Aztec Weapons
Maqauhuitl:
Perhaps the most well known Aztec weapon is the Maqauhuitl. This weapon is sometimes compared to the sword.
This weapon is a powerful,close contact weapon. Like the European sword they came i two types, one of them is one handed and the other is two handed. Made from wood (usually oak), they were about 3-4 inches long and 3-4 inches wide.
The two handed version might be only slightly wider and as tall as a person. Embedded in the edges was obsidian (volcanic rock) or flint.
The weapon was incredibly strong and and the spanish claimed they could chop[ a horses head of in one go. They were sharp and the Aztecs knew how to use them, but they could not thrust like a sword. So they lent themselves to a different type of warfare.
Clubs:
The Maqauhuitl could be used as a club, but other types of clubs were used. The cuauhololli was a mase made of wood with a ball at the end. It could be used to smash and crushed. Lots of other types of clubs were commonly used, sometimes it was just made of wood, other times with embedded stone.
Spears and Lances:
Another common aztec weapon is the spear. They were extremely sharp and sometimes over 7 feet long.
They didn't have small points as many spears would, but a blade thats a foot long made of smaller stone blades.
These weapons were used to pierce the spanish armour, and were sharp enough the warriors could use them to shave.
They are called tepoztopilli. Spears were used in mexico long before the aztec empire.
Atlatls:
The atlatl was a spear throwing device, for longer distance combat. This weapon is a stick with a handle on one end and a hook or socket that engages a light spear or dart on the other. The flipping motion of it propels a light spear much faster and farther than it could be thrown by hand alone
This weapon was used all over the world and it is still used today. The aztec artists often drew the gods with the atlatl in thier hands. Darts were used made from oak, single pointed with obsidian, flint or even copper or bone. The propelled darts tended to be more powerful than arrows.
Bows and arrows:
Bows, known as tlahuitolli, were common as well. The bows were 5 feet long, and the arrows (yaomime) were pointed with flint, bone or obsidian, and kept in a quiver (mixiquipilli). With all the weapons, the aztecs were very skilled in using the bow and arrow. It is believed that the arrows could fly more than 450 feet.
Slings:
Another devastating weapon, the sling was made with fibers from the maguey plant (latin agave americana). The slings (tematlatl) were used to send stones flying towards the enemy. They were thrown so powerfully and accurately, that they could
serious damage to a soldier in full metal armour.
The Aztec warrior did not just pick up stones on the battle field, they would be prepared ahead of time carefully shaped. It is believed that that the stones could be thrown farther than arrows could be shot, perhaps over 650 feet.
WRITTEN BY Teagan And Sam AND HELP FROM AZTEC HISTORY.COM
Perhaps the most well known Aztec weapon is the Maqauhuitl. This weapon is sometimes compared to the sword.
This weapon is a powerful,close contact weapon. Like the European sword they came i two types, one of them is one handed and the other is two handed. Made from wood (usually oak), they were about 3-4 inches long and 3-4 inches wide.
The two handed version might be only slightly wider and as tall as a person. Embedded in the edges was obsidian (volcanic rock) or flint.
The weapon was incredibly strong and and the spanish claimed they could chop[ a horses head of in one go. They were sharp and the Aztecs knew how to use them, but they could not thrust like a sword. So they lent themselves to a different type of warfare.
Clubs:
The Maqauhuitl could be used as a club, but other types of clubs were used. The cuauhololli was a mase made of wood with a ball at the end. It could be used to smash and crushed. Lots of other types of clubs were commonly used, sometimes it was just made of wood, other times with embedded stone.
Spears and Lances:
Another common aztec weapon is the spear. They were extremely sharp and sometimes over 7 feet long.
They didn't have small points as many spears would, but a blade thats a foot long made of smaller stone blades.
These weapons were used to pierce the spanish armour, and were sharp enough the warriors could use them to shave.
They are called tepoztopilli. Spears were used in mexico long before the aztec empire.
Atlatls:
The atlatl was a spear throwing device, for longer distance combat. This weapon is a stick with a handle on one end and a hook or socket that engages a light spear or dart on the other. The flipping motion of it propels a light spear much faster and farther than it could be thrown by hand alone
This weapon was used all over the world and it is still used today. The aztec artists often drew the gods with the atlatl in thier hands. Darts were used made from oak, single pointed with obsidian, flint or even copper or bone. The propelled darts tended to be more powerful than arrows.
Bows and arrows:
Bows, known as tlahuitolli, were common as well. The bows were 5 feet long, and the arrows (yaomime) were pointed with flint, bone or obsidian, and kept in a quiver (mixiquipilli). With all the weapons, the aztecs were very skilled in using the bow and arrow. It is believed that the arrows could fly more than 450 feet.
Slings:
Another devastating weapon, the sling was made with fibers from the maguey plant (latin agave americana). The slings (tematlatl) were used to send stones flying towards the enemy. They were thrown so powerfully and accurately, that they could
serious damage to a soldier in full metal armour.
The Aztec warrior did not just pick up stones on the battle field, they would be prepared ahead of time carefully shaped. It is believed that that the stones could be thrown farther than arrows could be shot, perhaps over 650 feet.
WRITTEN BY Teagan And Sam AND HELP FROM AZTEC HISTORY.COM