1001 Space Earth Nature History First Civilisations Ancient Egypt Biblical Times Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese, Japanese Civilisations Indian Civilisation African Civilisation The Early Americas The Rise of Islam The Middle Ages The Renaissance Civil War and Revolution The Industrial Revolution Two World Wars 20th-century Achievements Human World Science and Technology

Who were the Aztecs? The Aztecs claimed to be descended from a nomadic group of people from northern Mexico. These people moved south in the 12th century AD and settled in an area of lakes in central Mexico, where they built their capital, Tenochtitlan. By the 15th century they had created a powerful empire with a strong army. All boys over the age of 15 had to train to be warriors. Large, stone pyramid-temples dominated the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. Sacrificial heads were displayed on a skull rack.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: History Chapter: The Early Americas