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Ancient Egypt
The Aztecs
Neither the Olmecs nor the Mayas built empires.
It was not until the 1400s that a large empire formed in Mesoamerica. The people who built this empire were the Aztecs.
The Arrival of the Aztecs
Around 1200, nomads from the north came to the area of central Mexico now known as the Valley of Mexico.
There they settled near other communities of native peoples that had been built along the lakes in the center of the valley. These newcomers were the Aztecs. The already settled people of the valley which they called Anahuac (AH»nah»wahk), thought of the Aztecs as uncivilized. The newcomers did not speak Nahuatl (NAH»waht»uhl), the language used in the valley. Also, they wore animal skins rather than clothes woven from cotton. In addition, they used bows and arrows. These weapons helped make them better warriors than others in the valley.
The Aztec people called themselves the Mexica rather than the name by which they are now known. Because of this, the land all around them has become known as Mexico.
Many experts believe that the ancient Aztecs came from what is now northern Mexico. The Aztecs moved south in search of a new homeland. According to legend, the Aztec war god, Huitzilopochtli (wee»see»loh»PAWCH«tlee), had promised that they would find their homeland where they saw an eagle with a snake in its mouth, sitting on a cactus. The Aztecs saw this sign on a small, swampy island in Lake Texcoco (tes»KOH»koh) and settled there. Today the eagle with the snake is a symbol of Mexico and appears on the Mexican flag.
Where did the Aztec people settle?
Neither the Olmecs nor the Mayas built empires.
It was not until the 1400s that a large empire formed in Mesoamerica. The people who built this empire were the Aztecs.
The Arrival of the Aztecs
Around 1200, nomads from the north came to the area of central Mexico now known as the Valley of Mexico.
There they settled near other communities of native peoples that had been built along the lakes in the center of the valley. These newcomers were the Aztecs. The already settled people of the valley which they called Anahuac (AH»nah»wahk), thought of the Aztecs as uncivilized. The newcomers did not speak Nahuatl (NAH»waht»uhl), the language used in the valley. Also, they wore animal skins rather than clothes woven from cotton. In addition, they used bows and arrows. These weapons helped make them better warriors than others in the valley.
The Aztec people called themselves the Mexica rather than the name by which they are now known. Because of this, the land all around them has become known as Mexico.
Many experts believe that the ancient Aztecs came from what is now northern Mexico. The Aztecs moved south in search of a new homeland. According to legend, the Aztec war god, Huitzilopochtli (wee»see»loh»PAWCH«tlee), had promised that they would find their homeland where they saw an eagle with a snake in its mouth, sitting on a cactus. The Aztecs saw this sign on a small, swampy island in Lake Texcoco (tes»KOH»koh) and settled there. Today the eagle with the snake is a symbol of Mexico and appears on the Mexican flag.
Where did the Aztec people settle?
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