Who was there before new Spain?

Before the arrival of the Spanish in what is now Mexico, the region was inhabited by various indigenous cultures, including the Maya, the Aztec, and the Zapotec. These civilizations had complex social, political, and religious systems, and built impressive cities and monuments. The Aztec Empire was the dominant power in central Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest, and their capital, Tenochtitlan, was located on the site of present-day Mexico City.