Acolhua
Chalca
Mexica
Tepaneca
Tlalhuica
Tlaxcalteca
Aztec is a name given to a group of seven native tribes which migrated to and settled in central Mesoamerica. It is believed that they originated in the northwest of modern-day Mexico. The last of the seven tribes to arrive, the Mexica, are the ones whose culture and religion is generally meant when people talk about "the Aztecs." The Aztecs didn't call themselves Aztecs, though — Mexica was a more common name used by them.
Aztlan is the "place of whiteness" or "place of heroes," the mythic origin and home of the Aztecs (whose name, Aztec, means "people of Aztlan"). Scholars have been unable to identify any place as definitely being Aztlan, although the Aztecs must have originated someplace before moving to Central Mexico. According to Aztec legend, Aztlan had an island in the middle of a lake, a situation they tried to recreate at their capital of Tencochtitlan.
The Aztec capital was the city of Tencochtitlan, but this city was only founded after the Aztecs were forced here by an angry Totltec tribe. The Aztecs had worked as mercenaries in the region and the Toltecs offered them a virgin bride to create a stronger political alliance; the Aztecs, however, sacrificed her to their gods. The Aztecs probably thought they were doing a good thing, but the Toltecs were incensed and banished them to an island where they created the heart of their empire.
The end of the Aztec empire came in 1521 when Hernan Cortes led a Spanish army against them. In addition to military superiority, Cortes used the Aztec's own religious beliefs against them.
Principal Aztec Gods, Goddesses
Huitzilopochtli, Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, Tlaloc
Aztec Creator Gods, Goddesses
Cipactonal, Oxomoco, Omecihuatl, Ometecuhtil, Ometeotl, Tloque, Nahuaque
Aztec Fertility Gods, Goddesses
Ahuiateotl, Centeotl, Chalchiuhcihuatl, Chicomecoatl, Cihuacoatl, Coatlicue, Ixcuinan, Ilamatecuhtli, Quilaztli, Teteoinnan, Toci, Tonantzin, Xipe Totec, Xochipilli, Xochiquetzal
Aztec Pulque Gods, Goddesses
Tezcatzontecatl, Tepoztecatl, Patecatl, Ometochtli, Mayahuel, Centzontotochtin
Aztec Heaven Gods, Goddesses
Camaztli, Centzonhuitznahuac, Citlaicue, Citalinicue, Coyolxauhqui, Itzpapalotl, Mixcoatl, Tzitzimime, Tonatiuh, Tecuciztecatl, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli
Aztec Underworld Gods, Goddesses
Mictlantecuhtli, Mictecacihuatl, Yohualtecuhtli, Tlaltecuhtli, Teoyaomiqui, Tepeyolohtli, Chalchiuhtecolotl, Chalmecatecuhtli
Aztec Weather Gods, Goddesses
Chalchiuhtlicue, Ehecatl, Huixtocihuatl, Nappatecuhtli, Tepictoton, Tlaloc
Other Aztec Gods, Goddesses
Huehuecoyotl, Huehueteotl, Itztlacoliuhqui-Ixquimilli, Tezcattlipoca, Tlazolteotl, Tonacatecuhtli, Xolotl
