History's Greatest Cities Mexico City
Jun 14, 2024
Travel writer Paul Bloomfield and expert historian Dr. Amy Fuller delve into Mexico City's roots with the Aztec people, the impact of Spanish conquest, and the city's evolution. They highlight important historical figures, hidden heritage sites, and offer travel tips for eager explorers.
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Rapid Rise Of A Lake City
- Tenochtitlan was founded around 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco and became an imperial capital within two centuries.
- Its engineering — causeways, aqueducts and a massive temple — powered rapid urban growth and regional control.
Engineering Sustained An Island Metropolis
- The Mexica engineered dikes, double aqueducts and chinampas to manage fresh water and agriculture on a brackish lake.
- The Great Temple embodied the city's dual focus on war and agricultural fertility.
Conquest Was A Civil War, Not Solo Heroics
- The Spanish 'conquest' depended heavily on indigenous allies and internal divisions within the Aztec Empire.
- Cortés exploited local rivals and siege tactics to capture Tenochtitlan in 1521.