According to mythology, the Aztecs migrated to what would later become Mexico from a place named Aztlan.

Despite the fact that the location of Aztlan is unknown, many academics think that in the 13th century, the
Mexica—as the Aztecs called themselves—migrated south to central Mexico.

According to tradition, their patron deity Huitzilopochtli gave the Mexica instructions before they founded
Tenochtitlan. A big eagle devouring a serpent was perched on a cactus where they were to establish their
colony, according to a mythology attributed to Huitzilopochtli. Tenochtitlan was named after this Mesoamerican
town in the Anáhuac area, which was built on a chain of five interconnected lakes. Tenochtitlan's establishment
is dated to 1325 CE by archaeologists.

Tenochtitlan's Mexica people were once part of a group of tiny city-states in the area. They had to submit to and
pay homage to the Tepanec, whose capital city was Azcapotzalco. Two further cities—Texcoco and Tlacopan—
joined forces with the Mexica in 1428. As a result of their formation as the Aztec Triple Alliance, they were
successful in gaining control of the area and extorting tribute from conquered kingdoms.

The agricultural system that provided for the needs of the populace was crucial to Tenochtitlan's ascent to
power. The system included chinampas, which were tiny, artificial islands that were built above the sea. The
monitoring of tributes required record keeping. The Codex Mendoza and the Matricula de tributos are two
pictographic writings that have survived Spanish devastation and document the tributes given to the Aztecs.
Along with religious rituals, the codices included them.

In addition to a 365-day solar calendar, Aztec priests also employed a 260-day ritual calendar for divination.
Bloodletting (the offering of one's own blood) and human sacrifice were both common religious rites among the
Aztecs, and both were performed in their main temple, Templo Mayor, at Tenochtitlan. According to popular
belief, some of the brutality of the Spanish invasion may be attributed to their response to Aztec religious
activities.

In what is now Mexico, the Spanish first landed in 1519 under the leadership of Hernando Cortés, a conqueror.
As evidence that gold was there, the presents from Motecuhzoma, the ruler of the Mexica people, were given.
As soon as he got to Tenochtitlan, Cortés imprisoned Motecuhzoma and tried to govern on his behalf. This
didn't work out, and in June 1520, Cortés left the city.

But the encounters continued after this. From the middle of May 1521 until their capitulation on August 13,
1521, the Aztec city was under siege by Spanish conquistadors. A former Triple Alliance member named
Texcoco helped them. In the battle or after the surrender, most of Tenochtitlan was plundered, burnt, or
destroyed. On top of the ruins, Cortés started to construct the city that is today known as Mexico City, the seat
of a Spanish colony where he served as governor.