Mexico City
Country: Mexico
Region: North America
Period: 1325-present
Location: 19.432778°N, -99.133056°E
Description
Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, was founded in 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco (modern-day Mexico City). Ingeniously built with canals, causeways, and temples, it was a sprawling, vibrant metropolis. At its peak, it housed over 200,000 people, making it one of the largest and most advanced cities of its time in the Americas.
Modern Remains
Modern Mexico City was built atop Tenochtitlan’s ruins. The Templo Mayor, once the city's religious heart, has been excavated and is now a key archaeological site and museum. Many colonial-era buildings stand on Aztec foundations, preserving the city’s layered history amid the modern urban sprawl.