This is a selection of attractive pictures for children to colour, based on the powerful and sophisticated civilization of the ancient Aztecs. The Aztecs established a great empire in central Mexico about 600 years ago, before the arrival of the Spanish under Hernan Cortes in 1519. They were a warlike people who exacted tribute from other people, yet they also built great cities and temples, and made beautiful objects of stone, metal, gems and feathers.