Long, long ago, there was a big and powerful group of people called the Aztecs 🌎. They lived in a place called Mexico and built beautiful cities with pyramids! But then, some strangers from far away came with big ships and horses 🐎. These strangers were called the Spanish, and they fought with the Aztecs. The Aztecs got very sick from new germs, and many of them passed away. That's why the Aztecs disappeared.
But don't worry! Some Aztec people are still alive today, and we can learn about their amazing culture! 🌟
The Aztecs were a powerful civilization in Mexico around 600 years ago. They built huge cities like Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) 🌆. But in the 1500s, Spanish explorers, led by Hernán Cortés, arrived. The Spanish wanted gold and land, so they fought the Aztecs.
The Aztecs also faced terrible diseases like smallpox, which the Spanish brought with them. These sicknesses spread quickly because the Aztecs had never been exposed to them before. Many Aztecs died, and their empire fell. However, their culture lives on in modern Mexico!
The Aztec Empire was one of the most advanced civilizations in Mesoamerica, flourishing from the 14th to the 16th century. Their capital, Tenochtitlan, was a marvel of engineering with canals and temples. However, their downfall began in 1519 when Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived.
The Spanish had superior weapons (guns, steel armor) and formed alliances with Aztec enemies. But the biggest factor was disease—smallpox, measles, and other illnesses wiped out up to 90% of the Aztec population. Without enough people to resist, the empire collapsed by 1521.
Despite this, Aztec descendants still preserve traditions like the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) and Nahuatl language.