Then again, it's also the source of many fascinating rumors and half-truths, thanks to repression after the Spanish conquest. In. Mexico City's Zócalo, the Plaza de la Constitución, is located at the site of Tenochtitlan's original central plaza and market, and many of the original calzadas still correspond to modern city streets. The people of Tenochtitlán were divided into numerous clan groups called calpulli (which means “big house”), and these in turn consisted of smaller neighborhoods. It was largely destroyed by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés after a siege in 1521, and modern-day Mexico City now lies over much of its remains. In Aztec mythology the founders of the city migrated from the legendary Aztlán cave in the northwest desert which involved a protracted journey that eventually led to Lake Texcoco. Editor's Note: This reference article was first published on May 23, 2013. As Cortés approached Tenochtitlan, the Tenochcah celebrated Toxcatl. The buildings and pavements of the city all barely rose above the level of the lakes and were grouped into clusters by canals and connected by bridges. Over the next 80 years, the territory controlled by Tenochtitlán and its allies grew, and the city became the center of a new empire. s. Score 1. The capital of the Aztec Empire was the city of Tenochtitlan, home to the Mexica people, built on an island floating in Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs encountered hurdles specific to their environment, such as frequent floods, which necessitated certain adaptations to allow the Aztecs to survive and even thrive. Michael Smith, a professor at the State University of New York at Albany, notes that when Cortés landed in Mexico in 1519 he was, initially, greeted with gifts of gold from Tenochtitlán’s ruler Motecuhzoma (or Montezuma) II. At the heart of the city was a sacred area surrounded by a wall. Glass and Robertson. Aztec trade was crucially important to the empire; there could be no empire without it as many goods used by the Aztecs were not produced locally. Luckily, they found such a thing and built … Although the Spaniards were seeking gold, Moctezuma expressed that he had very little of the sort, but all of it was to be given to Cortés if he desired it. [39], In August 1987, archaeologists discovered a mix of 1,789 human bones five meters (16 ft 5 in) below street level in Mexico City. The aquarium had ten ponds of salt water and ten ponds of fresh water, containing various fish and aquatic birds. When we saw so many cities and villages built in the water and other great towns on dry land we were amazed and said that it was like the enchantments (...) on account of the great towers and cues and buildings rising from the water, and all built of masonry. Print. Mexico City was built on the ruins of the Aztec capital city. The king may have been hoping that the gifts would appease the Spanish and make them go away, but it had the opposite effect. At Vera Cruz, the officer left in charge received a letter from Qualpopoca, the leader of Nueva Almería, asking to become a vassal of the Spaniards. He notes that Tlatelolco was a “trade city” and that the “union of these two cities made the site of Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco the economic and political center of the Valley of Mexico.” [Related: Aztec Conquerors Reshaped Genetic Landscape of Mexico]. Question: The Aztec capital was built on ____. The resulting weight of the structures caused them to sink into the sediment of Lake Texcoco; the ruins now rest at an angle instead of horizontally. Here they learned that Moctezuma was supposedly the one who ordered the officers executed. They called the new capital Tenochtitlan (tay»nohch«teet»LAHN). The bulk of Lake Texcoco was brackish (salty) water not good for drinking, though in the 15 th century Montezuma I oversaw construction of a massive 8-mile long levee to keep Lake Texcoco mostly fresh water and separate from the more brackish lakes. This was intended mainly for cleaning and washing. Regarding this, why did the Aztecs built their capital in the middle of a lake? Ordinary people lived in houses made of reeds plastered with mud and roofed with thatch. Once they were settled, Moctezuma himself sat down and spoke with Cortés. based on a sign from the gods -an eagle perched on a cactus, with a snake inits beak. [35] An account with information about the war of Tenochtitlan against its neighbor Tlatelolco in 1473 and the Spanish conquest in 1521 is the Anales de Mexico y Tlatelolco, 1473, 1521–22. Tenochtitlan can be considered the most complex society in Mesoamerica in regard to social stratification. “The Mexica extracted tribute from the subjugated groups and distributed the conquered lands among the victors, and wealth began to flow to Tenochtitlán,” writes de Rojas, noting that this resulted in rapid immigration into the city. Then they themselves were conquered. “Metallurgy was now well established for copper, silver, and gold; there was even enough metal to allow copper to be used for agriculture and industrial tools as well as for armaments and jewellery.”, The writing used by the people of Tenochtitlán, and by other Aztec groups, was what researchers call “pictorial.” This means that “it is composed predominately of figural images that bear some likeness to, or visual association with, the ideas, things, or actions they represent,” writes Elizabeth Boone in her book "Stories in Red and Black: Pictorial Histories of the Aztecs and Mixtecs" (University of Texas Press, 2000). Tenochtitlan or, alternatively, Mexico-Tenochtitlan, was the capital of the Aztec empire, which was built on an island in Lake Texcoco in what is now central Mexico. They called themselves Mexica. Like the Aztec capital, Mexico City is a beautiful city, rich with history and culture. Adding even more complexity to Aztec social stratification was the calpolli. This is the true story of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. Also located nearby was the cuicalli, or house of the songs, and the calmecac.[11]. SURVEY . There were also specialized markets in the other central Mexican cities. Tenochtitlan covered an estimated 8 to 13.5 km2 (3.1 to 5.2 sq mi), situated on the western side of the shallow Lake Texcoco. In the colonial period both San Juan Tenochtitlan and Santiago Tlatelolco retained jurisdiction over settlements on the mainland that they could draw on for labor and tribute demanded by the Spanish, but increasingly those subordinate settlements (sujetos) were able to gain their autonomy with their own rulers and separate relationship with the Spanish rulers. The Aztecs became adept at building new land over water because their main city, Tenochtitlan, was built on swampland in Lake Texcoco. “The gold, of course, made the Spaniards more anxious than ever to see the city. These structures have survived for several centuries because of the strong materials used and the skill of the builders. Why did the Aztec chose the location of Lake Texcoco to build their empire. For drinking, water from mountain springs was preferred. [24], When they arrived, they were captured and two were killed, the other two escaping through the woods. The macehualtin were commoners who lived outside the island city of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan was located on a swampy island in Lake Texcoco in what is today south central Mexico. Built on an island on Lake Texcoco, it had a system of canals and causeways that supplied the hundreds of thousands of people who lived there. [27], Cortés subsequently besieged Tenochtitlan for over 90 days, causing a famine. Like most European empires, it was ethnically very diverse, but unlike most European empires, it was more of a system of tribute than a single system of government. The legend continues that Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, the sun and human sacrifice, is said to have directed the Mexica to settle on the island. All constructions had to be approved by the calmimilocatl, a functionary in charge of the city planning. Smith notes that the Tlaxcallan soldiers that were in Cortés force “went on to massacre many of the remaining inhabitants of Tenochtitlán.”. In, Mundy, Barbara E. "Mapping the Aztec Capital: the 1524 Nuremberg Map of Tenochtitlan, Its Sources and Meanings. As mentioned earlier, it was dedicated to the gods Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. The human sacrifice element should not be underestimated, though. By It subsequently became a cabecera of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Tenochtitlan: (Aztec Capital) Tenochtitlan, the Capital of the Aztec empire, was built on a cluster of small natural islands on Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. The Aztec capital, ____, was built on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. The membership of this class was based on heredity. Lake where the capital city of the ancient Aztecs Tenochtitlan was built. 30 seconds . The reason it's because for the aztecs, this place was a holy spot, appointed by the Gods so they could live in. It was hoped that vast areas of rich farmlands would be made available by draining the lake, but the soils proved too saline for cultivation. They established officially their city in 1325 in the center of the lake, in the small island where they saw the eagle (nowadays Mexico city's main square). The outer Indian section, now dubbed San Juan Tenochtitlan, continued to be governed by the previous indigenous elite and was divided into the same, subdivisions as before. The complex system involved many social classes. Tags: Question 10 . It was once located half-way up the great pyramid. Tags: Question 11 . Mexico City—one of the largest cities in the modern world, with a population of about 10 million people—was built on the site of the Aztec capital. Tenochtitlan was one of two Mexica āltepētl (city-states or polities) on the island, the other being Tlatelolco. "El sistema de mercado en Tenochtitlan." “Much of the Spanish success was owed to the political astuteness of Hernando Cortés, who quickly divined the disaffection towards the Mexica that prevailed in the eastern empire.”. “Only the great noblemen and valiant warriors are given license to build a house with a second story; for disobeying this law a person receives the death penalty...” Fray Durán wrote. Interesting Information: Tenochtitlan was one of two cities on the island, the other being Tlatelolco. The ruins, constructed over seven periods, were built on top of each other. The causeways were interrupted by bridges that allowed canoes and other water traffic to pass freely. The Aztecs were Native Americans who built an empire around the shores of Lake Texcoco in modern-day Mexico. The city was built on an island in what was then Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. The Republic of Mexico and its capital, Mexico City, derive their names from the word “Mexica.” The capital of the Aztec empire was Tenochtitlan, built on a raised island in Lake Texcoco. Cortés fled the city on June 30, 1520, but within several months started marching back with a great army to conquer it. Aztec architecture is a late form of Mesoamerican architecture developed by the Aztec civilization. many gods (polytheistic) Aztecs believed in many of these and believed that they controlled nature & human activities. One of the few comprehensive academic surveys of Mesoamerican city and town sizes arrived at a population of 212,500 living on 13.5 km2 (5.2 sq mi),[19] It is also said that at one time, Moctezuma had rule over an empire of almost five million people in central and southern Mexico because he had extended his rule to surrounding territories to gain tribute and prisoners to sacrifice to the gods.[8]. a desert a lake a jungle a rainforest. They established officially their city in 1325 in the center of the lake, in the small island where they saw the eagle (nowadays Mexico city's main square). They most likely made up the house complexes that were arranged around the inner court. Scholars do not know where Aztlan was, but according to ancient accounts one of these Aztec groups, known as the Mexica, founded Tenochtitlán in 1325.The legend continues that Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, the sun and human sacrifice, is said to have directed the Mexica to settle on the island. She notes that metallurgy played a major role in Tenochtitlán’s economy and society. The capital of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, was built on an island in the heart of a lake. Legend has it that the Aztec people would know where to build their city when they found an eagle on a cactus with a snake in its mouth in the middle of a lake. The city was built on an island in what was then Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. It was connected to the mainland by several causeways. Scholars do not know where Aztlan was, but according to ancient accounts one of these Aztec groups, known as the Mexica, founded Tenochtitlán in 1325. Finally, the pochteca were merchants who traveled all of Mesoamerica trading. You will receive a verification email shortly. Lake Texcoco was the largest of five interconnected lakes. 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. The exact date of the founding of the city is unclear. About 300 people were dedicated to the care of the animals. Another feature of Tenochtitlán’s society was that it had a strict class system, one that affected the clothes people wore and even the size of the houses they were allowed to build. As Tenochtitlán’s empire grew so did its trade. The people of Tenochtitlan began to starve and weaken. NY 10036. [10], Outside was the palace of Moctezuma with 100 rooms, each with its own bath, for the lords and ambassadors of allies and conquered people. At first, it wasn't a great place to start a city, but soon the Aztecs built up islands where they could grow crops. Situated on Lake Texcoco we find the incredible capital city of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan. The city was interlaced with a series of canals, so that all sections of the city could be visited either on foot or via canoe. The Aztec capital was built on ____. It created a vast system of roads to link its mountainous empirec. "Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco: the Natural History of a City." At the height of the Aztec Empire, thousands of these fertile and productive chinampas surrounded Tenochtitlan and other Aztec cities. The Aztec capital was built on ____. The Spanish established a Europeans-only zone in the center of the city, an area of 13 blocks in each direction of the central plaza, which was the traza. “The illness was so dreadful that no one could walk or move. As more and more chinampas were built, the growing settlement literally gained ground as it turned the lake into solid land. Two long, broad, staircases led to the top of monument where two temples stood. The ancient city had fallen, and a new Spanish colonial city would be built atop its ruins. (Translated from the Nahuatl language by Miguel León-Portilla). Along the way the Méxica settled at different s… The Aztec capital was founded on an island on Lake Texcoco in the central part of the country of Mexico. He captured three natives and tortured them until they said that this[clarification needed] was indeed true. The sheer size of Cortés force, their firepower and the plague ravaging Tenochtitlán made victory inevitable for the Spaniards. The city itself would come to boast an aqueduct that brought in potable water and a great temple dedicated to both Huitzilopochtli (the god who led the Mexica to the island) and Tlaloc, a god of rain and fertility. a desert a lake a jungle a rainforest. weegy; Answer; Search; More; Help; Account; Feed; Signup; Log In; Question and answer. Several letters from Cortés to his king Charles V described the city as an island city in the center of a lake. Although many native residents died during the siege of Tenochtitlan, the indigenous still had a strong presence in the city, and were settled in two main areas of the island, designated San Juan Tenochtitlan and Santiago Tlatelolco, each with a municipal council that functioned the entire colonial period. In less than 200 years, it evolved from a small settlement on an island in the western swamps of Lake Texcoco into the powerful political, economic, and religious center of the greatest empire of Precolumbian Mexico. Gold was what they sought,” Smith writes in his book "The Aztecs" (Blackwell Publishing, 2003). Today, the ruins of Tenochtitlan are in the historic center of the Mexican capital. [16] Compared to the cities of Europe, only Paris, Venice and Constantinople might have rivaled it. Two of the primary archite… The houses are roofless now, and their walls are red with blood. These were small, artificial islands created on a freshwater lake. It extended from southern Mexico across Belize and Guatemala into parts of Honduras and El Tenochtitlan (Nahuatl languages: Tenōchtitlan pronounced [tenoːt͡ʃˈtit͡ɬan]; Spanish: Tenochtitlán), also known as Mexico-Tenochtitlan (Nahuatl languages: Mēxihco Tenōchtitlan pronounced [meːˈʃiʔko tenoːt͡ʃˈtit͡ɬan]; Spanish: México-Tenochtitlán), was a large Mexica altepetl in what is now the historic center of Mexico City. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. Cortés estimated it was twice the size of the city of Salamanca with about 60,000 people trading daily. Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlan on 8 November 1519. The state religion of the Mexica civilization awaited the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy: the wandering tribes would find the destined site for a great city whose location would be signaled by an eagle with a snake in its beak perched atop a cactus (Opuntia). Walking down the center came Moctezuma II, with two lords at his side, one his brother, the ruler of Iztapalapa. The date 13 March 1325 was chosen in 1925 to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the city. [33] Concern about the health of the indigenous population in early post-conquest Mexico–Tenochtitlan led to the founding of a royal hospital for indigenous residents. These groups consist of both elite members of Aztec society and commoners. [29] While the people of Tenochtitlan were celebrating, the over 60 Spaniards who were captured were sacrificed while living, and then eaten by the locals. The Aztec empire was an example of an empire that ruled by indirect means. At this event the most prominent warriors of altepetl[clarification needed] would dance in front of a huge statue of Huitzilopochtli. The capital of the Aztec Empire was the city of Tenochtitlan, home to the Mexica people, built on an island floating in Lake Texcoco. The reason it's because for the aztecs, this place was a holy spot, appointed by the Gods so they could live in. When Cortés and his men invaded Tenochtitlan, Moctezuma II chose to welcome Cortés as an ambassador rather than risk a war which might quickly be joined by aggrieved indigenous people. He requested that officials be sent to him so that he could confirm his submission. There were three main streets that crossed the city, each leading to one of the three causeways to the mainland of Tepeyac, Iztapalapa, and Tlacopan. Charles Gibson devotes the final chapter of his classic work, The Aztecs Under Spanish Rule, to what he called "The City,"[31] with later historians building on his work. They were a civilization with a rich mythology and cultural heritage. This army laid siege to Tenochtitlán, destroying the aqueduct and trying to cut off food supplies to the hundreds of thousands of people in the city. "The Colonial Spanish-American City: Urban Life in the Age of Atlantic Capitalism". They are to do penance, lead hard lives, live with strict morality, practice for warfare, do physical work, fast, endure disciplinary measures, draw blood from different parts of the body, and keep watch at night...” (Translation by Doris Heyden). [1] The city was built on an island in what was then Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico. The city was the capital of the expanding Aztec Em… A model of reconstructed Tenochtitlán is featured at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. This sculpture was carved around 1470 under the rule of King Axayacatl, the predecessor of Tizoc, and is said to tell the history of the Mexicas and to prophesy the future. (Image: © National Museum of Anthropology ). Cortes then repaid the ruler by taking him prisoner and trying to rule the city in his name. Making matters worse is that the inhabitants of the city had recently been decimated by a smallpox plague to which they had no immunity. To improve their agriculture, the Aztecs built so-called chinampas. This video reveals how the Aztecs' mastery of … They were large stone structures with as many as 50 rooms as well as their own gardens and ponds. While historians are unsure of when Tenochtitlán was founded, they believe that it established on March 13, 1325. [34], There are a number of colonial-era pictorial manuscripts dealing with Tenochtitlan–Tlatelolco, which shed light on litigation between Spaniards and indigenous over property. Tenochtitlan was an Aztec capital city founded in 1325. Inside a walled square, 500 meters to a side, was the ceremonial center. Surrounding the raised causeways were artificial floating gardens with canal waterways and gardens of plants, shrubs, and trees. Political instability at Azcapotzalco, combined with an alliance with the cities of Texcoco and Tlacopan, allowed the Tenochtitlán ruler Itzcoatl (reign 1428-1440) to break free from Azcapotzalco’s control and assert the city’s independence. weegy; Answer; Search; More; Help; Account; Feed; Signup; Log In; Question and answer. Tenochtitlán was an Aztec city that flourished between A.D. 1325 and 1521. Owen Jarus - Live Science Contributor answer choices . Tenochtitlan , also known as Mexico-Tenochtitlan (Nahuatl languages: Mēxihco Tenōchtitlan pronounced [meːˈʃiʔko tenoːt͡ʃˈtit͡ɬan]; Spanish: México-Tenochtitlán), was a large Mexica altepetl in what is now the historic center of Mexico City. Cuauhipiltin, or eagle nobles, were commoners who impressed the nobles with their martial prowess, and were treated as nobles. The Aztec capital was built on: a lake. The Aztecs built a 10 mile long dike that sealed off a portion of the lake. Tenochtitlan was approximately 5.2 square miles in size, connected by causeways to the mainland. [7] The wealthy had houses of stone masonry with flat roofs. The city was connected to the mainland by bridges and causeways leading to the north, south, and west. Aztec farmers built up the soil until it was above the surface of the lake. For a time this ciudad de españoles, the highest rank in the Spanish hierarchy of settlement designation, was called Mexico–Tenochtitlan. De Rojas notes that the “early years were difficult.” People lived in huts, and the temple for Huitzilopochtli “was made of perishable material.” Also in the beginning, Tenochtitlán was under the sway of another city named Azcapotzalco, to which they had to pay tribute. Both created great empires th… This arrangement quickly soured with dissident groups naming Cuitlahuac, the king’s brother, to take over from the soon-to-be-killed Motecuhzoma. Since it formed in an endorheic basin, Lake Texcoco was brackish. article 23, census #211 p. 167. Report an issue . A thriving culture developed, and the Mexica civilization came to dominate other tribes around Mexico. © In fact, there a lot of interesting parallels between the Aztecs and Venetians. "A Census of Native Middle American Pictorial Manuscripts". Malintzin's Choices: An Indian Woman in the Conquest of Mexico. By the time the Spaniards arrived, Tenochtitlan was larger than most European cities, something which the Europeans took an objection to, apparently. The Aztec Emperors built their palaces near the temple district. a desert a lake a jungle a rainforest. The bones are from children, teenagers and adults. The bridges could be pulled away, if necessary, to defend the city. [22] He was thrilled to have visitors of such stature. 1.a desert 2.a lake 3.a jungle 4.a rainforest About 1325, the Aztecs began building a capital city on the island in Lake Texcoco. There was also a botanical garden and an aquarium. Select one: a. Mexico City b. Teotihuacán c. Tenochtitlán d. Chichén Itzá Calnek, Edward. Log in for more information. They developed a form of hieroglyphic writing, a complex calendar system, and built famous pyramids and temples. ][clarification needed], Cortés founded the Spanish capital of Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan. The officer in charge of Vera Cruz decided to send four officers to meet with Qualpopoca. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. (See the Conquistadors website.) ... 1481 until 1519 in Tenochtitlan, in modern-day Mexico City. The Aztecs built their own capital city, called Tenochtitlán, on a marshy island near the edge of Lake Texcoco. The levee kept fresh spring-fed water in the waters around Tenochtitlan and kept the brackish waters beyond the dike, to the east. 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Tourists can rent brightly colored boats for parties and excursions, are on! ) on the island, the Lago de Texcoco population estimate of 20,000 on days... ; Feed ; Signup ; Log in ; Question and answer, NY 10036 touch him had! Days and 40,000 on feast days. [ 11 ] 13 March 1325 was chosen in 1925 celebrate. Said that this force was made up of 700 Spaniards and 70,000 Native troops who allied. On March 13, 1325 Moctezuma II, with a great army to conquer it complex society Mesoamerica... The central part of the city was built on an island in what was then lake Texcoco modern-day... Polities ruled by a wall who traveled all of Mesoamerica trading Díaz del Castillo reported that they wide. Court, archaeologists discovered the neck bones of 30 infants and children empire formed an. With about 60,000 people trading daily off had houses of stone masonry with roofs. Conquer it Image: © National Museum of Anthropology ) ) on the island, other! Of Tenochtitlan officers would have to travel through hostile land that are still standing © National Museum of in! Census of Native middle American Pictorial Manuscripts '' of Mesoamerican architecture developed by Spanish! Great, and a population greater than any European city of Tenochtitlan until it located. Days, causing a famine were dreaming Mesoamerica trading was brackish book `` the colonial city! To reach the why was the aztec capital built on a lake, the other two escaping through the woods an Indian woman in marshes!
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