Misunderstood Moments in History - Rise of the Aztec Empire

The Aztecs are famous for their clash with Cortes during the discovery of the New World. However for many this is where their story begins and ends. As such they are terribly misunderstood. Today we will be giving them a proper introduction by following the rise of the Aztecs from their earliest beginnings to the arrival of the Spanish!
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Documentary Credits:
Research: Sean Kiskel
Script: Invicta
Artwork: Robbie McSweeney
Narration: Invicta
Editing: Invicta
Music: ICentury
Bibliography:
Diego Duran 1581 "History of the Indies of New Spain", Heyden trans. 1994
Alva Ixlilxochitl 1640 "Historia de la Nacion Chichimeca"
Don Domingo Chimalpahin 1621 "Codex Chimalpahin", Anderson and Schroeder trans. 1997
Sahagun 1569 "General History of the Things of New Spain: Book 10, the People", Anderson and Dibble trans. 1981
"Annals of Cuauhtitlan" ca.1610-1628, Bierhorst trans. 1992
Hassig 1988 "Aztec Warfare"
Townsend 2009 "The Aztecs"
Smith 1966 "The Aztecs"

[@InvictaHistory]

Thanks to a Patron suggestion we now turn our attention to Mesoamerican history. Its a topic I knew very little about but am falling in love with. There's so much unexplored history to explore together! I want to thank Sean Kiskel our researcher for all his help prepping the script and helping with pronunciation. A huge shout out also goes out to Robbie McSweeney for some more incredible artwork.

[@derekscanlan4641]

fantastic job, oakley! I've spent a lot of time in mexico and i love mexico city and it's people. i couldn't be more happy you took this project on! check out the novel series by gary jennings. the 1st book is called aztec and deals with the time period of the 2nd half of ur video. it's really good. one really interesting character of this time is nezahualcoyotl. he was tlatoani of texcoco and was a famous poet and philosepher. he is often called the marcus aurelius of mezoamerica!

[@danielrondon1013]

There is some fantastic work in art and research done here, kudos to you🙌. You should do a video on Incas (Tahuantinsuyo) rise to power too

[@TheEmanExperience]

necesito mass, I need more this was a great an awesome video

[@uselut8741]

CHI-CO-MOZTOC, still did better than the UK videos.

[@kesorangutan6170]

Seriously the artwork is amazing. It's like depictions of ancient people that you would see in encyclopedias but it's more comtemporary. This Robbie guy is talented.

[@mybutthasteeth1347]

Don't you hate it when your allies make your daughter into a coat after asking for her hand in marriage?

[@MyUniqueVibe]

That's hardcore af

[@derekscanlan4641]

always read the fine print

[@qus.9617]

@@derekscanlan4641 No, you misunderstood, the eagle is above, not below the rabbit, on line 34 we will 'skin' your daughter, not 'elevate' her.

[@thethirdjegs]

@@qus.9617 where did you see this (eagle above rabbit)

[@falsename2285]

@@thethirdjegs i think hes referencing the aztec writings. they used icons such as eagles etc and faces mainly if im not mistaken, rather than an alphabet, like hieroglyphs

[@HistoryHouseProductions]

The guy who does the artwork for these is very talented.

[@JackHadFriends]

@@muhammadsyed4394 _Robbie McSweeney_

[@__prometheus__]

Muhammad Syed you didn’t do anything

[@RICE4azns]

@@phillylove7290 What? Are you blind? Much of the artwork in his educational videos is original commissioned art. The ones that are all in the same style.

[@theprogramshow8816]

Yours is pretty lifelike as well. Subbed.

[@barakiji]

some are murals from Diego Rivera, for instance @ 21:47

[@bigakudoki-doki7861]

Snakes: *exist* Mexica: Eat up bois, gotta make this land more habitable.

[@Emirates1598]

We still eat snakes in some places... they're good :)

[@jahleelbingham9971]

Aló I’m extremely intrigued

[@Emirates1598]

@@jahleelbingham9971 they are meh, you can have them like in a kind barbecue or in soup. In other parts you can also eat iguana with snake or rat with snake.

[@stevegarcia3811]

Im a decendant of the mexica people from the great city of tenochtitlan.

[@usermaatrasetepenre4125]

@@stevegarcia3811 change your gringo name to moctezuma or cuauhtemoc and i would believed you

[@jjfajen]

I had a Spanish teacher that told the class about the founding of Tenochtitlan. She mentioned the migration and the eagle eating a snake on a cactus in a lake. She left out the whole murdering a princess and wearing her face to provoke a war part...

[@KDH-br6hy]

It was part of there religion

[@dephkononechicago7079]

Just like you people leave out the masses of genocide you committed. What are you getting at, colonizer?

[@waffelreitter7231]

@@KDH-br6hy This religion deserved to be extinguished from the earth.

[@Lowtiervergil347]

@@KDH-br6hy I mean yeah it was, and hanging innocent people is part of the Klu Klux Kl@n religion, still doesn't make it right

[@fritzelschildren]

​@@KDH-br6hy and?

[@HoundofOdin]

The Aztec built the largest city in the world in the middle of a lake with no beasts of burden and using stone tools, but all people know about them is that they did human sacrifice and lost to the conquistadors. History is truly unfair.

[@SNIperofDARKness02]

Cortez managed to destroy an empire with a mere 200 soldiers, yet all they talk about is how he was a cruel tyrant. History is truly unfair.

[@UberH0b0]

@@SNIperofDARKness02 You do know that Cortez convinced the neighboring tribes to band together and attack the Aztecs right? he and his 200 men didn't do it alone.

[@reapvkz1]

Cortez didnt defeat them alone. Another native cultures joined them, not to mention that pox actually killed 90% of the population. not even war.

[@gavinstarks2761]

They didn't come close to building the largest city on the world. Maybe in that area but as current history stands, not even close to the largest.

[@theghosthero6173]

They weren't neighboring tribes either, they were strong kingdoms, the Purepecha empire rival in size and greateness with the Aztec empire for example

[@24680kong]

"Hey Huitzilin, are we the baddies?" "What do you mean?" "Have you noticed you're wearing a princess' skin?"

[@norwegianboyee]

*Looks down at himself* *Laughter sound effect* "My god, I am." "We're so the bad guys aren't we." *Wacky sitcom outro*

[@DeadlyAlienInvader]

“Don’t worry! It was for a good cause! I mean, the gods wanted me to do that! What do you expect me to do about it?!”

[@CollegeKiD4]

My mother who was born in a small town not far from the capital of Mexico, still speaks the language of Nahuatl fluently. Although I was born in the US, learning from what can possibly be my roots is very fascinating.

[@BlindedNumen]

Omg that is so amazing!!!

[@mashtmebruh1064]

That’s so cool. My family is from Puebla but nobody in my family (at least these past 6 generations) knows how to speak Nahuatl.

[@jovit-vs]

Felicidades que tu madre abla ese idioma ami me gustaria aver nacido en esas raises soy mextizo solo español se🥺

[@55CINCO55]

There are still millions of Nahuatl speakers, I’m going to learn it one day

[@bullterror5]

Wow

[@user-cx3lf3co6s]

I'm russian, and thanks for such an exciting and talented videos with sophisticated language. That makes practicing english great hobby, and what is more, with a bonus as a closing gaps in geography and history.

[@MrGUESS79]

I'm mexican and this has a lot of missunderstandings.. check out inah ;)

[@user-cx3lf3co6s]

@@MrGUESS79 Got you, dude)

[@mnstark3342]

same amazing content :), take a shot of vodka for me brother.

[@user-cx3lf3co6s]

@@mnstark3342 noway, I'm muslim.

[@mnstark3342]

@@user-cx3lf3co6s just don't tell anyone

[@atreides213]

The fact that there were no beasts of burden in the Aztec Empire makes their feats all the more incredible. Think how complex and intricate their logistics had to have been to compensate for this disadvantage.

[@abrahamdavidgonzalezgonzal364]

For the fast delivery of messanges and small packages for the Huey Tlatoani and the nobles they were a system of runners.

[@alexanderstrickland9036]

Their logistics were similar to other civs(they had waypoints and supply routes), they were just limited by the fact that their beasts of burden were men haha.

[@purebloodedgriffin]

They had tons of slaves, I'm not sure what you're talking about

[@ME-hm7zm]

The lake was the key to all of that.

[@Normie_Normalson]

'beasts of burden' don't exist naturally anywhere, they have to be bred and trained.

[@ASMProductions1997]

The Spanish landing and meeting the Aztec people for the first time Would definitely be one of those moments you wish you could go back and see. The feeling of awe and wonder the Spanish felt on arrival and the curiosity of the Aztecs would be something astounding to witness

[@superemzone]

truly it would be

[@angeltsosie2133]

Spaniard friars wrote how in awe they were coming by boat to see the (teocalli) sacred houses or pyramid temples towering above the lake and tenochtitlan.. kualli yohualli

[@alexypolivany7148]

But you should be vary careful to save your ass, I mean heart.

[@steverangon1658]

Not only the Aztecs. The Mayans and Incas meet the evil European on the shores.

[@willvera8145]

steve rangon Stuff like that happened all over the world shut up.

[@reigee2869]

Thank you for an informative video that neither tries to villainize nor sugarcoat the Aztecs or the Mexica empire. It seems that whenever it's their turn to be discussed, people are particularly good at applying rampant presentism or double standards to their empire and their history. They were a people of the new world, living in their times and they were as brutal as they were amazing like many other young civilizations.

[@aq6737]

You are right!..they all try to demonize the Aztec culture but dont see their society so advanced as to have a form of government ,schools and institutions to make a society work.

[@BeeHatGuy]

Rei gee this is the best comment on this video

[@Abelius]

And how killing and flaying the daughter of your benefactor and ally fits in not demonizing those huge bastards? They were fine, yet they decided to go to war. Pfft, please...

[@villax5376]

@@Abelius Read the fine print

[@weststar2845]

@@Abelius werent the Roman's nailing people to sticks and feeding people to lions.

[@Sarcastic_Asmodeus]

Bruhhh we're getting a Viking game from the Assassin's creed franchise! We definitely need a Aztec one next!

[@dankmemes8304]

Markoi Green Damn why are you so pissed?

[@Sarcastic_Asmodeus]

@@dankmemes8304, it's the internet. Everyone is or wants to be pissed at something. Lol

[@jrojas961]

Will be sick especially with a jaguar outfit

[@ohohgreasy660]

there were aztec/mayan buildings in ac black flag remember

[@Sarcastic_Asmodeus]

That doesn't necessarily make it an Aztec game..

[@oni_sama5]

Damn ok "I'd be happy to give you my daughter as a sign of peace and alliance" then bam she became a coat

[@lordmorgoth7]

She was hot, we were cold

[@sonoftheking7776]

Yeah the Aztecs were a bunch of assholes I'm glad they got their asses kicked.

[@DrCruel]

@@sonoftheking7776 The Tlaxcala fell similarly, up to the present day.

[@VitorEmanuelOliver]

It makes you wonder if the astecs were really the good guys in this story

[@DrCruel]

@@VitorEmanuelOliver No it doesn't.

[@danieldebilek7001]

Yay someting from history that I have no clue about. Time to learn.

[@InvictaHistory]

I've been learning alot as well. This is such an interesting topic.

[@louisswanepoel1614]

@@InvictaHistory That's the thing, this was real hard work, harder than with your Rome videos (also hard work) but I think you enjoyed putting this video together.

[@chipi20ful]

Daniel de Bílek actually there is a lot of misinformation in this video.

[@worldmusicaddyours6436]

Please check this out you will definitely learn. aztekayolokalli.com

[@bigo8647]

Take it from someone who had actually lived in Mexico, the Aztecs did sacrifice the wife but it was by removing her heart, which was the greatest honor, cause she was sacrificed to their gods, but the flaying thing is all lies, flaying was not part of Aztec rituals. Remember that what we know about Aztecs comes from Spaniard scribes, in the early 1500's there were rumors about the Aztecs summoning demons, having copulation with animals and engaging in cannibalism all lies that the Spaniards invented.

[@yudit.loves.raccoons4079]

Aztecs had library’s and books not to mention a language we would’ve known so much more about them now

[@yudit.loves.raccoons4079]

MAISA MENDEZ that’s so damn cool my grandpa from my dads side speaks Nahuatl but sadly we don’t have much contact one day I’d love to learn from him 😭

[@kmccart2]

@MAISA MENDEZ Is the narrator's pronunciation accurate?

[@AlexaAXAG]

@@kmccart2 besides the accent, its close.

[@yellowisksheppard8889]

Except the Catholics burned everything

[@yellowisksheppard8889]

James Woodard you can believe whatever religion you want. Just cuz someone wore a cross doesn’t mean you are responsible for their actions.

[@Magoo1881]

I’ve spent the past 3-4 hours looking up history on the Aztecs. I learned more in 20 minutes then I have all day. Thank you.

[@BruderSenf]

itzcoatl grew mighty old 1247-1440 must be a healthy lifestyle "one sacrifice a day keeps the doctor away" i guess

[@mariah4668]

It’s a really weird system, historians typically just skip what would have been the 13th century. But that is still a very long time to rule!

[@annoyed707]

The resources I checked give his birth year as 1380, and his reign as 1428-1440

[@Mimi.1001]

@@annoyed707 So Invicta probably just flipped the 2 and the 4.

[@josemonte4083]

Lol very true..

[@immortalsmoke509]

It was God given mother nature food and active life style

[@gilbertotoledo1421]

Amazing video I love the effort that went into it. Just a minor detail the effigy of the Aztec god in the images isn't Huitzilopochtli. It's Coatlicue, she was actually a benevolent earth goddess despite her terrifying appearance. Huitzilopochtli was often portrayed as a warrior in blue, or as a hummingbird. Ironic how the monstrous looking one is the gentle one and nice looking one is the angry one, right? Lol

[@laidspipe]

That’s cool. My favorite color is blue and my favorite bird is a hummingbird.

[@Tlatoanimeh]

Yes, sir. El Colibrí Zurdo he was called. She of the Serpent Skirt, as Coatlicue was known.

[@tlaloc27]

@brmbly she wasn't murder since she is the earth

[@jonatanaguilar9961]

I was looking for this comment

[@og-greenmachine8623]

All lies of the pale-face With Whites steak all lands, Then becoming: “PULITZER-PRIZE WINNING WRITERS”? No wonder ONLY “TRUE VICTIMS” Know TRUE HISTORY: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKPTmpeId8eMqtU

[@moibe182]

Great video, as a mexican I liked it, just one minor correction: The god at the image in 2:11 is not Huitzilopochtli but the godess Coatlicue.

[@Alkis05]

And I thought my mom was scary. No wonder Huitzilopochtli was such a unsettling dude. Imagine missionaries trying to put a veil over Coatlicue and saying "See, she is actually the virgin marry. She looks just like her. Kinda..."

[@sb416]

@@Alkis05 lol yes they made her into lady Guadalupe

[@thorCast]

The pronunciation alone deserves a like and sub. Easily one of the best recounting of early Aztec history in existence and its free on KZbin. Its crazy to think how a few hundred years would have completely changed our perception of the new world. 100 years earlier and we would never have known the breadth of civil engineering and architecture the ancient mesoamericans were capable of.

[@Travois]

Mexican history aficionado here. Great work, nicely explained, condensed and includes information on every tlatoani that we had. One thing I would like to have been added or that can be done in a future video is the "Aztec's Flower wars pact" or xōchiyāōyōtl. As far as Im concerned, It is the only Pact of war that the humanity has ever had. Every four years the Mexica, Tlaxacaleans, Choluleans, and Huejotzingo, would go to war voluntarily, to get enough sacrifices to satisfy their gods. This is how Ahuizotl manage to sacrifice more than 80, 000 prisoners in the temple of huitzilopoztli as mentioned in your video.

[@Navak_]

Many neolithic societies practiced ritual warfare.

[@soleilbleau7065]

Hi, would you recommend any documentaries on Latin ancestry here on KZbin ? Would be much appropriated

[@infotechsailor]

Sounds horrible and depressing

[@berno8535]

@@soleilbleau7065 Latin as in the Spanish/South American Latinos or Roman Latins?

[@rl6173]

Josh Bascii how they wanted it

[@josehoessaye6571]

1:08 great pronunciation, your efforts won’t go unnoticed. Great video!

[@pablovillalobos7236]

I noticed he could never say "Tlaxcala"

[@SJ23982398]

And it was the god of tongue twisters, Guadltopeitlkliepteth that told them how to name everything.

[@jasminguiza6227]

ijw z Uderrated comment! 😂🤣

[@twojacksandanace3847]

lol

[@valentecorona6517]

😂😂😂😂

[@RodrigoMera]

Lmao

[@Liveforeever]

I thought Indian hindu and Sri Lankan names were hard..

[@westleyhoskins1774]

"The dawn of Aztec history is shrouded in mystery"... Dope lyrics

[@stollinroned5090]

lil Zuma

[@browsebrowserton8409]

Impressed by the pronunciations, Kudos!

[@InvictaHistory]

Thanks for noticing. Admittedly I got a lot of help from our researcher with these.

[@Cytoplasm_]

"leave the caves to explore the world" didn't make it all that far lads.

[@browsebrowserton8409]

@@InvictaHistory No, thank you for the effort. The quality of these videos is second to none, the effort really shows

[@jcarlos100]

Agreed! I was positively impressed by the pronunciation. Great job

[@jesuscastillocabello1537]

@@InvictaHistory Hi Oakley I am a fan from Mexico and I really appreciate you making videos over this topic. However if you want to improve your pronunciation I recommend you getting someone that speaks Spanish to read them to you. The words are written so that when you read them in Spanish you pronounce them correctly. Or you could search for a video of Super Holly on the topic. Her father is a náhuatl expert.

[@reopreop4690]

Taking the daughter of a leader in marage to forge an aliance and preserve the peace - too mainstreem.

[@htoodoh5770]

reop reop Most of the time it work.

[@Reaper2127.]

I still don't even get the point of the action either. Why announce a war like that. Do a surprise attack on their city or something reasonable.

[@ViolosD2I]

Yeah just cross Monty's border and capture a worker.

[@sabersroommate8293]

Maybe they have misinterpret their God's message.

[@sergioislas323]

!!Fuck you!!

[@ashcanproductions9822]

If the Spaniards has never come I wonder how far the Aztecs would have advanced because they already were at least around the level the early stages of the Roman Empire

[@grillodofus]

They would have came sooner or later, they or some others: englishmen, dutch, etc and still had 10,000 years of technological advantage and none the more mercy. Still we all wonder.

[@BallsTheDog]

Doubt it, they didn't have gunpowder so the British would have had them sooner or later

[@sanjuanagasca4124]

@@BallsTheDog gun powder was invented by the Chinese. The Aztecs were doomed the conquistadores had there rival enemies turn on them. Then the Spanish conquered the Traiter Tribes who helped over throw the Aztec Empire. The Aztecs were some of the world's first Civilizations to make man made islands.

[@grillodofus]

@@BallsTheDog Gunpowderwas of little effect, if technology was to blame steel and ships were much more important than powder, yet the conquest of Mexico was a war fought with bio-warfare and politics, not as much with swords and pistols.

[@benedeknagy8497]

I think that without the europeans showing up, the Incas would have slowly conquered much of south and central america. Their stoneworking and architecture was even more advanced than the Aztec one, and they even used bronze axes, halberd, breastplats. So technologically they were an age ahead of the Aztecs. But most importantly, the Incas used cultural assimilation insead of pure brutality to rule over conquered cities and tribes, so it's safe to assume that they could have easily forged similar alliances with the Aztec's rivals, just as the spaniards did. It's truly tragic that a civil war between the two sons of the king and the pox from the north severly weakened this great civilisation, just before the spaniards arrived. Otherwise this american civilisation had the best chance, with metal weapons, mountain forts, and highly organised military, to actually beat back the europeans.

[@JC839]

Aztecs “throw us a bone, please!” King “fine.” *throws them bone* Aztecs: *proceeds to attack king with bone*

[@sirskateify]

Jesus. Wearing a princesses skin... Talk about taking cross dressing to the next level lol.

[@Steelmade58]

Talk about being under someone's skin

[@sirskateify]

@Dark Days Yeah I'm team #cortezdidnothingwrong

[@sirskateify]

@Dark Days I'm mostly just saying that for the meme factor. But from what it sounds like, cortez's cruelty was rather pale in comparison with the Aztec nobility. Not saying that makes it OK, just saying I know who I'd prefer as my overlord. Also I don't think I would group cortez in with those other names you mentioned.

[@gutzskywalker975]

Brolo Jay "It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again"

[@ShadowSumac]

@Dark Days Given what kind of people Aztecs were...who cares?

[@LuotkaSnih]

Damn, amazing pronunciation, mad respects to you for taking your time with it. Sometimes its even hard to pronunciate mesoamerican words in spanish

[@derekscanlan4641]

popocatepetl - say it quick

[@didiermartinezzz4204]

Popocatepelt is easy viva Mexico

[@dermannemaunz]

The stressed word is in the first E... Popocatépetl "smoking mountain"

[@loldiamond1017]

@@dermannemaunz It must be high...

[@madbullen]

I think his prononcuation is quite bad...

[@pauliedibbs9028]

I cannot stress enough how important this channel is, for an array of good reasoning; thus, I also cannot express my level of absolute appreciation and gratitude as well. Thank you for this fantastic video, and for all of your amazing work!

[@13SXLKAM]

“The Venice of the New Worlds” Must have been a sight to behold...

[@jimjimsauce]

Bruh they were honestly drippin, that mans wearing the jaguar skin and face paint was fire

[@faceplant4378]

I'm fucking done. 🤣🤣 I think cheetah dude is fighting a lizard cactus.

[@basedmadlad6740]

Assassin's Creeds new focus on ancient history is amazing and I'd love to see either an Aztec, Viking, or Japan game.

[@berno8535]

Japan will be next.. or well should. They released a trailer where they revealed an egyptian eye, the geek omega sign and torii gates as symbols... in that order and two games with matching civs was released...

[@cameronmcmillian6185]

Vikings is the next one for the PS5 & new Xbox console

[@salted6422]

I'd love to be able to play the new AC games, but the monetization system they use is a complete turn-off for me. The leveling system is absolutely broken due to it.

[@zxdefflex6474]

Right now is the Viking era

[@pentraksil]

@@salted6422 Although I completely agree that the monetization system in AC is a disgrace and shouldn't exist, I never found the leveling system completely broken. It is obviously more grindy to make those boosts more attractive, but I was never in a situation where I was underleveled or weak for the main progression. I do a lot of side quests but usually skip the boring mmo ones and my level is often a couple of numbers above the requirement.

[@andraslibal]

4:40 you think they finally became normal but then the god of war becomes impatient ...

[@Manuel-ny2nl]

The aztecs were normal, most of the things that history shows is a lie, the history of Mexico is beautiful, and the history of aztecs was distorted by the spanish crown, because it is not convenient for them that the world see them as a civilization that killed without reason, for imposing the catholic religion they destroyed the temples of the aztecs including the great temple of tenochtitlan. The aztecs were much better equipped with wapons equipment than the spanish conquerors themselves, a very curious fact is that spain did not conquer Mexico but France did it, since spain as such, at that time was a French province, when the Spaniards arrived in Tenochtitlan-Now Mexico city, they were perplexed by the wonderful architectural works of the ancient Aztec civilization, at night the pyramids of the aztecs seemed to have been built of silver, and the Spaniards could not believe so much beauty, they related in one of their epistles that the great tenochtitlan was a city of dreams. Textual words of the conqueror cortes.

[@l-nolazck-rn24]

@@Manuel-ny2nl indigenist?

[@rckflmg94]

@@Manuel-ny2nl romanticizing a brutal empire? Killing and sacrificing on a massive scale

[@razacosmicapilled]

@@rckflmg94 Yes, yes i am ✋🏽⚡️

[@acp288]

17:03 Anyone else notice it says Itzcoatl ruled from 1247 - 1440 in the video? Just a typo, he ruled from 1427 - 1440. Great video though.

[@FlappyOW]

I'm a simple man. I see Aztecs, I sacrifice my enemies to the gods. What? Was it something I said?

[@derekscanlan4641]

look, if you don't the sun won't rise tomorrow. we can't have that, can we?

[@alexanderstrickland9036]

Blood for the feathered serpent god! Hearts for the sun!

[@didiermartinezzz4204]

I am méxicano I have all these stories in my culture

[@tec-jones5445]

@Your Typical Pinoy No One Expects the Spanish Conquistadors!

[@pottertheavenger1363]

sees a solar eclipse: *sacrificing and astronomy intensifies*

[@SammyBirdTheGreat]

I feel so blessed to have native and Mexican teachers in school, I learned so much more about mesoamerican history and empires compared to so many other people in America. This history is so misrepresented in America and it’s so frustrating

[@hueyitlahtoani9242]

@wowalinbie girl I was taught the opposite 😂😂😂 the Aztecs were savages and ruthless killers that were defeated by the European saviors

[@victortorres1930]

@wowalinbie They were probably both. Like all civilizations, they had their good (astronomy, engineering, and economic prosperity) and their bad (human sacrifice, almost endless warfare, and subjugation of other nation-states)

[@jorges3824]

@wowalinbie sheesh what school you go to they always demonized them where I’m from 💀

[@canofsouls282]

@@hueyitlahtoani9242 the aztecs were nothing short of amazing, dont get me wrong their human sacrifices were a bit to much but nearly every civilization during a time period like their pulled the same thing off, you have to remember the majoroty of their history is written down by the spaniards who already thought they were devils, they were sophisticated while london had a population if 800'000 the capitols area had 2 million with aqueducts from nearby spring, they had clean sewers, they even had a palace that has a zoo of 300 exotic animals which dwarfed modern day palaces, to top it off they did all of this with NO HELP, NO ANIMALS, and multiple enemy city states, while the europeans were still living in their own shit the aztecs praticed good hygiene , its said in a spanish chronicle that their teeth were so white sonce they brushed it with a corn powder I could rambble on in on on how cool they were but regarding them as a violent society is like saying european history is trash and dumb, which is false.

[@hueyitlahtoani9242]

@@canofsouls282 yes I agree with you, sorry if my comment came off as hating the Aztecs 😭😂 I was replying with sarcasm to the comment where they said that they were taught that all native Americans were peaceful and stuff while I was taught the opposite

[@drew-andresvogt652]

Very well done documentary with excellent graphics, script, narration, etc. Looking forward to more.

[@beleneaton4807]

I found it very interesting how much politicking and political issues went into just creating the Aztec empire. Also how very aggressive they were with each other trying to establish. Also starting off with just being a very small tribe out of seven and alliances being formed in periods of time it really showed how power was claimed. It was really shocking that our advanced civilization was where we underestimated they had created this circle of different tribes co-living trying to survive. It showed how different they were as well and not just generalized as savages as well.

[@ethand2731]

Thanks for covering this. The great nations of the pre colombian Americas are often overlooked by historians and it is refreshing to hear their stories. Maybe after you have finished yours series on the Aztecs you could do one on the Incas or the Iroquois Confederacy.

[@voltanzapata8024]

This is one of the finest well put together historical accounts of my culture I have seen on this platform!👍🏼 Finally putting my ancestors on great levels of other ancient cultures such as the Greeks and Egyptians of the same time. I’m very impressed with the level of respect this has been put together.🕸🕷🌵☀️

[@dfinma]

What about all the murder?

[@voltanzapata8024]

It was a different Era but it happens all the time in our so-called modern culture so what’s your point every culture has its dark side?

[@NoName-np8ko]

@@voltanzapata8024 Yes, but some cultures have dark sides that are much, much darker than others. And others actually have bright sides that far outweigh their dark sides and are responsible for most of what is good in this world.

[@rudyochoao559-79]

Great SUPER GREAT FAST BREAK DOWN. LOVE THE JOB YOU DID WITH SUMMONING UP SO MANY IMPORTANT THINGS IN SUCH A SHORT TIME FRAME. GOOD JOB

[@Shreendg]

The Mexica weren't exactly ancient at the time of Spanish conquest.

[@InvictaHistory]

That's one of the points I make at the end of the video. That when the Spanish arrived, it had only been about 2 centuries since the Mexica themselves had been the new kids on the block.

[@nathanoliver9237]

Not ancient but prehistoric

[@TheIronMax]

They were like the United States, they were not that old but very powerful

[@derekscanlan4641]

yeah, i think it's cus their tech level is kinda like the classical era in europe

[@segundonoacco3164]

​@@derekscanlan4641 Yes and since there was no usefull animals like horses, its very probable no american civilization could have been able to develop much more. They had wheels, but they didnt had any use for it.

[@atreides213]

The Aztecs seem almost like real life Khorne worshippers.

[@genghiskhan6809]

From what I've heard, alot of the cult of Khaine and it's practices were based off of Aztec rituals.

[@gadnukbreakerofworlds3460]

*BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!*

[@elliegotfredson3712]

Moses and his god of war and famine - lots of similarities.

[@gabriel300010]

OAXACA STANDS THE CITY BROKE BEFORE THE GUARD DID

[@-Zevin-]

Ancient German/Scandinavians were similar.

[@napolien1310]

Aztec's war god: "I need war" Aztec's people: "but the enemy are stronger and numerous" Aztec's war god:"MOAAAAAAAAAAAAAÀAAAAAAAAR"

[@Talosbug]

Hands down made my day to read this comment 😂

[@napolien1310]

@@Talosbug my job here is done

[@kaptenlemper]

Huh, coincidentally a parallel with the God of the Old Testament commanding the Hebrews to invade the Levant.

[@ChrisG_564]

Shut the fuck up these are my people and there beliefs

[@Talosbug]

Chris Gonzalez their* lol

[@flankenstyle]

Great video, thanks for uploading! I'm especially impressed with all the great artwork you've found, really fleshes out the story!

[@chicoebrio027]

As a mexican born in Mexico City, I truly appreciate your efforts to communicate the history of this ancient and wonderful culture whose legacy is still tangible in our architecture and language. Shout out to your efforts in pronunciation, I hope there's a second part for this. :)

[@aduarte8057]

The name Aztec was coined by Alexander von Humboldt who combined "Aztlan" ("place of the heron"), our mythic homeland, and "tec(atl)", 'people of'.The term Aztec is often used very broadly to refer not only to the Mexica, but also to the Nahuatl-speaking peoples or Nahuas of the Valley of Mexico and neighboring valleys. Nehua notōcā Tlacaelel.

[@gregoriokafka]

The Humboldt data is wrong. The name "Azteca" or "Aztlaneca" was used by Hernando de Alvarado Tezozómoc in his chronicle since late XVIth Century. He was in fact the grandson of Motecuhzoma II; so the term was known by the mexica.

[@martinalfaro1317]

Mexica means the Navel of the moon .. Meshecaa...Mexico

[@gladra9596]

Excellent! A great source of knowledge was imparted by this documentary, thank you . Well done!

[@officialVozie100]

I'm apache and Nahua aka Aztec we still speak Nahua in mexico millions it's growing actually hopefully it will continue Pyialli Tlazcohmati We rising 🇲🇽👩🏾🌎💯

[@alansalazarortiz-braden4677]

🇲🇽✊

[@russellgilbert8625]

Your pronunciation is INCREDIBLE! I had been pronouncing some of these locales (albeit only in my head) COMPLETELY wrong. Thank you! Love the channel. New sub here.

[@justinh6651]

It's pretty mediocre but leagues ahead contemporary attempts. He doesn't do the tl right and emphasizes or de-emphasizes some parts of words and names

[@Cholosaurus360]

This mini Doc blew me away! I’m Mexican so I’m maybe related to the Aztecs, that what I’ve been told anyway. The Aztecs were so brutal and rough, yet had a sophisticated and glorious civilization! Great work!

[@-gemberkoekje-5547]

That would realy depends on: If you are a Mestizo, and you're ancestors that you know of are from in, or around, the states close to Mexico City

[@bryceanhk1428]

Chop Chips the darker the Mexican the deeper the roots

[@Cholosaurus360]

Bryce Anhk Definitely my friend, I’m mixed with Spanish, Jewish, and Irish So my Mexican roots are not pure but I do have pride in the little I do have! But hey Brown Pride ✊🏼Por Sempre!

[@Elitecommando501]

Most Mexicans are not really pure blood aztecs. Their other ancestors came from spain. My ancestors from my mothers side came from northern spain and settled in zacatecas one of the oldest and first states established by the viceroyalty of New Spain (before it was Mexico)

[@olirayner5129]

Seriously well made video, thank you for putting the time in

[@morningstar1274]

I've been watching Aztec videos for hours....yours was by far the best.

[@markusw9455]

Wow they seem like nice people: "Hey I will help you and give you land to settle. You want to marry my daughter? Sure!" And then they slaughtered her and presented the remains to the father.... very nice people

[@htoodoh5770]

Markus W They have a crazy God of war.

[@TheEmanExperience]

@@htoodoh5770 Mars demanded virgins, when the Romans were losing the second Punic war they had to sacrifice them as well

[@alejandroescrivaperales6379]

sony pls make a god of war game about this

[@ME-hm7zm]

You know. As one does.

[@TheEmanExperience]

@@alejandroescrivaperales6379 I know right i mean they can come up with entire 3 part game that would be as epic as the god of war series

[@Xteenrebel]

I'm super impressed with this. Didn't this channel start as just a Total War channel?

[@Travelsandmore333]

Thank you so much for these videos!!!! More people need to know about the Aztecs

[@blunelson8226]

"Live by the sword, die by sword" was the first thing I thought of after watching the video. Really good video, wished you mention years as you went.

[@itzamna3080]

Incredible video dude, very accurate and true, except for one tiny detail. I don't know if it's already been pointed out in the comments, but Huitzilopochtli told them that they would find an eagle eating a heart on the top on a nopal, and they would stablish their city there. What they found was an eagle eating a red tuna (or prickly pear, the nopal fruit), resemblig a human heart, and there's where they stablished. Later on, this was changed by the spanish priests because it was considered barbaric. But it makes sense because offering the heart of a victim, was the way of honoring Huitzilopochtli. Anyways, amazing video and the general content of your channel, I'm subscribing from Mexico.

[@shiroumxm2052]

a heart no idiot

[@barrymcoc8171]

It wasn’t an eagle eating a snake?

[@ScipionLaurentiend]

love to learn more about meso america...keep it up

[@gagemcmahon9485]

Imagine seeing the capital city in its prime. What an amazing sight it must have been

[@EQOAnostalgia]

Meh, nothing but pagan crap, it was all over the old world too, pyramids for satan and his fallen angel pagan gods.

[@kilokortez]

The Spanish conquistadors wrote that when they first laid eyes on it Cortez and his men were bewildered and asked if they were dreaming . These men had been around the known world chosen by Cortez himself. What could they have seen ? And why were they instructed to not only destroy it but cover it up SMH they covered something we can't begin to imagine what it was like

[@tommarello01]

Fantastic short documentary, really well done. Many thanks.

[@Testacabeza]

Itzcoatl reign period is wrong I think. It says (1247-1440 AD).

[@InvictaHistory]

Shoot I swapped the numbers. Should be 1427.

[@fanaticpharaoh6689]

@@InvictaHistory (1347-1427)* Unless he was 180 lol

[@louisswanepoel1614]

I call witchcraft (according to legend)

[@2HRTS1LOVE]

Lol, I was scratching my head on that one, too, thanks for answering, I always think I've missed something when stuff like that happens, assuming the error is mine, cuz it so often is. 😁

[@fanaticpharaoh6689]

@@Sirvalian I'm just guessing lol. 80 sounds more likely if we are talking his age but I wasn't sure what times we were talking about. On second glance he is talking about the 14 year reign, my bad mate.

[@estebanmedina3963]

That image is not Huitzilopochtli, it's Coatlicue. The difference is crucial. Any way, as a mexican, thank you for this great video

[@Bell_Matt]

esteban medina nobody cares.

[@rexkraft_]

@esteban medina wow neat!

[@estebanmedina3963]

@@Bell_Matt poor freak .Go to watch your cartoons and allow the adults talk

[@steverangon1658]

@@Bell_Matt Care enough to comment. Idiot.

[@felixk.5707]

Amazing! Please more of it!

[@isaacurielmartinez8]

The interesting thing is that I am from Iztapalapa , and most people that I met in Mexico City and schools are unaware of the Aztec history and culture. They don’t know about the significance / meaning of the names , on some occasions we don’t realize that we sometimes speak Nahuatl words, we were told of the Spanish point of view of the history that went down, it is to sad that people from Mexico City do not find interesting the rich history and culture of the Aztecs its also sad that some foreigners know more of the Aztecs than residents in Mexico City.

[@josephmatthews7698]

Don't be too hard on your brethren, it is this way in most of the western hemisphere. I live in Missouri and almost everyone can tell you at least American history if not English, French and German as well with a spot of Roman but you'd be lucky to find one or two that even knows Missouri was a tribe.

[@michaelharvey8021]

Glad to of stumbled upon your channel. Great video. I was hoping to find a sequel of what happens when Cortez comes and over takes such a warrior based empire with such a large army on their own turf. As well I would be curious to know the beginnings , rise and fall of the Mayan empire. Thanks guys. Love your work so far.

[@tomgauntley]

That was awesome can’t wait for the next part

[@carlosespinoza6182]

Thank you for this awesome and beautiful video.

[@everardoolide1944]

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@hobog]

18:31 i think it's good to repeat that there were no beasts of burden available to extend military reach, throughout all of precolumbian America

[@InvictaHistory]

I'll probably do an episode on the logistics of the Aztec army and this will be an important point to make

[@derekscanlan4641]

...and because of this the wheel was used mostly just for childrens' toys, apparently! i must admit i've always found this 'fact' a little hard to take seriously. i can think of so many uses for the wheel that don't involve beasts of burden

[@rejvaik00]

@@derekscanlan4641 not only was the wheel not made a weapon of war but neither was metallurgy. All weapons of war used by those of the Mesoamerica were crafted of stone, wood, or animal bone

[@qus.9617]

@@rejvaik00 Inca spears, arrows, axes or maces were either made out of copper or stone. There is even a rare example of a copper mace axe. Edit: I should correct myself that Inca is not considered part of Mesoamerica. Well you learn something new everyday. Edit: Quauholōlli was a mace used by the Aztecs that ended in a hardball, made out of either copper or stone. They also used either stone or copper axe tlaximaltepoztli for timber chopping or military use or for tribute. The tlaximaltepoztli was also used by some kingdoms in Mesoamerica as a weapon.

[@rejvaik00]

@@qus.9617 you have knowledge of metals good but you should know that copper is a very malleable material, it does not require intense forging or any metal shaping, only when copper is combined with tin to produce bronze can you say a civilization gained knowledge of metallurgy, and none of the civilizations in all of the Americas ever reached a point to begin using any materials made from bronze

[@zachsmith1676]

The mextica rise sounds sort of like the rise of Rome... I guess you could say they are the Rome of the Mesoamerica world, which in a way is pretty damn amazing

[@rejvaik00]

Your absolutely right there are the only indigenous civilization to ever reach a million inhabitants in a city

[@derekscanlan4641]

one of the texcocan tlatoani, nezahualcoyotl, is often referred to as the marcus aurelius of mesoamerica

[@anblueboot5364]

We shouldn't Forget mayans and incas, one of both Had a greater territory than the Roman empire. Beside that, yeah the azetc were amazing

[@rejvaik00]

@@anblueboot5364 nope sorry, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_empires they are way down towards the bottom of the list

[@TheIronMax]

@@anblueboot5364 the Mayans where more like the Greeks, they where not one single culture but a set of free city states with their own rulers and were only unified by their languages and origins.

[@maxusmartini760]

Excelente contenido, gracias por compartir!

[@wuzgoanon9373]

Very interesting. Very good explanation of this historical period. Thank you.

[@mattangle129]

Excellent video! One of the few on KZbin that discusses the full history of the Aztec Empire. Couldn't help but point out that at 16:51, the graphic says that Itzcoatl ruled from 1247-1440, which would be an impressive 193 years. It looks like the first year just got mixed up as his rule was really from 1427-1440, a more modest reign of 13 years.

[@dfinma]

Whether impressive or modest, the dead bodies is really the takeaway message.

[@Ahuizotl_Yolotl]

Man... our ancestors were messed up. Well, at least they gave us a cool coat of arms.

[@alexanderstrickland9036]

Royce Rome it’s something most folks don’t realize haha Everybody who exists today conquered someone else. And true conquest is killing and enslaving large parts of a populous. Times were tough back then haha

[@htoodoh5770]

Alexander Strickland what about the Ainu?

[@armorsmith43]

So many peoples can say this

[@alexanderstrickland9036]

Htoo Doh the Ainu weren’t entirely conquered, just mostly. They mostly assimilated. But they were nasty enough to hold the Japanese off so that should tell you something there.

[@BRAgamer]

The aztects were particullary brutal warriors, but other "mexican" tribes were considered more honorable and civilized by modern day standars, so much so that they did not enjoy to the least bit later aztec domination. When the Spanish came, they allied pretty strongly with them

[@truthhertz10]

The whole story about the kings daughter and what they done to her is seriously just WTF. Pure evil...

[@markstax5892]

Ruben Reis Did you not hear... god of war?

[@erikdahler5227]

Kaneki Is Dead Goku Im Ban Just about every civilization throughout history who has had a chance to do horrible things to others has, regardless of race. The only truly good societies throughout history have been isolated and not in a position to subjugate others (Tainos/Arowaks, India Valley Civilization,etc.) and those never really tend to last.

[@erikdahler5227]

Kaneki Is Dead Goku Im Ban Indus Valley*

[@sanjuanagasca4124]

So we're many Ancient Pagan Civiliizations through out Europe ECT. Ancient Rome Gladiator games throwing early Christians , Slaves , Prisioners only to be devoured by Wild Beasts.

[@Flashbatninja]

Well sometimes you just want a new coat

[@rioux03]

Nice video, accurate and I appreciate your pronunciation.

[@rikdemoel9060]

Your pronunciations are on point!

[@timsullivan4566]

"...full of vipers AND poisonous snakes." Good thing it wasn't ALSO a land of venomous serpents!

[@grillodofus]

Actually vipers, snakes and serpents are all diferent animals members of the squamata order>ophidia clade. The codex actualy said that it was a barren and rocky badland filled with poisonous vermins like scorpions and centipedes all of wich the mexica promptly learned to consume.

[@biologicallyyaseen]

@@grillodofus well yes they are different animals but saying vipers AND snakes is redundant because they are all snakes, it's like it was "beetles and insects"

[@grillodofus]

@@biologicallyyaseen Oki

[@marcmartinez4140]

@@grillodofus Lmao that's pretty wild. I could never imagine eating a centipede. Those dues were hardcore

[@mattc9998]

"Upon this cactus was an eagle which they would find devouring a serpent." Me: "Wait a second..." *Rubs chin*

[@crunch9876]

What?

[@dankmemes8304]

crunch9876 The Mexican flag I guess.

[@crunch9876]

Dank Memes oh... yeah they said that in the video lol

[@LEGIONARIO1970]

@@crunch9876 Our national symbol, it's in our flag.

[@ericktellez7632]

After the spanish came, the meaning changed for a while. The spaniards used it to represent God eating the devil after turning into a snake that made Eve ate the fruit. After independence the meaning was changed back to the funding of tenochtitlan

[@Becky_Cal]

Excellent video and I am super impressed by your pronunciation of extremely difficult names! 👏🏼👏🏼 I’m an American of Mexican heritage and have even lived in Mexico City....yet, I still struggle with pronunciation of Nahuatl names.

[@boxmx1246]

American is a continent 🤡🤡🤡

[@RellekEarth]

This is super cool! I do not know much about the Aztecs but the Mayans and Incans are fascinating to me. It's really cool how all three of these empires have similar origin stories: originating people come from segmented caves. The incans even refer to it as a sacred place and supposedly have some people turned to stone guarding the cave. Awesome stuff!

[@dermannemaunz]

Awesome video! It is very nice indeed to see someone that did not buy the "common" depiction of the Aztecs with big penacho headresses and so. Just some corrections: At 2:14 and 4:48 the statue represented on the Ilustration is from Coatlícue ("the one with the snake kilt/dress" that's how you indentify that goddess), the mother of Huitzilopochtli, the one god who is presented as a head insede the beak of a hummingbird in the Boturini Codex (but there are many more). 5:26 The god that was celebrated with skinned sacrifices was Xipe Tótec, not Huitzilopochtli. And with the pronunciation, I do not know exactly how to explain it, but in nahuatl, the "penultimate" syllable is the stressed one (acentuada, in spanish), so is "Itzcóatl", "Tezozómoc", "Ahuízotl", etc. But don't worry, even for mexicans can be a bit difficult to pronunciate. Kudos!

[@Dhariuz_T]

Hey man! Thanks for that last piece of info you wrote at the end. I didn't know that was a rule for Náhuatl I just knew that I had to pronounce them that way. Tlasohkamati no ikniwtli!

[@raimundosouza195]

Thank you for this video.

[@dystopiannoise6782]

I already made so much music about their creation-story. Thanks for the video! Very nice!

[@groverX56]

Tenochtitlan was way more advanced compared to other major cities around the world. It's sewer system alone WAS way beyond its time.. At its peak it was larger than Paris or London. It left the Spaniards amazed there's many accounts where they recall it as the most cleanest city in the world. Great video.. Might want to note that the current city of Mexico is located on the remains of Tenochtitlan.

[@xenotypos]

Why always mentioning London, while the rise of this city is relatively recent (late 16th/17th century), there is nothing to compare. Paris and Naples (and Constantinople) were the largest in Europe. All were recovering from the Black Death (and invasion for Constantinople), especially Paris which exceeded 300k one century before. In 1500, Paris is estimated at + 200k, most estimates say Tenochtitlan was the same. Objectively, the scale was probably similar, and far from cities like Beijing (700k). Though I admit, the real amazing thing was the fact that it was on a lake. Conquistadors accounts are regarded as worthless though.

[@yarixzamendoza6314]

yet they destroyed it and didn't give a fuck and now we can't see its beauty.

[@jty9631]

I would suspect it's similar to early Roman, Greek... maybe Egypt? A lot of it is probably exaggeration but I suspect having lower population counts helps things a bit. Can't help but wonder how many times society has risen and fallen, seeing how similar a story it is across the world, even 2000 years apart.

[@qwerasdf1338]

bro, they were about 3000 years behind asiatic and fertile crescent civilizations. Not to mention they were still sacrificing humans en masse when europe, the middle east, the subcontinent, and the orient were all in the midst of philosophical and scientific revolutions. Advanced? Hardly. More like bloodthirsty savages that were too retarded to get their act together Edit: for perspective, Oxford and Cambridge were both founded 300 years before the Aztecs laid a single brick, the Cathedral of Notre Dame was also already standing

[@MEDVE1978]

I have seen an exhibition about Middle-American medieval culture a couple of years ago. I was amaized: money was invented paralelly in many places. In Asia Minor / Europe this happened (with minted coins) back to 600 BC or earlier. The Song Dinasty in China used paper money in the earlier middle ages. The Middle American natives however begun to use coins just in the 11th or 12th century. With military technology there was no gunpowder, significant armor, or cavalary. If I remember correctly they have not even invented the wheelbarrow. Cultural development in Europe or the Far-East (Science, Arts etc.) was far further. However irrigation may be a good point because Tenochticlan was built on a lake and the Aztec empire had many lakes and water. So there was need for fresh water, sewers and irrigation and they developed these features. Both in other fields they were inferior to the European and Asian powers.

[@khalifa5756]

These videos are way more insightful than whatever I learned in history class at school! :) #aztec #history

[@wehaveasituation]

Great video essay. Thanks.

[@purpleyoda7019]

so informative, love this video

[@nomadichippie1930]

2:14 speaks of huitzilopoctli yet shows the statue of Coulticue, this would make an amazing series tho

[@peskymacaw9033]

2:09 That's not Huitzilopochtli, that's his mother, Coatlicue.

[@LirioXIII]

Chops Aguilar she is the Mother Goddess, she was nurturing as she was cruel

[@itzcoatl1037]

That alone makes you think how credible his sources are. What we know about the native cultures on this continent is very scarce due to the destruction and rewritten history by the invader. To this day we have nahuatl speakers which do not recall half of these stories.

[@gnp1117]

Excellent. I really enjoyed this video

[@alexatwood6904]

This is blowing my mind thank you

[@SlyPearTree]

I thought we barely knew anything about the Aztec's history, thanks for making this video.

[@matthewreyes2401]

Descendant of the Chichimeca people of Zacatecas. The Aztecs gave us that name and considered my people to be excellent archers and warriors. You really got the history right. Love it.

[@thefisherking78]

So good, thanks!

[@Sabelzahnmowe]

Excellent Video. I am surprised how much we know about their history.