Aztec

Aztec culture and history are primarily known through archaeological evidence found in excavations such as that of Templo Mayor in Mexico City; from Indigenous writings, eyewitness accounts by Spanish conquistadors; and 16th- and 17th-century descriptions of Aztec culture and history written by Spanish clergymen and Aztecs, such as the illustrated, bilingual (Spanish and Nahuatl), Florentine Codex created by Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún with Aztec informants. Important for knowledge of post-conquest Nahuas was the training of indigenous scribes to write alphabetic texts in Nahuatl, mainly for local purposes under Spanish rule. At its height, Aztec culture had rich philosophical, mythological, and religious traditions, as well as remarkable architectural and artistic accomplishments.