Final answer:
The Aztecs were known for their advanced agricultural methods like chinampas, their structured society with distinct social classes, and their impressive architectural and artistic achievements. They also engaged in warfare for sacrificial purposes, and much of their history is known from Spanish records and codices.
Step-by-step explanation:
What the Aztecs Were Known For
The Aztecs are renowned for their innovative agricultural practices, especially the creation of chinampas or artificial islands, which allowed them to cultivate large amounts of land efficiently. They rose to prominence in the 15th century, subjugating neighboring communities and instituting a complex tribute system. Their society was highly structured, with distinct classes of rulers, priests, farmers, and slaves. The Aztecs engaged in so-called 'flowery wars' to capture sacrificial victims for their religious rituals, which were central to their cultural identity.
Moreover, they constructed significant architectural marvels including pyramids and temples dedicated to their numerous deities and developed sophisticated forms of art, sculpture, and hieroglyphic writing. As much of their history was lost or reinterpreted following the Spanish conquest, only a fraction of the Aztec's rich cultural legacy is known today, pieced together from primary documents, codices, and archaeological findings.
Considerable urban populations like that of Tenochtitlán were supported by the Aztecs' efficient agricultural surplus, facilitated by their chinampas system. This same surplus enabled a thriving urban class of artisans and traders who contributed significantly to the Aztec economy. Aztec society was strictly regulated, with laws dictating social behavior and hierarchy, a reflection of their organized and central authoritarian state. The art and architecture of the Aztecs were highly developed and were often used as a means to reinforce the power and religious beliefs of the elite.