Aztecs facts

Bitter water. The earliest evidence of chocolate use traces to the Olmecs (Mexico), with evidence of chocolate beverages dating back to 1900 BCE. In fact, the majority of Mesoamerican people made chocolate beverages, including the Maya and Aztecs, who made it into a beverage known as xocolātl, an Aztec word meaning "bitter water".

Mexico. Although the main pyramid at Tula isn’t huge, it is beautifully decorated and extremely well made. Sitting atop of the structure are 4 carved figures, thought to be ancient Toltec warriors.The sophistication and skill needed to create such works is large, with the 4-meter figures carved from solid basalt. This Mexican ruin was once the capital of the Toltec empire and has many references to the quasi-mythical God Quetzalcoatl.

Tenochtitlan. The capital of Mexico, Mexico City, is built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

Aztecs. Moctezuma II, also spelled Montezuma, was the ninth tlatoani or ruler of Tenochtitlán, reigning from 1502 to 1520. The first contact between indigenous civilizations of Mesoamerica and Europeans took place during his reign, and he was killed during the initial stages of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, when conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men fought to escape from the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan.