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Unreliable allies also posed a threat to Tenochtitlan, as could be expected in a political system that did not institute structural changes among its tributaries and allies. But the Aztecs could exercise some control over their allies; when they went to war, they took their allied armies with themprimarily for military support, but also to remove them as threats in the basin of Mexico while the Aztec counterforce was absent. But the Aztecs could exercise no such control over enemies: these had to be endured or eliminated. |
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Nevertheless, Chalco was not conquered immediately, perhaps because it proved to be such a formidable opponent. But the continued state of intermittent war effectively isolated it in the southeastern corner of the basin and reduced its inhibiting effect on further Aztec expansion. |
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Having dominated virtually all of the southern, eastern, and western portions of the basin of Mexico, the Aztecs next sought to eliminate residual resistance from unconquered cities in the old Tepanec domains.
48 The resulting campaign was relatively easy: the Aztecs expanded into the north, conquering Tenanyocan (Tenayuca), Tepanohuayan, Toltitlan, Cuauhtitlan, and Xaltocan, possibly in 1434.49 Cuauhximalpan, Tolocan, Xiquipilco, Xocotitlan, Matlatzinco (the area, not the town), and Chiapan were also conquered50 (see map 5). Tollan, Ecatepec, Teocalhueyacan, Cuauhhuacan, Huitzitzilapan, and Tecpan submitted as well,51 probably as a result of the Aztecs' demonstration of power in the region rather than through physical conquest.52 |
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This campaign marked a significant expansion in Aztec strategic and logistical capabilities. Within the basin of Mexico, canoe transport allowed the Aztecs to mount campaigns with the tactical and logistical advantages of easy and swift troop movement and cheap resupply. But overland the army's tactical area was limited, and its operations required much more time because of the slower land movements and more difficult resupply. Still, extended campaigns |
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