The Aztec civilization was founded by the Nahua people who migrated to the Valley of Mexico in the 13th century. The three city-states that formed the core of the Aztec Empire were Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. The Mexica tribe, led by their legendary leader Tenoch, settled on an island in Lake Texcoco and founded the city of Tenochtitlan in 1325. Over the next few centuries, the Aztec Empire expanded through conquest and formed a complex and sophisticated society with a powerful military, advanced agricultural techniques, and elaborate religious and cultural practices.
