Aztec legacy

Aztec legacy

Thousands of people in Mexico have Aztec ancestors, and many of them speak a modern form of Nahuatl. Many Mexican place names, including Acapulco and Mexico itself, come from Nahuatl, as do the English words avocado, chocolate, and tomato. Such Mexican painters as Jose Orozco, Diego Rivera, and David Siqueiros have used Aztec themes in their work. Foods of Aztec origin, including chili, chocolate, and tacos, have become popular in many countries.

Descendants of the Aztec also live in the United States, especially in California and Texas. During the mid-1900's, these Mexican Americans developed a new cultural pride in their Aztec ancestry, which they called the heritage of Aztlan.

Excerpt adapted from the "Aztec" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999