Final answer:
The Aztec Empire, a Mesoamerican civilization formed of over 100 ethnic groups, had shared language and religion. It inherited cultural elements from earlier Mesoamerican civilizations like the Olmec and Maya, and Nahuatl, an Aztec language, became widely spoken in Mesoamerica.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mesoamerican civilization that was composed of more than 100 distinct ethnic groups that shared a language and religion was the Aztec Empire. This civilization emerged around the 12th century CE, paving the way for a sophisticated society with its own language, religion, art, and governance.
The Aztecs settled in central Mexico, where they formed a large-scale empire with a population exceeding several million at its peak. They inherited and developed upon diverse cultural elements from earlier Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Olmec and Maya, in the development of their own distinctive Aztec culture.
In terms of language, Nahuatl, spoken by the Aztecs, became the lingua franca of much of Mesoamerica, further demonstrating the extent of their cultural influence. Their religion was polytheistic, comprising numerous gods and goddesses, many of which demanded blood sacrifices. These practices were shared among the various ethnic groups that composed the Empire, creating a shared religious tradition despite their cultural diversity.
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