Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan was the island capital of the Mexica Empire, built in Lake Texcoco. Spanish forces and their Indigenous allies conquered it in 1521.

Lake Texcoco: A shallow lake in the Valley of Mexico, largely drained after the Spanish conquest. Tenochtitlan occupied islands within this lake and depended on its waters.
Chapultepec Aqueduct: A Mexica aqueduct that carried spring water from Chapultepec to Tenochtitlan. It supplied fresh water to a city surrounded by brackish lake water.
Templo Mayor: The principal temple of Tenochtitlan, dedicated chiefly to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc. Its twin shrines stood at the heart of the city’s sacred precinct.
Siege of Tenochtitlan: The 1521 campaign in which Spanish and Indigenous forces besieged and captured Tenochtitlan. The siege ended Mexica rule over the capital.
Mexica: A Nahuatl-speaking people who founded Tenochtitlan and led the Triple Alliance. Their political and cultural life shaped the city’s identity.
Dike: A barrier built to control or exclude water and protect land from flooding. The Mexica built lake barriers to manage floods and separate fresh from salty water.
Tlatelolco Market: A vast market in Tlatelolco that drew traders and buyers from across central Mexico. Spanish accounts describe its scale and the range of goods exchanged.
Fall of Tenochtitlan: The capture of Tenochtitlan by Spanish-led forces on 13 August 1521. Its fall marked the decisive defeat of the Mexica Empire.
Chinampa: An artificial agricultural plot built in shallow lake water, often bounded by canals. Chinampas supplied food to the city and its surrounding settlements.
Chinampa agriculture: Intensive cultivation on artificial plots built in the shallow lakes of the Valley of Mexico. It helped feed Tenochtitlan’s dense population.

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