-When they headed south,they found that all the good farm land was taken, they settled on a swampy island in the middle of Lake Texcoco
-War was critical to the rise to power
-They formed a secret alliance with others on Lake Texcoco
-The made conquered people pay tribute (tax) with gold, cotton, or food
-The Aztec controlled this huge trade network
-Merchants brought goods to Aztec markets, because they traveled, they were used as spies on people in the empire (advanced thinking)
-Controlling trade, war, and taxes made the Aztec rich, by 1500 they ruled most of Mesoamerica.

The Aztecs Build an Empire