Acamapichtli The Aztecs

The history of the Aztecs was never recorded their only history was passed on through word of mouth from each generation. Technically, there isn’t just one group of people who are “Aztec.” Aztecs are a mixture of people throughout Mexico who joined together when the Mexica built their city Tenochtitlán. During the 12th and 13th century the Aztec people were looked down upon by surrounding people. They were poor and ragged; living off of vermin, snakes, and stolen food. By the 14th century Huitzilopochtli told Tenoch the Aztec leader to lead his people to a place of refuge. “When they reached their destination they were to look for an eagle perched on a cactus growing from a rock surrounded by water.” This is where they built their city Tenochtitlán. The Mexica then formed an alliance with two surrounding cities; Texcoco and Tlacopan. …show more content…
The role of emperor was passed on from brother to brother until it was passed down to the next generation. I have researched and picked out a few of the emperors who I found most interesting and thought made the biggest contributions to the empire. Acamapichtli was the first “true” emperor of Tenochtitlán. His reign symbolizes the official beginning of the Mexica as an independent entity. His reign lasted 19 years from the beginning of the Tenochtitlán Empire in 1376 to 1395. Moctezuma I was the fifth Aztec ruler who greatly expanded the Tenochtitlán Empire and built beautiful gardens where different plants and animals were studied. He ruled from 1440 to 1469 however, during his reign a severe drought caused great famine within the people of Tenochtitlán. Moctezuma II was the ninth Aztec ruler. He reigned from 1502-1520. During his reign he surrendered Tenochtitlán to the Spanish when Hernán Cortés arrived. The last and bravest emperor of Tenochtitlán was Cuahtémoc who ruled for only four years from 1520-1524. He had fought against the Spaniards to defend his Empire and was eventually