12 Little Known and Quite Surprising Facts About the Aztec People

The Aztec Empire had one of the greatest cultures in America and its influence was so impressive that surprising traces of this people can still be seen today.

O incredible.club collected for you 12 curiosities about one of the best known peoples of America. Ready to travel this road with us? Well then let’s go!

Public schools are a normal feature of any modern nation. But where did that come from? It turns out that the Aztecs were one of the first civilizations to create the idea that all children, regardless of their background, had to be educated by the government.

Central American peoples were the first to cultivate cacao, the main ingredient in chocolate. Although you may like this candy, we don’t know if your fanaticism would reach their degree, because they used their grains as coins, as if they were dollars.

Since we are talking about the Aztec people, there is a small detail that many overlook, and maybe you too! In fact, that was not what they were called in their day. They were known as “mexicas”, from which the name of the country derives. This was popularized by the German researcher Alexander Von Humboldt in the 19th century, long after the collapse of the Mexicas.

Men could practice polygamy. But this practice implied the implementation of different conditions and regulations: the first woman was seen as the “principal wife” and the only one who “counted” for ceremonial matters. The others were seen as “secondary”, although they still had records in official documents.

The “Day of the Dead” tradition is one of the best known to the Mexican people, and has its origins in pre-Hispanic customs about gathering together to remember those who have passed on to a better life. But perhaps the Aztecs took it to the extreme, as it was normal to bury the dead under the house, which may not be to everyone’s liking.

The capital of the empire was the great Tenochtitlán, where the Mexican capital is today. And although it was (and is) surprising, it is even more impressive to discover that it was built on top of a lake. With the help of chinampas (artificial islands for crops), they managed to overcome the challenge of building a metropolis on such a place.

It may come as a great surprise to consider that nearly all of these feats were achieved without a basic invention: the wheel. And it’s not that they didn’t know it, there are toys that prove its existence, but without pack animals like horses or donkeys to take advantage of carts, and in a mountainous and irregular terrain, it never went beyond a simple novelty.

Why is so much known about this people? Because he was one of those who most recorded almost all aspects of his daily life: commerce, culture, religion, art and politics. In that sense, they were one of the most sophisticated civilizations in the West.

According to the values ​​of the Aztec people, women were equated with the best warriors through childbirth, to the point that those who had the misfortune to die in that situation were considered dead on the battlefield. His body was buried in a special way and, according to their beliefs, their souls traveled to the house where the warriors rested. This last dwelling was known as “The House of the Sun”.

The Mexicas took justice very seriously. How much? There was a court of appeals in Texcoco made up of twelve judges to decide some of the more complicated cases that came before its courts. And if you think that maybe with some “pleasing” you could tip the balance on the desired side, think again, because they were subject to the death penalty if such behavior was discovered.

The supernatural vision of this civilization was quite elaborate, to say the least. How about 13 heavens and 9 levels of hell? This was his way of organizing the universe: heaven, earth and the underworld. Undoubtedly, a very complex view of the cosmos.

Tamales are among the most typical foods of modern Mexico. But its history goes back to the time of the Mexicas, who stuffed corn leaves with insects. Production was reserved for seasons when food could be scarce. Modern tamales are made with chicken, beef, pork or cheese, as well as sweet variations.

So what do you think of this data? Did you already know them? Do you know of any that we haven’t mentioned? Tell us in the comments section!