Aztec Empire | World History | Khan Academy

Summary

The video by Khan Academy delves into the intriguing history of the Aztec Empire, distinct from the broader Aztec civilization. It outlines the formation of the empire around Lake Texcoco through the Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan, following the civil strife in Azcapotzalco. The video highlights the advanced infrastructure of Tenochtitlan and discusses the Spanish conquest led by Hernando Cortes, who allied with neighboring city-states and leveraged a devastating smallpox epidemic. The transformation from an alliance to a tributary empire underscores its significance until its fall in 1521.

Highlights

• The Aztec Empire formed through the strategic Triple Alliance of three powerful city-states. 🗺️
• Tenochtitlan, initially a weak city-state, rose to dominate the Aztec Empire. 🌄
• The Spanish, under Hernando Cortes, conquered the empire with the help of rival city-states and smallpox. ⚔️
• Tenochtitlan's impressive infrastructure included advanced water management systems. 🚰
• Despite its power, the Aztec Empire fell in 1521, significantly impacting world history. 📜

Key Takeaways

• The Aztec Empire was distinct from the broader Aztec civilization, existing specifically in the century before Spanish colonization.
• Its formation was marked by the Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan, capitalizing on the fall of Azcapotzalco.
• At its peak, the Aztec Empire became a tributary state, with many city-states paying tribute to Tenochtitlan.
• Hernando Cortes conquered the empire by allying with discontented city-states and exploiting a smallpox epidemic.
• Tenochtitlan had advanced infrastructure, such as causeways and a dam system, significant for its time.

Overview

The video explores the distinct nature of the Aztec Empire, setting it apart from the broader Aztec civilization by its formation as a powerful entity through the Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. This alliance was crucial in the context of regional conflicts and the downfall of Azcapotzalco, setting the stage for the empire's dominance.

Tenochtitlan, the heart of the Aztec Empire, was a marvel of engineering and strategic prowess. The city was built on an island in Lake Texcoco, featuring causeways and an ingenious dam system to manage water resources and prevent flooding. This infrastructure underscored the city’s significance and contributed to its role as the capital of a vast tributary network.

The Spanish conquest, led by Hernando Cortes, marks a significant turning point. By leveraging rivalries among local city-states and the catastrophic impact of smallpox, Cortes managed to topple the mighty Aztec Empire. This fall illustrates the volatile dynamics of alliances and the role of external forces, changing the course of history in the Americas.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Aztec Empire The chapter 'Introduction to Aztec Empire' distinguishes between the broader Aztec civilization and the more specific Aztec Empire, which emerged in the century before the Spanish colonization. The civilization encompasses a wide group over hundreds of years, whereas the Empire refers to a particular political entity.
• 00:30 - 01:00: City-states in Southern Mexico The chapter 'City-states in Southern Mexico' provides an overview of the political organization in southern Mexico, drawing a parallel to the city-states of Classical Greece, such as Athens and Sparta. These city-states in southern Mexico were self-governing entities, each functioning independently without reliance on a larger governing body. The chapter emphasizes the concept of city-states, where a city is both a political and cultural center that operates autonomously as a state.
• 01:00 - 02:00: Formation of City of Tenochtitlán In the 14th century, particularly in 1325, the city of Tenochtitlán was established on an island in Lake Texcoco. Initially, Tenochtitlán was one of the weaker city-states in the region. Around Lake Texcoco, there were several other city-states, among which Texcoco and Azcapotzalco were notably stronger.
• 02:00 - 03:00: Civil War and the Triple Alliance The chapter 'Civil War and the Triple Alliance' discusses a period roughly 100 years after a significant event, where the region known as ASAP Zalo falls into a civil war following the death of a ruler, leading to a succession battle. Various city-states around Lake Teoco ally with different factions, resulting in the formation of a powerful alliance. The key city-states of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan emerge as central players, forming what is historically recognized as the Triple Alliance.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Rise of the Aztec Empire The chapter titled "Rise of the Aztec Empire" explores the formation of the Aztec Empire, which began as the Triple Alliance. The alliance initially consisted of three significant city-states and several others in the region. Through these conquests, particularly over the ASA poalo, known as the asot zalo, they solidified their power and formed what came to be recognized as the Aztec Empire. Over time, the dominant city-state within this alliance became Tenos chitlan, which played a crucial role in the empire's development and strength.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Conquest by Hernando Cortez The chapter titled "Conquest by Hernando Cortez" discusses Tenos chitlan, a city-state of the Mexica (or Mexico) people, explaining the origins of the name "Mexico." Although initially part of an alliance, Tenos chitlan eventually becomes the capital of the Aztec Empire, which lasts for about 100 years. The chapter then hints at the events leading to the empire's defeat by Hernando Cortez in 1521.
• 05:00 - 06:00: Advanced Infrastructure and Aftermath Cortez's conquest of the Aztec Empire is multifaceted, involving not just his conquistadors but also a significant alliance with neighboring city-states dissatisfied with Aztec rule.
• 06:00 - 07:00: Formation and Structure of the Aztec Empire This chapter explores the advanced infrastructure of the Aztec Empire, focusing on the city of Tenochtitlan. It highlights the engineering marvels such as the causeways and bridges that connected the city, and the sophisticated dam system used for fresh water collection and flood control. The chapter also touches upon the impact of the Conquistadors' invasion, which destroyed much of this infrastructure, leading to flooding problems in the area where Mexico City was later established.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Comparison with Mayan City-states The chapter discusses the differences in the political structures between the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. While the Aztecs formed a tributary empire initially starting as an alliance of city-states, the Mayan civilization did not adopt this approach. Furthermore, the chapter touches upon the Spanish intervention in draining a lake which led to the formation of Mexico City. This occurred near the decline of the Aztec Empire, roughly a hundred years before the arrival of a conqueror.
• 08:00 - 09:00: Spanish Conquest and Smallpox Epidemic The chapter discusses how the Aztecs had established a tributary system where neighboring Mayan city-states, although autonomous, paid tribute to the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán. This tribute system was in place until the Spanish conquest disrupted it.

Aztec Empire | World History | Khan Academy Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 we've already talked about the Aztec civilization in several videos but what we're going to focus on in this video is the Aztec empire which shouldn't be confused with the Aztec civilization the civilization is referring to the broader groups of people over hundreds of years but the Aztec empire is a very specific entity that formed in the hundred years before Spanish colonization what you see here is a
• 00:30 - 01:00 zoomed in version of what today would be southern Mexico and right over here on the globe and you can see many city states formed here a citystate is a city that is also considers itself a state that has its own political organization its own way of functioning it's not dependent on any other government forms and it's analogous to what we see in Classical Greece where you have the city states of Athens and Sparta now what's particularly
• 01:00 - 01:30 interesting is what's going on around Lake Tex ccoo in the 14th century in 1325 you have the city of tenos chitlan form on this island in Lake TCH Coco and initially tenos chitlan is one of the weaker city states around Lake teex Coco you see many of these city states some of the stronger ones you have Tex Coco right here and in particular you have ASAP poalo but as we fast forward
• 01:30 - 02:00 roughly 100 years you get to a situation where ASAP zalo falls into a civil war their ruler dies and there's a succession battle and the various city states around Lake teoco take sides what eventually happens is tenos chitlan Tex Coco and toopan form what is known as a
• 02:00 - 02:30 Triple Alliance or the Triple Alliance and are able to conquer the ASA poalo and so in conquering the asot zalo what you have forming is known as the Aztec empire now it starts as an alliance between these three city states and other city states in the area but over time tenos chitlan which is sometimes referred to as mes
• 02:30 - 03:00 tenos chitan because it is a citystate of the Mexico people and this is where the name Mexico or Mexico actually comes from now even though it's an alliance over time tenos chitlan essentially becomes the capital of this Alliance or the capital of this Aztec empire which continues on for roughly 100 years until 1521 when it is defeated by Hernando Cortez now now the story of how Hernando
• 03:00 - 03:30 Cortez is able to conquer this Empire is fascinating and I'm not going to be able to go into all of the details in this video but needless to say he's able to convince several hundred conquistadors to come and try to conquer the Empire and he's able to do so by recruiting tens of thousands some estimates I've seen are 100,000 soldiers from neighboring city states who had issues with the Mexico or with the Aztec Empire and so he's eventually able to take over
• 03:30 - 04:00 the famed city of tenos chitlan it's really important to recognize how advanced they were at the time you see these causeways these Bridges leading into the island they had a fairly Advanced Dam system to collect fresh water from the rain while also to control flooding in fact a lot of that was destroyed when the Conquistadors came in Mexico City which eventually gets founded over this lake is going to have issues with flooding for some time in the future in fact in fact the
• 04:00 - 04:30 Spanish in order to control the flooding end up draining this Lake and is where Mexico City forms but the big takeaway here is near the end of the Aztec civilization as we get to the hundred years before the kador arrive you have this Empire form this Empire which starts as an alliance of city states but eventually becomes a tributary Empire unlike the neighboring Mayans which were on the Yucatan Peninsula on this map
• 04:30 - 05:00 they would be in this region right over here the neighboring Mayans were autonomous city states some might have had more power more influence at different times but the Aztec tributary State means the other city states are paying tribute to tenos chitlan they are paying Revenue they're paying service to what essentially is the capital or the seat of that Empire until it is conquered by the Spanish with and
• 05:00 - 05:30 remember the Spanish are able to do this with several hundred conquistadors with the help of neighboring city states and a smallpox epidemic which kills 50% of the population of the region