mexico, centred on Tenochtitlan, a dazzling city raised on islands in a lake. They believed the universe had been created and destroyed several times, and that human action — including sacrifice — was needed to keep the sun moving and the world alive. Their empire fell to Spanish conquest in 1521.
The gods
Temples & monuments
Temple of Quetzalcoatl
Teotihuacan / Tenochtitlan, Mexico
Pyramid temples adorned with carved feathered-serpent heads in his honour.
Templo Mayor
Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), Mexico
The great twin-shrined pyramid at the heart of the Aztec capital, shared with Tlaloc.
Templo Mayor (north shrine)
Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), Mexico
One of the two shrines atop the Templo Mayor, dedicated to Tlaloc.
Achievements
Built Tenochtitlan, a lake-city of canals, causeways and floating gardens
Developed an accurate calendar system and a form of picture-writing
Created vast markets and an empire linked by tribute and trade
Natural wonders
Lake Texcoco
The lake on which Tenochtitlan was built, crossed by causeways and floating farm plots.
Popocatépetl
A towering active volcano near the Aztec heartland, woven into their legends.
Archaeological Library
Watch how we uncovered The Aztec Empire — real discoveries that revealed this ancient world.
The Templo Mayor
The great Aztec temple rediscovered buried beneath modern Mexico City.
Watch on YouTube →The Aztec Sun Stone
A massive carved stone capturing the Aztec view of time and the cosmos.
Watch on YouTube →Offerings of Tenochtitlan
Buried caches of treasures and offerings unearthed at the Templo Mayor.
Watch on YouTube →