Who Were The Aztecs? | Ancient Mesoamerica History Podcast
Para Bellum History - A podcast by Para Bellum History
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Who were the Aztecs — and how did they go from nomadic outsiders to rulers of a mighty empire in just two centuries? This full-length documentary explores the incredible rise, complex society, and dramatic fall of the Aztec civilization, from their legendary migration out of Aztlan to the Spanish conquest that ended their reign in 1521.The Aztecs, or Mexica, built one of the most advanced and powerful civilizations in pre-Columbian America. Without the use of iron, wheels, or draft animals, they engineered the stunning city of Tenochtitlan atop a lake, developed sophisticated systems of agriculture using floating gardens (chinampas), and organized a complex political structure centered around the tlatoani — the “Great Speaker”.In this video, we dive into their society, where families were grouped into calpulli, artisans held honored status, and even slavery followed a surprisingly nuanced set of laws. You’ll learn how their class structure worked, how rulers were chosen, and how military service gave commoners a chance to rise through the ranks — provided they could capture enemies fit for sacrifice.We also take an unflinching look at Aztec religion and cosmology. Far from being a side note, human sacrifice was central to Aztec ideology. The Aztecs believed the universe was in a constant battle against chaos, and only through ritual bloodshed could the sun continue to rise. The gods Huitzilopochtli, Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcoatl, and others played key roles in shaping their worldview, myths, and rituals.But the empire’s glory would not last. When Hernán Cortés landed in 1519, he encountered not just a wealthy empire, but deep internal divisions and resentful subject peoples. Through diplomacy, manipulation, and overwhelming native alliances, the Spanish and their allies brought down the Aztecs in less than two years. 🔔 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss other stories from the ancient world, where the truth is often more dramatic than fiction.This Episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1hlL9yEYGL4Visit our website: https://parabellumhistory.comOur merchandise store: https://parabellumstore.creator-spring.com/Music from our podcast: https://share.epidemicsound.com/xk7k44/?playlist=kgati2pa4pi3mz2hsib867syv6zjdzqhListen early & support the channel on Patreon: https://patreon.com/ParaBellumHistoryChannel🎤 Voiceover by: Nick BanasInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickbanas
