Julian Dorey Podcast #341 - The BRUTAL Rise of Aztec Empire & Lost Ancient Civilizations of South America | Luke Caverns
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Oct 1, 2025 
In this discussion, Luke Caverns, an ancient civilizations historian, delves into the fascinating world of Mesoamerican and South American cultures. He reveals the origins of the Aztecs, their dramatic settlement of Tenochtitlan, and the strategic brilliance of their military organization. Luke explores the influence of Teotihuacan on Aztec imperial methods and recounts how atrocities led to subject peoples siding with Cortés. Additionally, he discusses groundbreaking LIDAR discoveries in the Amazon, the enigma of the Olmec colossal heads, and the fascinating interplay of history and disease.
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Aztecs Came From The North
- The Aztecs migrated from a northern homeland called Aztlan into the Valley of Mexico around 1100–1200 AD and were culturally distinct from earlier inhabitants.
- They arrived to a fertile valley already shaped by earlier civilizations like Teotihuacan and immediately began competing for power.
How Tenochtitlan Rose From A Crappy Island
- The Aztecs began as mercenaries for the city-state Calhuacan and were given a poor island plot in Lake Texcoco to settle.
- They used prophecy and a dynastic marriage to lure Calhuacan's rulers into a trap, slaughter them, and seize control of the city.
Aztec Empire Was Multiethnic And Large
- Within a couple centuries the Aztec political system expanded from the lake to dominate most of central and southern Mexico, absorbing diverse peoples.
- Estimates place their imperial population in the millions, but that count includes many conquered groups rather than only Aztec bloodlines.
