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Originally nomads from the north or west of Mexico, the Aztecs were led
to the Valley of Mexico by their priests. They settled on the islands in
the series of lakes which then filled much of the valley because it was
there that they happened to spy an eagle standing on a cactus, eating a
snake - the prophesied sign that this was the place to stop their
wanderings. The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán was founded on one of the
islands in the first half of the 14th century. For half a century or
more the Aztecs served the rulers of Azcapotzalco on the lake shore,
which was gaining control over some of the dozens of rival stateless in
the valley. Then, in the 15th century, the Aztecs rebelled against
Azcapotzalco and became in turn the most powerful people in the valley. |
