-when headed South, found good farm was taken, settled on swampy island, middle of Lake Texcoc
-war critical to rise of power
-formed secret alliance with others in Texcoc
-conquered people paid tribute(tax):gold,cotton,food
-Aztec controlled trade network
-merchants brought goods markets,traveled used as spies on people(advance thinking)
-controlling trade and taxes made Aztec rich, 1500 ruled most of Mesoamerica

THE AZTEC BUILD AN EMPIRE