An Overview - the Aztec Timeline This Aztec timeline includes the generally agreed upon dates of major events

in the empire. For various reasons, experts dispute some dates, but this will give you an idea of the flow of events in the history of the empire, up until its fa ll. Foundation Of The Empire 6th century First Nahuatl speaking peoples begin to settle in Mexico 1110 The Mexica travel from their northern homeland of Aztlan. These early d ates, and the existence and location of Aztlan are hotly debated. 1110-1248 The Mexica roam the area which is now Mexico, trying to find a l ocation in which to settle 1248 Mexica settle near Lake Texcoco, in Chapultepec, though they are soon ex pelled by the Tepanecs 1299 Mexica settle in Tizapan, by permission of the Culhuacan ruler Cocoxtli. 1325 Tenochtitln is settled by the Mexica Building an Empire 1350 Building of causeways with canals 1370 Death of Tenoch, religious ruler of the Mexica 1376-1395 The first king* of Tenochtitln, Acamapichitli, rules 1390 Original construction of Templo Mayor beings in Tenochtitln 1395-1417 The second king of Tenochtitln, Huitzilihuitzli, rules. An allia nce with the Tepaneca is created. 1417-1427 The third king, Chimalpopoca, has his relatively short reign. H e is assasinated by the Tepaneca. 1427-1430 War with the Tepaneca. Up to this point the Tepaneca had been d ominant in central Mexico, ruling from Azcapotzalco and taking tribute from the Mexica. 1430 Azcapotzalco conquered 1431 Establishment of the Triple Alliance between the Mexica, the Acolhua in the city Texcoco and the Tepaneca of Tlacopan. These cities became the foundati on of the empire. 1427-1440 Tenochtitln's fourth king, Itzcoatl, reigns 1452 Tenochtitln severely damaged by flooding 1452-1454 Famine in Tenochtitln Height of the Empire 1440-1469 Reign of the fifth king, Moctezuma I, who is also referred to as Montezuma I 1469-1481 Tenochtitln's sixth king, Azayactl, reigns 1481-1486 Reign of Tizoc, the seventh king of Tenochtitln 1486-1502 Rule of Ahuitzotl, eighth king of the city 1487 Dedication of Great Temple (Templo Mayor) at Tenochtitln. This was the 6 th version of the temple. 1492 (Christopher Columbus's landing at Santa Domingo) 1502-1520 Reign of Moctezuma II, or Montezuma II, most famous of the Aztec kings and ninth king of Tenochtitln 1510 Severe floods in Tenochtitln The Fall of the Empire 1517 The appearance of a comet, believed to signify impending doom 1519 4 March Landing of Hernan Cortes on the Yucatan penninsula 1519 8 Nov Cortes arrives in Tenochtitln 1520 Cortes allies with Tlaxcala, enemies of the Aztec, assault on the empire begins. On the 1st of July, the Spanish forces were driven back. The Spanish and their native allies suffered heavy losses. (This is known as la Noche Trist

e - The Sad Night) 1520 Rule of Cuitahuac, tenth king of Tenochtitln 1520 Cuitahuac dies from the first smallpox epidemic to hit the empire. Rule of Cuauhetemoc, eleventh and last king of the city. 1521 13 Aug Fall of Tenochtitln. Cuauhetemoc surrenders to Cortes, destruction of th e city 1522 Rebuilding of the city by the Spanish as Mexico City, capital of New Spa in 1525 Cuauhetemoc is hung by the Spaniards