Tenochtitlan on the Lake

Overview

Tenochtitlan in 1500 was one of the largest cities in the world, larger than any in Europe, built on an island in Lake Texcoco and connected to the mainland by causeways. Its dual-temple Templo Mayor stood at the centre of a sprawling sacred precinct.

Historical Context

The Mexica (Aztec) Triple Alliance dominated central Mexico through tribute and warfare. The empire had perhaps 5-6 million subjects at the time of Spanish contact in 1519.

What to Notice

• Causeways crossing the lake to the island city.
• Canoes piled with maize, chinampa-grown produce.
• The Templo Mayor with twin shrines of Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli.