Tenochitlan

[[image:map_tenochtitlan.gif align="right" caption="Tenochtitlan is labeled in red."]]Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan was the large capital of the Aztec empire. It was founded in 1325 in the valley of Mexico. Before the Aztec(or Mexica) had settled, they believed that wherever they saw an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak was to be the site of their capital. On a marshy area in the middle of Lake Texcoco, they saw this omen. Due to its location in the center of a lake, the only way to produce enough food to feed the entire city was through the use of chinampas, a system of irrigated agriculture. With this way of agriculture, the city was able to hold around 200,000 people. In 1521, the city was conquered by the Spanish conquistadors under Hernan Cortes.

Created by Joe Hampton on October 21, 2008.
Edited by Stacy Fairey 10.21.08

= = = =