Tenochtitlán
The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán
(at modern Mexico City) was founded in 1325 on a muddy island in the lake that
at that time filled the Basin of Mexico.
A second group of Aztec settled the
nearby island of Tlatelolco in 1358.
Both sites began as small
collections of reed huts but, with the growth of Aztec power, developed into
cities, eventually fusing into a single conurbation.
Surrounded by "floating
gardens" - artificially created islands where produce was grown -
Tenochtitlán was joined to the mainland by three causeways. An aqueduct supplied
fresh water from Chapultepec.
Along with the many palaces and
marketplaces of the city the Tecpan, a central plaza contained the two
principal temples, built on a huge terraced pyramid.The famous Calendar Stone
of the Aztecs was found in the Tecpan.
By 1519, the year the Spaniards
arrived, Tenochtitlán - Tlatelolco had a population of more than 200,000. It
was laid out on a grid plan and covered more than 12 km2 (4.6 mi2), much of
this consisting of reclaimed swampland that formed a zone of fertile garden
plots around the edge of the city.
At the center of Tenochtitlán was a
large walled precinct, the focus of religious activity, containing the main
temples (dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc the Rain God, and Quetzalcóatl);
also found there were schools and priests' quarters, a court for the ritual
ballgame, a wooden rack holding the skulls of sacrificial victims, and many
commemorative sculptures.
Just outside the precinct walls were
the palaces of Montezuma II and earlier rulers.
A 16-km (10-mi) dike sealed off part
of the lake and controlled flooding, so that Tenochtitlán, like a Mexican
Venice, stood on an island in an artificial lagoon.
Causeways linked the island to the
lakeshore, and canals reached to all parts of the city.
Between 1519 and 1521, Tenochtitlán
was besieged several times by the Spaniards under Hernán Cortés.
To create space for their cavalry to
maneuver, the invaders pulled down most of the city's buildings, later
constructing colonial Mexico City on the same spot.
Because of these activities and the
expansion of the modern city, few Aztec buildings can be seen today. The site
of the Templo Mayor (Great Temple) was found in 1978, however, and excavation
has revealed more remains than expected.
History of Tenochtitlán
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Nine Aztec emperors ruled from
Tenochtitlán, including Acamapichtli, the founder of the Aztec imperial
dynasty, and Itzcoatl, who allied Tenochtitlán with Texcoco and Tlacopan.
Montezuma I is credited with
improving the administrative and judicial systems at Tenochtitlán and
overseeing many architectural projects.
In 1487, the emperor Ahuitzotl consecrated Tenochtitlán's Great Temple
with tens of thousands of human sacrifices. His successful military campaigns
brought in vast quantities of tribute to the capital, and it developed rapidly
during his rule.
Among Ahuitzotl's additions to the city was its much-needed second
aqueduct to accommodate the growing population.
In 1503, a huge flood that struck Tenochtitlán included Ahuitzotl among
its victims.
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