The culture of the Aztecs was one of many surprising discoveries. Archaeologists have found many interesting tools, ruins, and codices left in Mexico City. The Aztecs were a powerful tribe. They called themselves Mexicas and spoke the Nahuatl language. Because they came from a land called Aztlan, people called them Aztecs. Since the Aztecs were very rich, the Spanish wanted to take control of their territory by destroying their empire. The Aztecs migrated to the Valley of Mexico in the 1200s from northern Mexico, a place called Aztlan. According to their beliefs, their god Huitzilopochtli would give them a sign on where to found their city. The sign was an eagle atop a cactus with a snake in its beak. They saw the sign in Lake Texcoco, Mexico around 1325 AD and this is where the Aztecs settled. Lake Texcoco is where present-day Mexico City is located. Although it was difficult for them to settle near a lake, they built a large city. Because they were very sophisticated, other groups such as the Tapaneca and the Acolhuaca wanted to ally themselves with them. Among the newly formed allies, they created the great city of Tenochtitlan. The life of the Aztecs included interesting sports that not only served to entertain, but to determine their destiny. For example, one day a ruler of Texcoco said that the Aztec empire was about to end. Montezuma, ruler of the Aztecs, was very disappointed. He offered him to play a game called tlachtli to let the gods decide their fate, but Montezuma lost the game. Some believe this was a sign that the end of the Aztecs was near. The Aztecs had several games such as: patolli (gambling) similar to backgammon, ball game (tlachtli), totoloque which is played with small golden balls. They also used hunting and fishing as entertainment. They usually prayed before starting a game, so they