The Mexica people, also known as the Aztecs, were an indigenous group that dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th to 16th centuries. Their history, culture, and legacy are deeply intertwined with the rise and fall of their capital, Tenochtitlan, which was built on an island in Lake Texcoco in what is now Mexico City.
According to their own mythology, the Mexica were originally from Aztlán, a mythical place of origin. They embarked on a long migration, guided by their god Huitzilopochtli, who instructed them to settle where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, eating a snake. This vision came true on the island in Lake Texcoco, leading to the founding of Tenochtitlan around 1325 AD.
Initially, the Mexica were vassals to more powerful city-states. Through alliances, particularly with Texcoco and Tlacopan, they formed the Triple Alliance, which laid the foundation for the Aztec Empire. Under leaders like Itzcoatl and Moctezuma I, the Mexica expanded their territory through conquest, diplomacy, and tribute systems.
The Mexica civilization reached its zenith under Moctezuma II but faced internal strife and external pressures. The arrival of Hernán Cortés in 1519, coupled with alliances with other indigenous groups against the Mexica, led to the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521, marking the end of the Aztec Empire.
The Mexica left a profound cultural, linguistic, and architectural legacy. Their language, Nahuatl, continues to be spoken, and their influence is seen in modern Mexican culture, particularly in food, festivals, and the national identity of Mexico.