Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Aztec Empire

1427 CE 1526 CE
D G SC WF RG CC EQ 2020  mx_aztec_emp / MxAztec
Preceding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.

Displayed: 1429 CE

Leaflet
1429143914491459146914801490150015101520


Learn more about polity border choices.
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.


  General Description   The Basin or Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly corresponding to modern-day Mexico City. Here, we are interested in the phase of its prehistory known as the Late Postclassic period, when the Aztecs or Mexica rose to power (c. 1427-1526 CE). The Aztec Empire was born from the "Triple Alliance" between the city-states (altepetl) of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan, who agreed to collaborate on campaign of territorial expansion and share the resulting tribute and tax payments. [1] Within a century, the three cities came to control a significant portion of Northern Mesoamerica, the main exception being the West, which, despite some military successes on the part of the Triple Alliance early on, largely remained under the control of the Tarascans. [2]
As the empire grew, so did the power of Tenochtitlan, which became the de-facto administrative capital, whose ruler came to hold the title huey tlatoani (“high king”). Tenochtitlan’s power was strongest over the empire’s central provinces, where the Aztecs ruled through governors, judges, tax collectors and other officials that they appointed themselves. For the "outer" provinces, the Aztecs limited themselves to targeting major centres, where, again, they appointed their governors and administrative officials. Finally, the Aztecs secured their power over "frontier" provinces by guaranteeing military protection from external foes, in exchange for "gifts" of soldiers and prestige goods. [3]
By the time of Spanish conquest in the 1520s, Tenochtitlan likely housed between 150,000 and 250,000 people, [4] perhaps even 3,000. [5]

[1]: (Smith and Sergheraert 2012: 449-451) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/XC9E2B7Q.

[2]: (Evans 2012: 125) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/AN5IUQ7X.

[3]: (Smith and Sergheraert 2012: 455-457) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/XC9E2B7Q.

[4]: (Carballo 2019: pers. comm. to E. Cioni and G. Nazzaro)

[5]: (De Rioja 2017: 220) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/GC3T83JD.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp) was in:
 (1427 CE 1519 CE)   Basin of Mexico
Home NGA: Basin of Mexico
General Variables
Identity and Location Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Temporal Bounds Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [1427 CE ➜ 1526 CE] Confident Expert
Loading...
Political and Cultural Relations Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Language Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Language Genus uncoded Undecided Expert 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Religion Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [150,000 to 300,000] people Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Polity Territory 28,070 km2 Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Polity Population [3,000,000 to 4,000,000] people Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Hierarchical Complexity Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 5 Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Military Level [6 to 7] Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Administrative Level 6 Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Professions Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Professional Priesthood Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Professional Military Officer Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Bureaucracy Characteristics Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Merit Promotion Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Full Time Bureaucrat Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Examination System Present Confident Uncertain 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Examination System Absent Confident Uncertain 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Law Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Judge Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Court Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Irrigation System Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Food Storage Site Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Transport Infrastructure Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Special-purpose Sites Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Script Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Nonwritten Record Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Mnemonic Device Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Sacred Text Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Religious Literature Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Practical Literature Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Philosophy Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
History Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Fiction Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Calendar Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Information / Money Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Postal System Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Measurement System Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Stone Walls Mortared Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moat Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Fortified Camp Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Ditch Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Complex Fortification Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Long Wall absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Military use of Metals Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Iron Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Copper Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Bronze Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Projectiles Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Sling Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Self Bow Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Javelin Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Atlatl Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Handheld weapons Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Sword Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Spear Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Polearm Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Dagger Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Battle Axe Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Animals used in warfare Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Elephant Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Donkey Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Dog Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Camel Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Armor Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Shield Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Limb Protection Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Helmet Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Breastplate Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Naval technology Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
Loading...
Human Sacrifice Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
View all Crisis Cases
Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions