Universal Encyclopedia
What was the Toltec Empire?
They ruled central Mexico from Tollan, gave the feathered serpent to Mesoamerican religion, and became the Aztecs’ model of civilization itself.
Last updated: October 2026
The Toltec Empire was a Mesoamerican civilization that dominated central Mexico from about 900 to 1150 CE, ruling from its capital Tollan — the site of Tula, in modern Hidalgo state. The Toltecs became the very model of civilization: the later Aztecs claimed descent from them, and in Nahuatl toltecatl, craftsman, survived as a synonym for artistry itself.