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History tells us that the Aztecs were pre-Colombian Indians of Central Mexico. They were a great warrior tribe whose empire included the conquered TOLTECs. The empire included three great cities, TENOCHTITLAN (now Mexico City), TLACOPAN, and TEXCOCO. The Aztecs were great artisans of gold, silver, copper, and pottery. They also built great lavish temples to promote their religious beliefs. There religious beliefs were the foundation of their political and social structure. Thousands of human victims were sacrificed, mostly enemies and war prisoners of conquered cities. Many tried to fight the Aztecs with little success until the arrival of Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes in 1519

. Montezuma II was the last Aztec emperor. Montezuma thought Cortes was one of their gods QUETZALCOATL (Aztec god of learning) and welcomed him. Cortes captured Montezuma. Cortes and his men were driven away in a revolt by the Aztecs. Montezuma was killed in the revolt. Cortes returned in 1521 with more men and finally conquered the capital. However it was not the Spaniards fighting skills that defeated the Aztecs, Cortes had brought the small pox virus (unknowingly) to the Aztec people. The virus quickly ended the Aztec empire.

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