Model version of how Tenochtitlan looked at its peak Archeologists have uncovered the ruins of Tenochtitlan near the center of Mexico City. The current capital of Mexico, Mexico City, is located at the same location. Most of the Tenochtitlan's buildings were destroyed by the Spanish and Hernan Cortes. Some historians estimate that nearly 200,000 people lived in the city during its peak. Tenochtitlan was a large city that covered around 5 square miles. They saw this sign on a marshy island in the lake and began to build a new town on the spot. The Aztecs should settle where they saw an eagle holding a snake while standing on a cactus. The priests said they had a sign from the gods. When the Aztecs were driven from their valley home by the Culhuacan they needed a new place to stay. Why did the Aztecs settle on a swampy island? There was one main marketplace where up to 40,000 people would visit during feast days to buy goods and food for celebrations. There were markets throughout the city where people would trade goods and food. Other buildings in the city center included the priests' quarters, schools, plus a rack of human skulls called the Tzompantli. It was the tallest building in the city in order to be closest to the gods. The largest temple was a pyramid called the Templo Mayor. The temples to the Aztec gods were built here as well as a court where they played a ballgame called Ullama. The city was well planned and laid out in a grid that made traveling around the city easy.Īt the center of the city there was a large area where many of the public activities took place. The canals acted like water roads that allowed people to easily travel around the large city in boats. The Aztecs also built many canals throughout the city. These bridges could be removed when the city was being attacked. There were also bridges built into the causeways that allowed small boats and canoes to travel under them. There were three major causeways that led from the island city to the mainland. A causeway is a raised road that allowed the people to easily travel over the swampy and wet areas. ![]() Early on in the history of the city the Aztecs built causeways and canals for transportation to and from the city.
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