For years, we were told they were the Aztecs.
School textbooks repeated it.
Documentaries repeated it too.
Eventually, the entire world came to know them by that name.
But there is one detail that changes the story entirely.
They never called themselves “Aztecs.”
The people who founded Tenochtitlan identified themselves as Mexica.
That was the name they used for themselves as they governed and built one of the most powerful empires in the Americas.
So…
Where did the word “Aztec” come from?
It all began long before the founding of Tenochtitlan.
According to their tradition, their ancestors came from a legendary place called Aztlán, whose name is commonly interpreted as “the place of herons” or “the place of whiteness.”
Because of that mythical origin, they could be referred to as Aztecs, meaning “those who came from Aztlán.”
However, after they arrived in the Valley of Mexico and founded their great city…
Their identity changed.
From that point on, they began calling themselves Mexica.
Perhaps the most remarkable part is that the name of our country also comes from them.
Mexico shares the same linguistic root as Mexica, a name that has endured for centuries and ultimately became the identity of an entire nation.
So…
Why do most people still say “Aztecs” today?
Because centuries later, historians and writers popularized the term as a general way to refer to the peoples associated with Aztlán.
The name became widely known…
And eventually appeared in textbooks, films, and museums around the world.
But if you had asked an inhabitant of Tenochtitlan who they were…
They most likely would have proudly answered:
“I am Mexica.”
🇲🇽 A single word can change the way we understand history. “Aztec” reminds us of a legendary origin, while “Mexica” brings us closer to the actual identity of the people who built Tenochtitlan. Understanding the difference is more than learning an interesting fact—it is about better understanding the roots of the name our country carries today.
💬 Which term did you use more often: “Aztecs” or “Mexica”? After learning this history, do you think both terms should continue to be used, or is it time to give greater prominence to the name by which they identified themselves?
Source: mexicodailypost
