Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Aztec Empire

1427 CE 1526 CE
D G SC WF RG CC EQ 2020  mx_aztec_emp / MxAztec
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  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)
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Temporal Bounds Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Duration [1427 CE ➜ 1526 CE] Confident Expert
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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
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Religion Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Population of the Largest Settlement [150,000 to 300,000] people Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Polity Territory 28,070 km2 Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Polity Population [3,000,000 to 4,000,000] people Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 5 Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Military Level [6 to 7] Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Administrative Level 6 Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Professions Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Professional Soldier Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Specialized Government Building Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Merit Promotion Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Examination System Present Confident Uncertain 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Examination System Absent Confident Uncertain 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Law Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Judge Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
Court Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Market Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Irrigation System Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Food Storage Site Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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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
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Script Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Mnemonic Device Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Scientific Literature Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Sacred Text Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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History Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Calendar Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Information / Money Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Postal System Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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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
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moat Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Ditch Absent Inferred 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Complex Fortification Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Military use of Metals Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Iron Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Copper Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Bronze Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Projectiles Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Sling Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Javelin Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Atlatl Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Handheld weapons Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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War Club Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Sword Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Spear Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Polearm Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Animals used in warfare Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Dog Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Armor Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Shield Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Limb Protection Absent Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Helmet Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Breastplate Present Confident 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Naval technology Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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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
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident Disputed 1427 CE  1526 CE
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Human Sacrifice Aztec Empire (mx_aztec_emp)
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Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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