Why do Mexican Americans relate themselves as having Aztec ancestry?

Question

I have experienced a lot of mexican,chicano,mexican americans(I don't know which is politicaly correct and have no intention on offending anyone) whom have tatoos that display aztec artwork etc. I was wondering why they relate themselves to the Aztecs? The Aztecs were the indigenous people in the americas and migrated south into what is now called Mexico but the original Mexica Pronounced (mee chee ka) were to my knowledge indian (i could be wrong) and i believe that these people were slaughtered by the Spanish (from spain) conquistadors and what is now Mexico is an aquired territory of the country of spain. I am very curious as to the true history of this..Any info that can point me in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. AND for the record i am not a racist in any way and had no intention on offending anyone and if so i sincerely apologize in advance. I am a beginning scholar and want to broaden my horizons and gain knowledge of this as well as many other subjects. Thank

Answer 1

They are descendants of the slaughtered Aztecs.

Answer 2

Like the Arabs in Egypt being all proud about the ancient sites even though Arabs came to that region in the year 4.

In the Bahamas we still celebrate the Arawak's even though they were extinct by the time the slaves got there.

Its a part of their land culture and there may still be Aztec influences in the society.

I do not know the history of South and Central America but I see nothing wrong with Mexicans having pride in their land culture of the mighty Aztecs.

Answer 3

They can't prove that the majority of them Mexico had about 200 tribes when Spanish came now only 62 remain the only real Aztecs are the Nahua people of Mexico 1million and a half speaking the language and keeping thier traditions being discriminated by the white and mixed breed mexicans

Answer 4

Actually, most of them actually do have some Aztec blood in their veins.

It is true that the Spanish slaughtered huge numbers of ancient Aztecs, but they certainly did not eradicate them. Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs is still widely used in country backwaters in Mexico, and is the birth and principal language to more than a million Mexican Indians nowadays.

Answer 5

Mexican people are a combination, a mix, of mainly indigenous blood and Spanish blood, some have more indigenous roots than others. Did you know in Mexico there are still villages where the people do not speak Spanish but their native language? A lot of natives were slaughtered yes, but they did not disappear. The Spaniards basically ruled over them. Why do you think a lot of us are so brown? It is from that indigenous blood.

We also have a lot of pride in our native ancestry, and the Aztecs were a majestic group of people, although blood hungry, but nevertheless, powerful. There is a lot we do not know about the Aztecs, but with all the things they left behind, we do marvel at them, and although not all of us have roots with the Aztec culture - it is nice to think so. ;)

Answer 6

The Aztec empire stretched across most of Mexico when the Spanish arrived. True, they did kill about 90% of them, but those remaining did survive and intermarried with the Spanish. The Spanish culture pretty much wiped out the indigenous culture but not the blood, and it's just a case of people wanting to get in touch with their roots.
They might have originally come from North America but their culture evolved in Mexico.
In Southern Mexico/Guatemala, the natives were Mayan, and if you go down there many of the people still look exactly like the carvings.

Answer 7

it really is a blend. that is like African-American or eastern-American. you're one area one race and one area american, (being american does no longer advise inevitably being a criminal citizen of the U.S. If both mom and father were born in Mexico, then the youngster is Mexican. A peach tree remains a peach tree no matter if its' planted in Texas or in China, top?) with the point to respond to your question, at the same time as someone says they're Mexican-American, it ability they're a blend of both nationalities. One figure is from Mexico and the different figure is American (regularly, the different figure is Mexican-American besides). A slang, better technical time period is chicano. despite the indisputable fact that it in straight forward words APPLIES TO MEXICANS, no longer puerto ricans, brazilians, columbians, etc. purely because they communicate an same language does no longer advise they're an same usa. (Britian isn't referred to as united statesa.....)

Answer 8

Because many of them are decendants of the Aztecs. Simple as that.

Answer 9

Because a long time ago, mexico was home to the aztecs. until you know who took over.....

Answer 10

Because it sounds better than Mexican