The Aztec Empire flourished between c. 1345 and 1521 and, at its greatest extent, covered most of northern Mesoamerica. Aztec warriors were able to dominate their neighboring states and permit rulers such as Motecuhzoma II to impose Aztec ideals and religion across
Mexico. Highly accomplished in agriculture and trade, the last of the
great Mesoamerican civilizations was also noted for its art and
architecture which ranks among the finest ever produced on the
continent.
The
empire continued to expand from 1430 and the Aztec military - bolstered
by conscription of all adult males, men supplied from allied and
conquered states, and such elite groups as the Eagle and Jaguar warriors
- swept aside their rivals. Aztec warriors wore padded cotton armor,
carried a wooden or reed shield covered in hide, and wielded weapons
such as a super sharp obsidian sword-club (macuahuitl), a spear or dart thrower (atlatl),
and bow and arrows. Elite warriors also wore spectacular feathered and
animal skin costumes and headdresses to signify their rank. Battles were
concentrated in or around major cities and when these fell the victors
claimed the whole surrounding territory. Regular tributes were extracted
and captives were taken back to Tenochtitlan for ritual sacrifice. In
this way the Aztec empire came to cover most of northern Mexico, an area
of some 135,000 square kilometers.