9. The Aztecs - A Clash of Worlds
WATCH WITH VIDEO: • 9. The Aztecs - A Clas...
Beneath the busy streets of Mexico City, a buried god lies waiting to be discovered...
This episode, we look back at the age of the Aztecs. Learn how this society grew from nothing to create one of the world's largest cities in the middle of a lake. Discover Aztec riddles, poetry and songs, as well as the bloody ritual of the flower wars. And hear the remarkable story of how this thriving empire collapsed all at once, in a matter of days.
Support Fall of Civilizations on Patreon: / fallofcivilizations_po...
Credits:
Sound engineering by Thomas Ntinas
Voice Actors:
Jake Barrett-Mills
Rhy Brignell
Shem Jacobs
Annie Kelly
Lou Millington
Music by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: incompetech.com/
Title theme: Home At Last by John Bartmann. johnbartmann.com/
Just signed up as a 'Patrician' member. I'm a pensioner and can't afford much but wanted to send you this as well as a big thank you for what you do. It's like you're an investigative reporter who goes back in time, then returns to regale us with your tales :) I'm always greatly and deeply impressed by the effort and reseach you put into each project and your narration is exceptional. I've listened to every one. (and hope this doesn't offend you but I almost always play one of the podcasts when I get into bed at night.. I marvel at your story telling and find your voice so soothing. Yours are my favourite bedtime stories. Thanks again!
Thanks my friend, really glad you're enjoying. No I always design these to be easy to listen to when going to sleep!
True! These productions are splendid!
I find myself listening to these when I'm in bed. It's like I'm traveling back to live these stories. Thank you so much for your story telling and showing all sides of it.
You sent 50.00 dollars?
@@trevorpettit1805 yep!… and he’s worth every penny and more :-)
"I need 4000 of your best warriors." "Best I can do is 20 turkeys, take it or leave it."
They can be pretty vicious.
"So I countered by asking for 2000 warriors. He said he could give me 20 turkeys. So I bought 20 turkeys ..."
Its the best i can do im taking all the risks here
@@NRH111 torkey go bock bock
@@venus_envy they're known to attack in gangs also. Vicious.
We just signed our 12 year old son up for remote learning. Your channel will be part of my personal lesson plan for us all to enjoy daily. So enjoyable thank you so much.
Best of luck with his schooling Loretta!
What did your son think of this series?
Wish this had been in schools in my time!
OMG 4 hours straight of AWESOME HISTORICAL STORY TELLING? SCORE!!!!
No replies?
No replies?
No replies?
Norry pies?
Not pliers
I was surprised when it finished and saw it passed more than 4 hours, it felt like 30 minutes. It was so enjoyable, I wish history at school was this interesting. The best history channel on KZhead for me.
Thank you Domitry, very kind!
I'm obsessed with these podcasts. The execution is perfect! So well done with the subtle background. Balanced between facts and feeling. You have the perfect voice for this. Please keep going!
Thank you Sonya, that's very kind of you! So glad you've been enjoying.
Yes. It's a great formula. Not over-produced for sensationalism. Perfect balance. Please continue. Well done!
@@FallofCivilizations I'm all through your podcasts. You're my new favorite. Have you considered one for monarchies or their ultimate demise and end of rule? I'm looking forward to new ones! You rock!
I heartily agree! AMAZING. The perfect blend of everything.
Sonya Fedoruk......... AMEN
I have found this channel during lockdown and it has literally saved my sanity :) I feel so relaxed and educated thank you Sir
Thank you, so glad you think so!
Fall of Civilizations I’m on quarantine in the army and ur podcast saved me
Same!
I'm an essential worker and you still saved my sanity during these times. These podcasts are excellently done. Thank you.
@@michaelcomisse9478 they got us all doing the minimum amount of work and training possible its not as bad in korea as it is in the United States tho i got lucky being over here when i am
No loud music in the background makes this listen a must!
Yeah you got to find something to listen to when I'm trying to go to sleep I love ancient history it relaxes me and puts me to sleep
Doesn't it annoy you that you never hear the end?
@@ian_b just start half way through the next time
@@ryanvansurksum6119 lol that's what ii do I sometimes wakeup and can usually remember wher I fell asleep to and drift back off an hour doc can take 2 nights to finish this is a potential 4 nighter lol typedat 1 in the morning 😴😴😉
Funny.
I do the exact same thing!
I haven't seen anything on KZhead so masterly made. I beg you to produce more material of this quality, dedicated to other subject matters..
Thank you, I certainly will!
@@FallofCivilizations We second that. Your material and delivery are primo and we love the looooongform format Great work.
Teacher Man...... couldn’t have been said better !!! And as this man said please please please produce more !!!
I have learned so much from this. I bore my friends with my knowledge of Cortes and Moctezuma now!
This series is an absolute masterpiece.
💥💯👍🎯
These podcasts are better than any documentaries I’ve ever seen, BBC, NATGEO etc. I’m a documentary freak. So glad for these, especially now!
As a historian, I love the work you are doing. This is a fantastic series. I am very impressed.
FANTASTIC episode! I am blown away by all the incredible detail you put into this, especially that you had a Nahuatl speaker reading the Florentine codex. Hats off to you, sir!
Thank you! Really glad you thought so.
Moctezuma is one of the most tragic figures in history. This is a beautifully told narrative and reveals parts of Cortez's character and motivations that haven't been discussed in other productions. The final battle for Tenochtitlan is epic, easily matching any of the great battles of European and Middle Eastern history. Well done!
i never knew how brutal the fighting was in the city to the point of mostly destroying it. Sounds like berlin or stalingrad but 400 years earlier!
Tragic why?He committed HUMAN SACRIFICE!!Are you a ditz??
George Bethos at the end of the day that’s just what he thought was right, what was deigned by his gods. It’s the same with today, only we developed a society that, either by design or coincidence, never found human sacrifice to be all that necessary or efficient (to which, subjectively I think you and I are in agreement).
@@cloin6 Thank you very much. You've explained it much better than I attempted.
@@georgebethos7890 You're pretty rude with your comment. I was making a simple observation and you decided to insult. Do you do this everywhere? It is very sad if you do. But, peace anyway!
My daughter of 9 often critisises me of keeping my feelings bottled up. She came in as i was listening to this podcast and asked me what's wrong- i had tears in my eyes. I usually tell her all, in details, I don't shelter her too much from the sadness in the world. I couldn't tell her now what i felt for the Aztecs, how i suddenly missed them even without ever really knowing them, and that what i miss the most is the chance of ever knowing them. How do you explain to a child that man is so often so cruel that he is capable of destroying a whole nation? How does this story come to repeat itself so many times in our history? Thank you for this channel and especially this episode!
I felt the same way. It is so sad that such a beautiful city like tenochtitlan is all but ruins
Human nature, simple as. whatcha gonna do
Their brutal repression of their neighbors would have caught up with them eventually. These were stone age civilizations
@@sureokk So what was the excuse for an "iron age" civilization's ruthless oppression of them? Get your social darwinist theory out of here
@@zachshine6170 lol go ahead and cry over the culture that ripped out beating hearts if you want to.
The piano intro that you use on all of these seems to compress me with the weight of the humanity that I am about to experience from the great depths of the history you are sharing with us. Thank you. Unlike anything else.
This story was mind-blowingly dramatic. I had no idea history could be this interesting. Amazing execution!
💯👍
Sometimes you find a treasure on KZhead and yesterday I found this series man what a lucky day :)
exactly
I agree.
So true. My life is enriched and I am proud of these creative people who labor to bring us this joy.
Well, that was an A* Class Production!!! Forget the BBC and well funded documentaries this is exceptional . I thank you so much for the hours of listening pleasure that I am going to get from listening to your brilliant history podcast. Thanx!
Thank you Elaine, very kind of you! Glad you've been enjoying.
I agree. Beats BBC hands down
You have brought Tenochtitlan back to life, for a while, perhaps more vividly than in any other of your podcasts I have listend to so far. I really appreciate the poetry you include, I didn't know any survived, and it makes me especially sad. I sincerely hope that there is a special place in hell reserved for Cortez...
I agree, though honestly Cortez didn't do anything many other peoples hadn't done many, many times before (and since). He just did it with a remarkably small contingent of forces. Probably one of the leading "beat the odds" stories in all of history.
Outstanding historical documentary style podcast, this latest 4 plus hour story convinced me to subscribe, love it, and appreciate work that goes into such an professionally done series, thank you !
Thanks so much Scott! Really glad you enjoyed
Fall of Civilizations and Dan Carlin are the two real masters of the lengthy KZhead historical podcast... yet you both masters of your own style. Thank you for all your hard work!
Thank you James, very kind of you!
Dan his just more bombastic The fall of civilization is just assuage . Well done
Your channel is a lifesaver during lockdown! Engaging content, perfect execution, and the best history lessons I've ever had. Thank you!
Well I was just going to listen to this to fall asleep too. I listened to your podcast on the Greenland Norse civilization which is a great podcast by the way. But now I can’t get enough. Great story telling, I can visualize the entire narrative start to finish. Keep up the incredible work man!
After having finished this masterpiece of a video the one thing i came away from this video with is that truly no one was innocent.
Welcome to mankind
@@feastguy101 Mankind indeed.
@@venus_envyYeah. Each one of us truly lives in a society.
There probably isn't enough information to go on, but I'd love to hear something about the North American Mound Builders.
That would be great but it is a little mysterious some think it might have been the little ice age that caused their decline
All four and a quarter hours were absolutely worth my full attention. A casual listen would miss so much detail, and even that detail feels like just a summary of the most important parts. Like a well-written book, no part of this episode should be skipped, or your attention diverted, as you may miss a crucial part of the narrative. What a masterpiece.
The bit about dinosaurs surprised me a bit. I'm already imagining the next one. "To understand the Harappan civilization, we must first begin with the Big Bang."
Haha that's what you call "big history" 😬
Yeah it was pretty awesome
The big bang is nothing but theory! Think tank lies! read my post!
@@LisaSmyth68 Okay boomer.
This is an absolutely terrific series. You really bring history to life.
Thank you, very kind of you!
This was the first time I learned of the co-existence and enmity between the Aztecs and the Maya. A whole new perspective on Mexican history. Thank you Paul Cooper.
You have no idea how you made my work much more bearable. Listening to you while working from home has been a blessing. Getting work done and learning history at the same time rocks.
Glad I could help!
Yay!! My bed time story has just arrived! Thank you 🙏🏼
lol, I also fancy falling asleep to the sound of crumbling civilizations :D
Do we all put this on to fall asleep to!? Lol. His voice is soothing for some reason. Must be the accent
Yes, very relaxing!
@@SiemaZiomek Yes, this is the way I use these, too !
I found my tribe! Lol
As a student (ex) of Latin American history all of this was very familiar to me but I have to say never have I heard it retold in such a compelling and erudite way, enhorabuena Paul, great depth and detail and a great story of history brought to life, Hugh Thomas, Miguel Leon Portilla and others would be smiling down on you for such homage to Mexican history.
Simply amazing Paul, you some how manage to excel yourself every time a new episode is released. I was particularly struck by how you linked back the coming of the Spanish ships to that of the end of the dinosaurs 60 million years earlier.
As a book reader, i trully appreciate your naration--as if I am being told a story in the mode of written english, as in--descriptive and structured.
The only civilization where drinking was a capital offense, but taking psychadelics was an important part of your job.
Just sounds like silicon valley to me
If I were ruler of planet Earth all sitting in my Parliament would drink Magic Mushroom soup once a year.
I wish he would get educated that humans did not exterminate the mammoths. Thats a myth created by white supremacist scientists who hate ancient Black American history.
Drinkin makes ya crazy
@@kayfrenly5460 What
Just wonderful and dramaric! Violence and destruction to a tremendous extent.... and still poeticly told.... thanks so much!
Superb. You know how to tell a story and build suspense, all while including the most interesting observations -- like the comparison of New and Old World technologies. This history podcast is head and shoulders above other sites that are more 'data dumps' that turn history into a list of kings and battles. A big thumbs up here!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the kind words.
4 hours! I'm feeling spoiled!
Thank you for your diligence in including native speakers where you can, and always treating your historical subjects and their cultures with the utmost respect. Your amazing works got us through some very dark days.
Probably the best piece of media on this subject, or at least a tie with Daniele Bolelli's "People Of The Sun," but other than that there is no podcast or documentary series by any major producer that even touches this level of depth and quality, awesome channel.
Yeah literally. It's amazing how it's independently produced.
26 minutes into the podcast: Our Story begins... Hehe
When I saw this I was "4 hrs?!!" On my third hr and its so compelling. How you bring these people to life is unmatched. We were taught history as just dates and events but this brings the human elements in to history, that those events where made by people and also how those events affected people.
This is absolutely one of the most comprehensive and knowledgeable telling of Mexica history. Amazing. Thank you.
Probably the best summary of Aztec history I have ever heard / seen / read, thank you very much, fascinating.
Yay! I’m so excited for a new one! Just found your channel a few days ago and been binging and re-binging! Thank you!
Thank you! Really hope you enjoy.
This is absolutely superb. Thoroughly researched, brilliantly contextualized, and wonderfully narrated. Imaginative - insofar as it's interested in the thoughts and feelings of the protagonists - but also grounded in documentary sources and archaeological evidence. Really quality stuff, looking forward to exploring more in this series.
Thank you, very kind of you!
When I forget my headphone adapter and can't listen on my phone, I'm ever so grateful for podcasters like you who upload on KZhead. Thanks for being amazing!
My pleasure!
I started listening to these just to have noise in the background while I work from home, I "listened" to several of these before actually paid attention. Now I love them. So well done and interesting 💯 I truly appreciate your work and look forward to your future projects
I am listening to these every night. This is my go to sleep go to thingy 😂 Really well done and highly enjoyable as well as informative. Well done sir
What an amazing story. This is one of the best podcasts I've ever heard.
Based on the trend of your ever-lengthening episodes, I'm looking forward to 16 hours of Episode 10. Seriously though, this is an excellent podcast. Don't normally like listening to podcasts and I binged 5 of these in a day.
Haha 😂 this one nearly killed me to be honest, so the next couple will probably be closer to the 2 hour mark. But I do have a plan for a 3-parter... Thanks for the kind words!
@@FallofCivilizations Yes, please! A multi-part episode would be excellent, as well as probably taking a bit of the strain off of you.
After having listened to all of these in this series multiple times I have to say that this is my absolute favorite. From the drawn out beginning, to finally settling into the main characters and narratives, into the conclusion it is a wonderful story. I look forward to more content such as this. Runners up for me would be Sumeria and Byzantium. Granted they are all wonderful and and I eagerly look forward to any and all future content.
Byzantium is a key episode!
I don't understand how you have any downvotes. Making my way through your channel and all of it is fantastic!!! Thank you for taking the time to produce these wonderful videos. Love ALL of your content.
Thank you, very kind!
I've listened to all 4 hours of this with fascination. Most channels interpretation on history is mostly a summing up of battles. You have managed to give these events a human face. Well done.
I do appreciate your beautiful presentations with language, music and the great quality of your voice. I especially liked the Bronze age collapse and Sumerian history. Learn a lot. Thank you
Thank you! Really glad you're enjoying.
This playlist has made you my favorite history channel. I hope you never stop making videos. Exceptional quality. Absolutely fantastic.
Thank you. I listen to documentaries in order to fall asleep. Usually I get so interested I watch and do not sleep. With this being a podcast I have to put the phone aside and only listen. Again, thank you for the listen, the soothing narration and wonderful subjects.
These events really make me sad. The Mexica capital is a place I really wish I could've seen today, and I hate all that Cortez did. I definitely don't condone what the Mexica people did to their war prisoners, but their society intrigues me none the less. It's probably one of the greatest ancient wonders of the world that we will never get to see in it's glory as the Pyramids of the Egyptians, or the great structures of the Sumerians.
This podcast in particular was amazing. I was hanging on every word for 4 hours *as the Florentine codex describes*
Utterly brilliant. Four hours flew by. Gripped from start to finish.
Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed
Just a 46 year old, hard working, Dad, husband and history lover, from NH USA. Found your channel and can't get enough. Plan to donate very soon. Thank you SO MUCH!!!
I have read numerous books about Cortez, still I heard many interesting details for the first time in this episode. Very good job on the research!
Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words.
@@FallofCivilizations I know a different version of the story about the encounter with geronimo de aguilar, it went more like this: The fleet of Cortez had anchored at Isla de Mujeres and there he first heart of some natives about two Spaniards who had stranded closeby and lived with the mayas (the only two survivors of eight who got schipwrecked, the others were sacrificed). native messengers were sent to Yucatan to search for them but they took too long for the fleet to wait. when geronimo de aguilar arrived at isla de mujeres the fleet had carried on the voyage to Mexico and everyone was gone. however, fortunally for him, part of the fleet briefly had to return to the anchor point for some reason i dont remember, eventually met aguilar, picked him up and joined up cortez later further west, where cortez started to make use of him as his translator and advisor. tbh to me it seems rather unlikely that geronimo de aguilar was paddeling alone in a canoe meeting Cortez by conicidence, like described in this episode. i wonder what source this is coming from.
This channel deserves millions of subscribers.
You’ve put out some amazing work in the past, but THIS is the best yet! The comparison of the Spanish to the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs was genius! Especially since you used a pterodactyl that was named after an Aztec god. Truly amazing stuff!
Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for the kind words.
The last hour of the podcast really made my heart sink. From the melting of ornate gold into bars, to the final surrender and demolition of a city and it's culture. All for one man's fame, pride and hopes of addoration, which he ultimately didn't get. Absolutely heart breaking stuff.
They had it coming
@@feastguy101 typical EU supporter.
@@feastguy101 How??? They had genocide coming to them? Okay, monster. Like you said, welcome to MANkind. Or I suppose, welcome to European mankind. No moral compass whatsoever. And false superiority. Pathetic.
@@feastguy101 Cringe L take.
@@Theodorivs right, because sacrificing thousands of people and running the streets red with blood is soo culturally enriching
This is the best thing I've ever found on KZhead. Every podcast is incredible its other worldly the way the story is told. I've listened to them all numerous times and they are all outstanding. Can't wait for the next one
This podcast is so well made! I see great things for you in the future and i will be backing you on patreon, content of this quality deserves our full support!
Magnificent, compelling, throughly, researched. I've seen and heard quite a few documentaries on this subject but this is far and away the best! Thank you sir.
I love everything about this series. Chock full of wonderful insights and surprising facts. I especially enjoy the geographic scene setting at the start of each podcast.
The only podcast I listen to right now! Love it!
Just wanna drop in and thank you for the incredible work you do. I listen to your stuff when I do hobby work in a forest nearby.
Epic telling of this pivotal part of history. I cannot thank you enough.
Have listened to this twice now in under a week - absolutely mesmerising.
I have fallen inlove with this podcast. I listen to it when im at work and as im sitting on my porch. It def made work 10x more enjoyable. Looking forward to more episodes.
Thank you, that's so lovely to hear! Glad you've been enjoying.
I think I felt the deepest grief about this episode. I have been to the ruins of many of the destroyed Aztec cities. I had no idea how hard the peoples of Mexico struggled against the Spaniards
Ben Daulton those who helped eventually found their cities being destroyed, religion being criminalized and language being erased
I really haven't found anything else of such great quality history- wise on You Tube. This one especially was a real treat! Thankyou!!
Another episode that brought a tear to my eye. The Easter island one is incredibly fascinating and sad as well. Absolutely beautiful art
You really blessing us. Merry Christmas mr fallofcivs
This was absolutely fantastic, from start to finish. Was doing a night shift yesterday and this got me through it. You have a talent for story telling and conveying dense information in a very interesting and captivating manner.I also loved that this is 4 hours long. I didn't once feel like you were putting in filler or repeating things. Thank you for doing this and you've gained a new subscriber.
The best History series EVER ! Thanks
4 hours? You know if you spoil us like this we won't grow up right.
Haha 😂
ahahahh so true!
Oh man. This channel is awesome
Thanks for this! As a Mexican I really like How well explained is everything and How you covered up very important points. Thanks 🙏🏼
4 and a quarter hours. Damn, you're hardcore. I love it.
This was wonderful. Thankyou very much for your work. I've been following these podcasts with great interest.
Bravo, bravo!! I have just finished listening to your podcasts, and this one was an epic. Excellent work. Your storytelling paints vivid pictures, and you bring life to these characters from history. Right, I am off back to the beginning, to listen to all these again!!
Brilliant. I am just speechless of how good your work is. Thank you for the work you put into making the podcast.
I've recently discovered this gem and have listened to all of the podcasts and watched all of the newest videos. It's absolutely fantastic! I say this having watched a ton of youtube videos. Outstanding work, Sir!
Your podcasts remind me of sitting in front of my form tutor, at 5 years old, listening to greek and roman mythology. FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE, UTMOST RESPECT TO YOUR PRODUCTION....
Another moving masterpiece. This podcast and your associated videos are solidly establishing themselves as my favorite historical youtube channel.
I appreciate the depth and detail you've put into this episode.
Ever since this quarantine I’ve been watching noting but these and other historical podcasts. Please keep feeding my brain with awesome knowledge. History rules!
These podcasts are so great. Thank you so much.
I can listen to your podcast every day and never get tired. I love how you integrate the geography and the geology of the region while setting the stage for human history. I have recommended your podcast to all my friends and students!!!
Thanks for spreading the word!
I am addicted to this channel , my god!
Yes, it is lengthy, but well worth the time listening to it ! Thank-you for helping me continue to fuel my passions, for this kind of history !
Thanks Joy, really kind of you! Glad you enjoyed.
Having listened to the whole episode in left speechless... the people... so distant in time and space. Yet so similar. The poem at the end.... what a treat!!!!
Definitely my fav! So well done, well researched, well talked through. I Raise my glass to you Mr Coope,. Cheers!