Final answer:
The Aztec Empire used local rulers, or tlatoani, who were often nobles, to maintain control over their empire. These rulers collected tribute, which included various goods and human sacrifices, and managed public affairs and religious ceremonies. This system allowed the Aztecs to sustain their elaborate religious practices and ensured a stable structure for controlling the diverse regions within their vast empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Aztec Used Local Rulers to Rule Politically
The Aztec Empire, which flourished in central Mexico, was a highly stratified society with a ruling class of nobles and priests at the top. To manage their vast empire, which encompassed up to 50 city-states, each with its own ruler or tlatoani, the Aztecs employed a tribute system. Local rulers, often from the noble class, maintained their positions but were beholden to the Aztec king. They were responsible for organizing military campaigns, collecting tribute from commoners, and supplying human sacrifices for religious ceremonies that sustained the pantheon of Aztec gods. Tribute could include various goods, such as cloth, food, and luxury items, depending on the specifics of each province. This tribute system acted as a crude economic exchange and helped to keep the empire interconnected and the elite classes in power.
Local rulers were integral to the administration of these city-states (altepetl) and were considered representatives of the gods. They effectively managed internal affairs, settled disputes, and ensured the flow of tribute and sacrificial victims to the imperial capitals. The tlatoani would also oversee public works and religious ceremonies vital to Aztec cosmology, which emphasized human sacrifice to sustain the sun and the universe.
The militaristic nature of the society required the continuous conquest of neighboring states to collect tribute and captives, often fueling resentment and aiding the Spanish conquest later. Yet, through the use of local rulers, the Aztecs could maintain political control over diverse regions while incorporating the wealth and resources of their empire into the capital of Tenochtitlan and other major urban centers.