The Aztec Empire: Map & History
The dominant Mesoamerican superpower of central Mexico, celebrated for the island metropolis of Tenochtitlan, chinampa agriculture, and astronomical calendrics.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The dominant Mesoamerican superpower of central Mexico, celebrated for the island metropolis of Tenochtitlan, chinampa agriculture, and astronomical calendrics.
Modern Countries Once Part of The Aztec Empire
At its mapped extent, The Aztec Empire covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside The Aztec Empire's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
The Aztec Empire: Key Facts
| Founded | 1955 |
|---|
Preceded by
- Southern Rhodesian pound
Succeeded by
- Zambian pound
Facts from Wikidata Q2616644 (CC0).
Imperial History & Territorial Expansion
Formed in 1428 through an alliance between the Mexica of Tenochtitlan, the Acolhua of Texcoco, and the Tepanec of Tlacopan, the Aztec Empire dominated central Mexico from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific. Their capital, Tenochtitlan, built on an island in Lake Texcoco, was an engineering marvel with raised causeways, stone aqueducts, and floating chinampa agricultural fields. Under Ahuitzotl and Moctezuma II, imperial tribute flowed into the Templo Mayor until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1519.
Aztec Empire Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan defeat Azcapotzalco.
Ahuitzotl expands the great pyramid temple in the center of Tenochtitlan.
Spanish expedition enters the island capital along the southern causeway.
Following a 93-day siege, the Aztec capital falls to Cortés and Tlaxcalan allies.
Key Monarchs, Architects & Strategists
Enduring Planetary Legacy
- ✓Urban design and hydraulic floodwalls of Tenochtitlan, which housed over 200,000 residents
- ✓The chinampa agricultural system, one of the most productive intensive farming methods in human history
- ✓The Aztec Sun Stone (Calendar Stone) and monumental Mesoamerican bas-relief sculpture
- ✓Nahuatl language vocabulary enriching world languages (chocolate, tomato, avocado, coyote)
Aztec Empire: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Aztec Empire exist?
The Aztec Empire is dated to 1428 CE – 1521 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Aztec Empire?
The capital of the Aztec Empire was Tenochtitlan (Modern Mexico City).
How large was the Aztec Empire at its peak?
At its peak in 1519 the Aztec Empire covered about 220,000 km².
Geographic Lifelines
Other Sovereign Realms
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Avarga
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi