Originally published: Salariya Book Co., 2004.

According to one popular image, the Aztec army was a ruthless and efficient war machine, that established an empire by convincingly overwhelming its neighbors, sacrificing thousands to bloodthirsty gods along the way. From a contrasting perspective, its native warriors were no match for the modern warring methods of Cortés' greatly outnumbered Spaniards, who decisively defeated them. The reality of the Aztec warrior's ability and effectiveness lies somewhere between those two extremes, as this title makes clear. By examining the experiences of a hypothetical individual, Cuauhtli, this meticulously researched book shows that the history of Aztec warfare is much richer and far more complex than previously understood, and reveals the close relationship between social and military matters in Aztec society.

After the fall of the Aztec Empire on August 13th, 1521, many surviving Mexica withdraw into a secret level of the underworld (Mictlan) to rebuild the culture without interference from the outside world. The god of war, Huitzilopochtli, then grants immortality to five warriors and eight designated intellectuals who are tasked with restoring Aztec culture while creating a harmonious, prosperous and unified planet. Their immortality is preserved by a well-guarded water source known as the “Healing Waters”. Over the next five hundred years, the intellectuals anonymously integrate themselves into various cultures around the world to develop an understanding of technology, cultural development and languages, always returning to the underworld to share the knowledge with their society. Meanwhile, the warriors hone their fighting skills and prepare for their emergence into modern society. On the 500th anniversary of the fall of their empire (August 13th, 2021), the immortals emerge to discover a world that has been crippled by a Lassa virus pandemic. Upon discovering that the virus was created in a lab by a Russian Oligarch named Adrian Volkov, who is also manipulating and selling vaccines to the highest bidder, they decide to negotiate with him to help distribute vaccines to the most devastated countries. When Volkov makes it clear that he has no interest in supporting their cause, the warriors decide that his organization must be destroyed.

The handwritten will of a deceased world-traveler is strange and mysterious. Its cryptic instructions are to deliver “the valuable Aztec warrior to the rightful owner, a descendant of an Aztec warrior.” Frank and Joe Hardy have only one slim clue to work with: the name of a complete stranger who can help. Despite the harassments, the threats, and the attacks made upon them, Frank and Joe unravel clue after clue in their adventure-packed search for the living descendant of the mighty Aztec nation which once ruled in Mexico. It takes as much high courage as clever deduction for the young detectives to defeat their ruthless foes and to decipher the fascinating secrets of the strange and mysterious will.

Introduces readers to Aztec warriors, including their history and famous battles, uniforms and weapons, and training and tactics.

According to one popular image, the Aztec army was a ruthless and efficient war machine, that established an empire by convincingly overwhelming its neighbors, sacrificing thousands to bloodthirsty gods along the way. From a contrasting perspective, its native warriors were no match for the modern warring methods of Cortés' greatly outnumbered Spaniards, who decisively defeated them. The reality of the Aztec warrior's ability and effectiveness lies somewhere between those two extremes, as this title makes clear. By examining the experiences of a hypothetical individual, Cuauhtli, this meticulously researched book shows that the history of Aztec warfare is much richer and far more complex than previously understood, and reveals the close relationship between social and military matters in Aztec society.

Edge super high interest, low reading level books about great warriors in history.