The Aztec Indians, who were known for their domination of Southern and Central Mexico, ruled between the 14th and 16th centuries. The ancestors of the mighty Aztecs migrated for many years before settling sometime in the 13th century in the Valley of Mexico where the Empire later existed. The Aztecs were formed after the Toltec civilization occurred when hundreds of civilians moved towards Lake Texcoco. In the 1320's the Aztecs had established their capital city Tenochtitlan (present day Mexico City). Soon after this first city was built, temples and other structures and statues came shortly after.
             The center of the Aztec civilization was the Valley of Mexico, which placed them at about 7.5 thousand feet above sea level, which provided them with a very reasonable climate in spite of being in the tropics. Even though their Empire was placed so high above sea level, the area had many marshes by Lake Texcoco, which made farming somewhat difficult.
             Families in these swamplands had only one piece of land to farm on, but they made useful chinapas. Chinapas were little islands formed by piled up mounds of mud. On these mounds the Aztecs grew corn, beans, various chili peppers, avocados, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and tobacco. The Aztecs overcame their disadvantages and built their famous Empire.
             The Aztecs believe that the Empire was partially created by a deeply believed ancient legend. The legend stated that the Aztec people would create an Empire in a swampy place where they would see an eagle eating a snake while perched on a high cactus which was growing out of the rocks in the swamplands. This is what the priests claimed they saw while entering the new land soon to be called Tenochtitlan, which means "The Land of Cactus".
             In the Aztec religion, numerous gods and goddesses were worshiped. Tenochtitlan, the capital city, was covered in giant religious statues in order to pay respect to these gods. Another p...