Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan, also called Mexico-Tenochtitlan, was a large city in what is now the historic center of Mexico City. It was built on an island in Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico.

The exact date it was founded is not known, but 13 March 1325 was later chosen to mark the city's 600th anniversary.

The city was the capital of the Aztec Empire in the 15th century. It was captured by the Tlaxcaltec and the Spanish in 1521. At its peak, Tenochtitlan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas. Today, the ruins of Tenochtitlan can still be found in the historic center of Mexico City. The World Heritage Site of Xochimilco contains what remains of the water, boats, and floating gardens that were part of the Mexica capital.

Tenochtitlan was one of two Mexica city-states on the island, the other being Tlatelolco.

Etymology

The name Tenochtitlan comes from the Nahuatl language. It uses words for "rock" and "prickly pear," which might mean "Among the prickly pears growing among rocks." We are not completely sure about the exact meaning because of some old writings. Some people think the city was named after a person called Tenoch.

Geography

Tenochtitlan was a big city that covered about 8 to 13.5 km² (3.1 to 5.2 sq mi). It was built on an island in the shallow Lake Texcoco.

The city was connected to the land by bridges and roads called causeways. These roads had spaces for canoes and boats to pass through. The city had many canals, so people could walk or use a canoe to travel.

Lake Texcoco was one of five lakes and had salty water. A long wall called the "levee of Nezahualcoyotl" was built to keep fresh water from springs near the city and to keep the salty water out. Two long pipes called aqueducts brought fresh water from springs at Chapultepec for cleaning and washing.

City planning

Tenochtitlan was built on an island in the middle of a lake. It had four big zones, and each zone had 20 smaller neighborhoods. Streets and canals helped people move around the city.

There were big markets where people traded goods. The center of the city had many important buildings, like temples and the home of the ruler. These buildings were carefully planned and had to follow strict rules. The ruler's palace had special rooms for guests and even places to keep animals and plants.

Social classes

Tenochtitlan had an organized way of grouping people into different levels. The most common people, called macehualtin, lived outside the main city island. The pipiltin, or noblemen, were related to leaders and lived inside the city. Some commoners could earn respect for their skills and be treated like nobles, called cuauhipiltin. At the top were the teteuctin, who ruled different parts of the empire, including the king. There were also tlacohtin, who were slaves or indentured servants, and pochteca, merchants who traveled far to trade goods. Being a merchant was a job passed down in families, and they didn’t have to pay taxes.

People showed their status by where and how they lived. Ordinary families lived in simple houses made of reeds and mud. Wealthier families had houses made of adobe bricks, and the richest lived in stone houses with flat roofs. The highest officials lived in large palace complexes in the city. Families were also grouped into units called calpōlli by family ties or where they lived. These groups included both rich and poor, with leaders helping commoners and receiving services and tribute in return.

History

Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the Mexica people, founded in 1325. The Mexica believed an old story that they would find the perfect place for their city when they saw an eagle with a snake in its beak on a cactus. They saw this on a small, swampy island in Lake Texcoco, which is now part of Mexico City. Even though the land was hard to build on, they created gardens on the water to grow food and make the island bigger.

The city grew into a large and important place, becoming the biggest city in Mesoamerica. It had trade routes that reached far away places, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, and possibly even the Inca Empire. After a flood, the city was rebuilt between 1486 and 1502 and became even more impressive.

Hernan Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlan in 1519. The city had many people and was very beautiful. The Spanish were amazed by it. But problems happened, and the Spanish took over the city. It was rebuilt as the new Spanish capital, Mexico City, in the same place.

Conquest

When Cortés and his men came to Tenochtitlan, Moctezuma II welcomed them, hoping they were friends. But problems soon started. After some Spanish officers were killed, Cortés kept Moctezuma safe. The Spanish surrounded the city for a long time, making life hard for the people. The city was destroyed and rebuilt under Spanish control.

Colonial era

Main article: History of Mexico City

Cortés built the new Spanish capital, Mexico City, on the ruins of Tenochtitlan. The Spanish made a special area in the center of the city for themselves, while the indigenous people lived in different parts. Even though many native people died from diseases the Spanish brought, they still lived in the city. The Spanish built their city with straight streets and big open spaces, while the indigenous areas had a more natural layout.

Ruins

The main temple of Tenochtitlan, called the Templo Mayor, was destroyed when the Spanish built a cathedral on top of it. Its location was found again in the 20th century. Today, Mexico City's main square, the Zócalo, is where the center of Tenochtitlan was. Archaeologists have found important items, showing the history of the ancient city.