184 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
After throwing off the yoke of their early overlords, 
the Tepanecas, by the subjection of Atzcapotzalco at the 
beginning of the brilliant reign of Itzcouatl, the Aztecs 
of Tenochtitlan entered into a three-cornered league 
with Tezcoco and Tlacopan (Tacuba). This was an 
offensive and defensive alliance with an equal division 
of the spoils of war. Soon the united power of these 
three cities dominated the Valley of Mexico and began 
to be felt across the mountains on every side. Tenoc- 
titlan gradually assumed the commanding position in 
the league, and although Tezcoco continued to bean im- 
portant center the third member was apparently much 
reduced. The great votive stone of ‘Tizoc records some 
of the earlier conquests of the Aztecs. At the arrival of 
Cortez only a few important cities such as Tlascala 
retained their independence. But the crest of power 
had then been passed and it seems pretty certain that 
the remarkable city in the lake would in time have 
suffered the fate of other self-constituted capitals both 
in the Old World and the New. 
Social Organization. Spanish historians often 
liken Tenochtitlan to the seat of an empire and speak of 
the ruler as one who had the power of an absolute mon- 
arch while other and more recent writers have declared 
that the tribal organization of the Aztecs was essenti- 
ally democratic. The truth doubtless lies between 
these extremes. The people were warlike by nature and 
all men, except a few of the priesthood, were soldiers. 
Honors depended largely upon success in war and war- 
riors were arranged in ranks according to their deeds. 
The common warriors formed one rank and next came 
those who had distinguished themselves by definite 
achievements which gave the right to wear certain arti- 
cles of dress or to bear certain titles. The chiefs were 
