AZTEC WEAPONS AND ARMOR
The Aztec Empire was a civilization in central Mexico that thrived in the time before the arrival of European explorers during the Age of Exploration. Throughout its history as a civilization the Aztec Empire expanded across much of central Mexico and other surrounding areas, to become the most dominant and powerful people in the region. Tenochtitlan, the main Aztec city (or altepetl), was the center of this vast empire.
Weapons were an important part of the Aztec military. In general, the Aztec military made use of several different types of weapons, including: projectiles and melee. The first projectile weapon was the the ahtlatl which was a weapon that launched darts called tlacochtli. The darts were usually tipped with obsidian, fish bones or copper. Next was the tlahhuītōlli which was an Aztec version of a bow, and was used to launch arrows referred to as yāōmītl. They also used slings, called tēmātlatl, to launch rocks or obsidian flakes.
Aztec Warriors Holding macuahuitl's with obsidian blades from the Florentine Codex.
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As for melee weapons (hand-to-hand combat) the Aztec had several options. First and foremost was a weapon called a macuahuitl, which was a type of wooden club that had very sharp obsidian blades attached to its edges. Obsidian is a volcanic glass that when cut can produce extremely sharp blades. The macuahuitl was the standard weapon among the Aztec warriors. Another weapon of choice was the tepoztopilli which was a type of long spear that had a sharp obsidian blade on the end. Other melee-type weapons included different varieties of clubs, daggers and axes.
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High-ranking warriors were distinguished by their clothing and armor. More specifically, the maxtlatl (loincloth) was worn by all warriors, along with a form of armor called ichcahuipilli. The ichcahuipilli was an outfit made of thick layers of cotton that was worn as a jacket and offered the warrior protection from sharp weapons. Additionally, Aztec warriors were often rewarded for their actions in battle with different types of jewelry made out of shells and glass beads. A high-ranking warrior or one who was born into the noble class might wear addition protection in an outfit called ‘tlahuiztli’. These outfits were decorated more ornately to distinguish the warrior and offered more protection because they covered the arms, legs and torso. The tlahuiztli were generally made out of cotton and leather.
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