Aztec heritage
Thousands of people in Mexico have Aztec ancestors, and many of them speak a modern form of Nahuatl, the Aztec language. Many Mexican place names, including Acapulco and Mexico, 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.
Excerpt adapted from the "Aztec" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999