This empire had a class of official merchant-spies who traded expensive bird feathers, and warriors of this empire who took four captives alive could then use the lodge of the "Eagle Knights," as described in the Florentine Codex. This empire took in captives through non-conquering "flower wars." The Noche Triste was a massacre in its capital city, which contained "floating gardens" and canals in 
This empire had a class of official merchant-spies who traded expensive bird feathers, and warriors of this empire who took four captives alive could then use the lodge of the "Eagle Knights," as described in the Florentine Codex. This empire took in captives through non-conquering "flower wars." The Noche Triste was a massacre in its capital city, which contained "floating gardens" and canals in Lake Texcoco. This empire built two sacred pyramids on the spot where an eagle perched atop a cactus, which became Tenochtitlan. For 10 points, name this American empire led by Montezuma, and defeated by Hernan Cortes's conquistadors.
This empire had a class of official merchant-spies who traded expensive bird feathers, and warriors of this empire who took four captives alive could then use the lodge of the "Eagle Knights," as described in the Florentine Codex.
Aztec Empire [or Aztec Triple Alliance; or Nahuatl]