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Basic Aztec facts: AZTEC WEAPONS

Basic Aztec facts: AZTEC WEAPONS

The Mexica (‘Aztecs’) at war

Mexica (‘Aztec’) weapons were simple, but really effective, and were of two basic types: close-up weapons for hand-to-hand fighting, and long-range weapons for attacking from a distance...
(Written by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)

The best known long-range Aztec weapon was the atlatl or dart-thrower (pic 1) with a range of up to 150 metres. It was first used in ancient times in North America as a hunting tool. It simply extends the length of your arm - just as a ball-thrower for a dog does...

Other ‘projectile’ type weapons included the good old bow and arrow, the sling (made of cactus fibre thread) (pic 2) and the throwing lance - a simple wooden dart that could be hurled with the power of the human arm alone.

When it comes to close-range weapons, the Aztec army’s favourite was the maquahuitl, a long wooden staff (pic 3), studded with half a dozen razor-sharp blades made of obsidian (a volcanic glass). Some call it a ‘broadsword’ - you could almost call it a ‘broadSAW’ (the Spanish said it was so sharp it could cut off a horse’s head with one blow!)

Other hand-to-hand weapons included a long thrusting lance, equally studded with obsidian pieces and used to stab the enemy, and an ancient wooden club topped with a blunt ball that could fracture a man’s skull (pic 4).

Remember that, whatever type of battle the Aztecs engaged in, their main objective was to capture enemy warriors (later to be victims of human sacrifice) rather than to kill them. The Spanish, on the other hand, were quite happy just to ‘take out’ as many Aztec soldiers as they could, and they could always identify high-ranking Aztec warriors because of the magnificent costumes they wore.

Learn more about the atlatl...

Comments (22)

A

Aivaeh

25th Apr 2025

This site is super helpful! Thanks to whoever made it.

M

Max Decoursey

3rd Dec 2024

I am currently doing a research project on Aztec weapons, specifically the Axe. Is there any, good sites or information you have on the subject?

M

Mexicolore

We’ve now answered your question with a new entry on the axe, in our ‘Aztec Artefacts’ section...
https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/artefacts/tepoztli-axe

J

Joe Jinto

31st May 2024

I am doing an assesment what is the most recent update to this page

M

Mexicolore

It was written and uploaded originally in October 2012. The only updates are the comments below the article...

a

aya

29th Feb 2024

this cool

D

Dexter

11th Jul 2023

hi, I’m currently doing an assessment and was wondering what the origin of this source was.

M

Mexicolore

If you’re referring to informational sources, we would strongly recommend ‘Aztec Warrior AD1325-1521: Weapons, Armour, Tactics’ by John Pohl (Osprey Military, 2001). Pohl is an eminent world authority on the Aztecs and in particular on military matters.

4th Apr 2022

how did the Aztec make wepones? need to know asap for a project thanks

M

Mexicolore

Take the broadsword as an example: make one good length plank of wood, cut out the spaces for the blades on both sides, fashion fresh blades out of obsidian, set them into the spaces with beeswax and pine resin glue, and Bob’s-your-uncle...

W

Westly

19th Oct 2020

The last time someone wrote a comment in this section was 10/9/19 and you don’t have time to answer my questions, is it that you cant be bothered that or do you just don’t know the answers? It would really help I think this is a great page so please they don’t have to be detailed answers

M

Mexicolore

Erm, did you check our message to you YESTERDAY (see below)!? BTW, we tried emailing you directly, but it bounced back...

W

Westly

18th Oct 2020

wow this is a really great site and some great comments, I am doing an assignment at school and I am wondering if you could I could ask you a few thing I have to find out 1.What type of food they hunted? 2. What where some of the main weapons and what where they made out of 3. How where the Aztecs trained to hunt and at what age? 4. Was it just men who hunted or women to 5. how would they cook their food I would really appreciate it if you could get back to me buy Thursday (I live in Australia) Kind regards Westly

M

Mexicolore

We don’t have time to answer all your questions, but our brand new entry on the Deer (in our ‘Aztec Flora and Fauna’ section) gives good info on hunting - after all, the deer was the most hunted animal in all Mesoamerica. Just men hunted. They say that ‘if it ran, swam or flew, the Aztecs would hunt it...’ Other creatures they hunted included peccary, rabbits, hares, coyotes, armadillos, gophers, iguana lizards, and wild guinea pigs.

a

aztec

18th Oct 2020

Can you please Awnser these question for me please how would the aztecs kill would they kill in groups, would they wait for the aniamls the come close, how did they first learn to hunt, what were the weapons made out of, and at what age?

M

Mexicolore

‘Deer were stalked by hunters who crept up, camouflaged in skins, and shot their arrows from close range. Other men lured the animals within range by means of decoy whistles. Small creatures like rabbits, hares and coyotes were either snared or caught in nets, and larger animals were taken in pitfall traps which were disguised with branches and grass...’ (Warwick Bray - ‘Everyday Life of the Aztecs’)

K

Kinser

10th Sep 2019

What was the most effective weapon of the Aztecs

M

Mexicolore

It must have been the ‘maquahuitl’ - a combination of club and fierce broadsword.

B

Britney Roblero

7th Mar 2018

What were the strategies that the Aztec people use with the weapons?

M

Mexicolore

If you go to the ‘Ask the Experts’ part of our website and click on the answer for April 2009, you’ll find some useful information in answer to your question. Here’s a direct link -
http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/ask-experts/when-the-aztecs-went-to-war-did-they-use-any-special-tactics

r

rylie

28th Nov 2016

hi Méxicolore I was wondering did the Aztecs have military strategy

M

Mexicolore

Try this: http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/ask-experts/when-the-aztecs-went-to-war-did-they-use-any-special-tactics

R

Rylie

25th Nov 2016

hi mexicolore I was just wondering how did the Aztecs forge their weapons

M

Mexicolore

In a hearth: fire was used to harden the tips of wooden lances

r

rylie

25th Nov 2016

why is there no picture of the thrusting lance here’s my email send me a pic rylie.mann@outlook.com

M

Mexicolore

‘Cos we haven’t time or space to add one. Might do one of these days.........

S

Samantha

19th Nov 2016

Are there any other weapons or tools other than these written on this website? ( this is a project i have to do and this questions has to be answered ASAP ) :)

M

Mexicolore

We like to think we’ve covered all the main ones, but yes, there would have been plenty of others of secondary importance: farmers also used the tlaltepoztli, a hoe or spadelike tool with a metal base. Carpenters used plumbs for straightening, evening and polishing edges. Metalworkers used moulds (especially when employing the ‘lost-wax’ technique for making fine pieces of jewellery). Weavers used the backstrap loom (still used today in Mexico). Writers used cactus needles as quills. And so on...!
Hope this helps...

T

Tilly Boe

2nd May 2016

Did the Aztec Warriors use Machetes? (This is a school assignment so HELP ME) Also, Het is right; this site is cool. The teacher made us use this site and I have come to like it. I might research on my FREE TIME!

M

Mexicolore

Not machetes as they had no steel blades in those days. The closest would be the all-powerful maquahuitl (the obsidian-bladed broadsword, in either single-handed or double-handed versions). Nasty!

J

John

25th Apr 2016

Where did the Aztec find the materials that was sufficient enough to use for weapons.

M

Mexicolore

Well you’re only really talking about wood and obsidian. There were plenty of trees around the Basin of Mexico, and obsidian could be mined in areas close to volcanoes (and Mexico has around 40 volcanoes!)

H

Het

15th Apr 2016

This website is really interesting and it has a lot of information

e

ellie

10th Mar 2016

how many battles and or wars did the Aztecs fight in

M

Mexicolore

Dozens of wars and hundreds of battles! For starters, three city-states alone were engaged in 75 years of almost continual warfare against the Aztec-led Empire of the Triple Alliance. Each new emperor - and there were a dozen or so - launched into a series of new campaigns lasting several years against kingdoms and city-states both near and far. By the way, the Aztecs didn’t win every time: to give you one example, in 1480 the Aztec army was badly defeated by the neigbouring Tarascans - no Aztec emperor ever tried to take these fierce warriors on in battle again!

T

Tammy

24th Nov 2014

Mexicolore is a good Aztec and mexican website to use to search up information but It would be GREAT if you could see real pictures of the weapons,clothes and houses up close. I can imagine stuff pretty good but some people cant so they wont really get to know what it looks like if they cant see a REAL picture of it. Im doing a project in my school about the Aztecs and Most of my information is from this website but I have to draw or print my pictures from another website. A Fantastic website would think of anything like Pictures,despcriptions etc but I have to go on Several websites to gather up stuff for a Brilliant project. This website is good but It could use a few more finishing touches here and there. I personally love this website. The teacher even suggested it to all my class and the other 5th Class. Well Done

M

Mexicolore

Thanks for writing, Tammy. Pictures are always a problem, especially if you’re looking for ‘the real thing’, ‘cos they rarely exist! That’s why we have to make do with pictures from codices, artists’ illustrations, photos of models, carvings, etc. Just to give one example, there ARE no actual, original, Aztec weapons like the famous maquahuitl still around!
Note our answer to Katia’s similar question, below...

m

me

5th Feb 2014

I think that the weapons would hurt to get powkd by? :-)D

K

Katia H

3rd Jan 2013

Nice and informative article - the pictures were interesting too. It would be good to see pictures of the actual weapons up close too.

M

Mexicolore

You’re right, Katia. At least we do have some close-up pictures of some of these weapons on other pages, e.g. -
• Homepage - ‘Mexica Weaponry’
• Homepage - ‘The Aztecs and the Atlatl’
• Aztec Artefacts - ‘Maquahuitl’

Basic Aztec facts: AZTEC WEAPONS

The Mexica (‘Aztecs’) at war

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