Aztec Empire of the Triple Alliance as an Example of the Hegemonic Empire

Abstract

The empire of the Triple Alliance was formed in 1428 as the alliance of three city-states: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan. Until Spanish arrival in 1519, it managed to conquer vast areas of Mesoamerica. At that time, Tenochtitlan was the most important member of the alliance. The empire of the Triple Alliance was an example of the hegemonic empire, which implies that the base of its existence was the perception of strength of the hegemonic leader as the one that was able to enforce its own will. Moreover, there were no military garrisons in the conquered provinces. Provinces conquered by the Triple Alliance were divided into tributary and strategic ones. Tributary provinces gave the tribute in the form of goods. The strategic provinces were responsible for the protection of the borders of the Empire against its enemies. Hegemonic character of the empire of the Triple Alliance was an advantage in Mesoamerica’s reality (i.a. lack of draught animals, not-applying the wheel), but it facilitated its conquest by the conquistadors.