The small natural island was perpetually enlarged as an artificial island as Tenochtitlan grew to become the largest and most powerful city in Mesoamerica . Commercial routes were developed that brought goods from places as far as the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean and perhaps even the Inca Empire
What is Tenochtitlan known for?
The Aztec built their capital city, Tenochtitlan, on Lake Texcoco. Built on two islands, the area was extended using chinampas—small, artificial islands created above the waterline that were later consolidated. ... The center of the city was known as the Templo Mayor.
What was amazing about their city Tenochtitlan?
Tenochtitlan was a city of great wealth , obtained through the spoils of tribute from conquered regions. Of astounding beauty and impressive scale, its towering pyramids were painted in bright red and blue, and its palaces in dazzling white.
What was unusual about the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan?
What was unusual about Tenochtitlan is that it was built in the middle of a lake in a swampy and generally inhospitable area . The Aztecs chose the site because they saw an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, which they had been told by their sun god would be the sign for where to build their new home.
What was unique about Aztec architecture?
Aztec architecture is a late form of Mesoamerican architecture developed by the Aztec civilization. Much of what is known about it comes from the structures that are still standing . These structures have survived for several centuries because of the strong materials used and the skill of the builders.
What is Tenochtitlan called today?
Tenochtitlan was one of two Mexica āltepētl (city-states or polities) on the island, the other being Tlatelolco. The city is located in modern-day Mexico City .
How is Mexico sinking?
Mexico City Is Sinking at an Alarming And Largely Unstoppable Rate, New Data Finds. ... After centuries of water drainage from underground aquifers , the lake bed on which this city sits has grown increasingly dry, causing the clay sheets to compress and crack at a largely unstoppable rate.
Why was Tenochtitlan an amazing feat of engineering?
Why was the Tenochtitlan an amazing feat of engineering? Because it was built on an island in the middle of the lake. They built bridges and made the island bigger .
Why did the Aztecs choose to settle in Tenochtitlan?
The Aztecs were able to settle there because no one else wanted the land . At first, it wasn’t a great place to start a city, but soon the Aztecs built up islands where they could grow crops. The water also worked as a natural defense against attacks from other cities.
How was Tenochtitlan destroyed?
Spanish conquistadores commanded by Hernán Cortés allied with local tribes to conquer the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán. Cortés’s army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days, and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city.
What did the Aztecs call themselves?
The Aztecs called their city Tenochtitlán after a name the Aztecs used for themselves, Tenochca . The other name they used for themselves was Mexica. They did not call themselves Aztecs.
What was the original name of the Aztecs?
Early Aztec History
The Aztecs were also known as the Tenochca (from which the name for their capital city, Tenochtitlan, was derived) or the Mexica (the origin of the name of the city that would replace Tenochtitlan, as well as the name for the entire country).
What disease killed most of the Aztecs?
Smallpox took its toll on the Aztecs in several ways. First, it killed many of its victims outright, particularly infants and young children.
What was the Aztecs greatest achievement?
- #1 They built one of the largest and most powerful empires in Mesoamerica.
- #2 The Aztecs were highly skilled engineers.
- #3 They perfected the technique of creating artificial islands called chinampas.
What made the Aztecs rich?
The Aztecs gained the majority of their wealth through trade and taxation . Each land conquered by the Aztecs were charged taxes in the form of goods...
What was the Aztecs most precious treasure?
Both Anthony Aveni and Manuel Aguilar-Moreno considered human blood itself to be ‘the most precious offering that they could give to the gods: with the energy of the blood they could nourish the gods and help them to continue providing life and fertility to the world...’ (MA-M), ‘for it was the blood of sacrifice that ...
