Tenochtitlan

Quick Facts: Who was Tenochtitlan?

Subject:

Tenochtitlan

Known for:

The magnificent Aztec capital built on an island in Lake Texcoco.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Tenochtitlan, also known as Mexico-Tenochtitlan, was a large Mexican altepetl in what is now the historic center of Mexico City. The exact date of the founding of the city is unclear, but the date 13 March 1325 was chosen in 1925 to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the city. 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 Empire in the 15th century until it was captured by the Tlaxcaltec and the Spanish in 1521. At its peak, it was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas.

Career & Major Achievements

It subsequently became a cabecera of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Today, the ruins of Tenochtitlan are in the historic center of the Mexican capital. The World Heritage Site of Xochimilco contains what remains of the geography (water, boats, floating gardens) of the Mexica capital. Tenochtitlan was one of two Mexica āltepētl (city-states or polities) on the island, the other being Tlatelolco. Traditionally, the name Tenochtitlan was thought to come from Nahuatl tetl [ˈtetɬ] ("rock") and nōchtli [ˈnoːt͡ʃt͡ɬi] ("prickly pear") and is often thought to mean, "Among the prickly pears [growing among] rocks." However, one attestation in the late 16th-century manuscript known as "the Bancroft dialogues" suggests the second vowel was short, so that the true etymology remains uncertain.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

However, it is also thought that the city was named after Tenoch. 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. At the time of Spanish conquests, Mexico City comprised both Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco. The city extended from north to south, from the north border of Tlatelolco to the swamps, which by that time were gradually disappearing to the west; the city ended more or less at the present location of Avenida Bucareli. The city was connected to the mainland by bridges and causeways leading to the north, south, and west.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1325: 1325 Milestone — The exact date of the founding of the city is unclear, but the date 13 March 1325 was chosen in 1925 to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the city.
2. 1521: 1521 Milestone — The city was the capital of the expanding Aztec Empire in the 15th century until it was captured by the Tlaxcaltec and the Spanish in 1521.

Notable Quotes by Tenochtitlan

“When we saw so many cities and villages built in the water... it was like the enchantments...”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Tenochtitlan

True or False: “The primary source of fresh drinking water for Tenochtitlan came from brackish Lake Texcoco.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Fresh water was sourced from mountain springs, while the lake itself was described as brackish.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Amir Khusrau — Historical peer (Died in 1325) (1325): Iconic Indo-Persian Sufi poet, musician, and scholar of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Denis of Portugal — Historical peer (Died in 1325) (1325): King of Portugal, known as the Farmer and Poet King, who reformed the nation.
• Albert Bandura — Historical peer (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Alexander Shulgin — Historical peer (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering biochemist known for synthesizing and exploring over 200 psychoactive compounds.
• Ferdinand Magellan — Historical peer (Died in 1521) (1521): Portuguese explorer famed for the first circumnavigation attempt.
• Josquin des Prez — Historical peer (Died in 1521) (1521): Master composer of the Renaissance, central to the Franco-Flemish School.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tenochtitlan