What explained the Aztec empire’s success in growing its territory?
The Aztec Empire's success in growing its territory can be attributed to several key factors:
1. Militaristic Prowess: The Aztecs had a highly organized and powerful military. Their warriors, known as the Eagle and Jaguar warriors, were fierce and feared. They had advanced military tactics, weapons like obsidian-bladed swords and atlatls (spear-throwing devices), and a culture that glorified warfare. This allowed them to conquer and subjugate neighboring tribes and expand their empire.
2. Political Strategy: The Aztecs were skilled at forming alliances and manipulating political relationships. They often formed alliances with smaller tribes and used diplomacy to subdue rival city-states, thus gradually expanding their territorial influence.
3. Tribute and Conquest: The Aztecs established a system of tribute, where conquered territories had to pay tribute in the form of goods, resources, or forced labor. This allowed them to extract wealth from their conquered subjects and maintain control over them. Additionally, the Aztecs engaged in military conquests to capture prisoners for human sacrifice, which further caused fear and submission among neighboring tribes.
4. Strategic Location: The Aztecs settled in the Valley of Mexico, a fertile region with a favorable climate for agriculture. This allowed them to sustain a large population and develop a prosperous civilization, providing them with the resources and manpower necessary for expansion.
5. Religious and Cultural Influence: The Aztecs incorporated elements of the cultures they conquered into their own, creating a complex and syncretic society. They adapted and absorbed the gods, rituals, and customs of conquered people, which helped in assimilating them into the empire and fostering loyalty.
Overall, the Aztecs' military strength, political alliances, tribute system, advantageous location, and cultural influence all played essential roles in their success in growing and maintaining their territorial empire.