The Aztec Empire of the 14th and 15th centuries was one of the most prosperous and powerful Mesoamerican kingdoms of the time. The human community began in the middle of a lake and eventually became the capital of an empire. The Aztecs were composed of multi-ethnic, multi-lingual individuals who lived in a vast area stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf Coast and were home to more than fifteen million people (Schmal). Their ability to succeed and exert powerful dominance in their quest centered on their innate religious beliefs within each person (Meyer 54). These beliefs led them to conquer, expand across regions and build magnificent temples. The Aztecs, or as they called themselves, the Mexica, rose to power in a very short time as they searched for their promised land (Meyer 54). What they were most interested in was finding a place they could call home. Cities, trade, agriculture, religion and societies were very important factors in their ability to survive and build strong foundations for their lives and those of their leaders. After the fall of Teotihuacan, the Mayan civilization was full of life in all its aspects. This group was considered one of the most advanced groups of scientists in ancient America because they proved the system of calendars and writing (Kirkwood 21). The story goes that the ancestors of the Aztecs came from a place in the north called Aztlán, the last of the seven Nahuatlacas (Nahuatl-speaking tribes) to travel across the country and find the promised land. The Aztecs were spiritually ruled by their god Huitzilopochtli, which means “left-handed hummingbird” (Miller 42). When they arrived on an island in the lake, they saw an eagle eating a snake while perched on a thorny cactus, which, in the middle of a paper, carried the empire and enabled further expansion. The Aztec Empire is very different from other Mesoamerican civilizations. Their strong traditions regarding their gods, religion, cultures, laws, and polity allowed them to reach their peak power in 1521. The Aztecs created a wonderfully diverse civilization, including cities, commerce, agriculture , religion and complex societies. As warriors, the Aztecs were capable of taking control of territories and establishing a powerful empire. Aztec priests, through human sacrifice, believed they were able to maintain control over the order of people in their societies and in the universe. All of these things were factors that allowed them to survive, to fight for a better life and a better place to live, and to be united in their dedication to their people, their gods, and their leaders..