The Aztecs Build and Empire

When they headed south, they found that all the good farm land was taken, the settled on a swampy island in the meddle of Lake Texcoco
War was critical to the rise to power
They formed a secret alliance with others on Lake Texcoco
They 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 spices on people in the empire
Controlling trade, war, and taxes made the aztec rich, by 1500 they ruled most of Mesoamerica