altepetl

(noun)

Small, mostly independent city-states that often paid tribute to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

Related Terms

Examples of altepetl in the following topics:

  • The Aztec People

    • Although the form of government is often referred to as an empire, in fact most areas within the empire were organized as city-states, known as "altepetl" in Nahuatl.