ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Aztec warfare

Okay kiddo, let me tell you all about Aztec warfare!

So back in the ancient times, the Aztecs were an indigenous people who lived in what is now Mexico. They were very tough and brave warriors who loved to fight battles to expand their territory and gain power.

Now, when the Aztecs went to war, they would usually have lots and lots of soldiers- sometimes up to 200,000! That's a lot of people! They would also have tons of weapons and armor, like axes, spears, and swords made from obsidian, which is a really sharp volcanic rock.

When the Aztecs went into battle, they would form these groups called "tepoztli," which were basically military units made up of warriors who were all from the same area or city. Each tepoztli would have their own uniforms and banners to help identify them on the battlefield.

Now, in order for the Aztecs to win a battle, they would use a technique called "shock tactics," which basically means they would run super fast and surprise the enemy by charging at them all at once. This was really scary for the enemy, and often led to them panicking and running away- which the Aztecs loved, because it meant an easy win for them!

But the Aztecs were also really smart warriors. They would use tricks and tactics to get the enemy to fall into traps or lose their confidence, like setting decoys or having their soldiers mimic animal sounds to make the enemy think they were surrounded. They would also sometimes take hostages or prisoners to use as bargaining chips, instead of just killing them on the spot.

Overall, the Aztecs were fierce warriors who knew how to win battles using their strength, bravery, and smarts. Pretty cool, huh?