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1300
Introduction
This timeline is one that charts the important events in the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. This city served as the capital of the Aztec Empire from 1345 until its demise in 1521. It was an urban metropolis that eventually served hundreds of thousands of people. -
1345
Tenochtitlan named capital of the Aztec Empire
In the year 1345, Tenochtitlan was founded on the marshes of Lake Texcoco in what is today Mexico City. It was located on a small island, but eventually spread to an area of 5 square miles through the use of causeways (an early version of a bridge) connecting the island to the mainland.
Photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Texcoco -
Period: 1345 to Aug 21, 1521
Tenochtitlan as the capital of the Aztec Empire
The Aztecs had a successful empire in Mesoamerica with Tenochtitlan as its capital urban metropolis starting in 1345. The city stood tall until its eventual destruction by the Spaniards in 1521. -
1350
Construction of causeways and tunnels began
As stated before, Tenochtitlan was located on an island. When construction began around the city, it opened doors for more opportunities to become powerful. The causeways and tunnels linking the island to the mainland allowed for a contiguous capital city to flourish as an urban hotspot.
Photo source: https://time.graphics/event/997532 -
1427
The Aztec Sun Stone is set in Tenochtitlan
The Aztec Sun Stone being set in Tenochtitlan denotes its importance as a city for the Aztec culture. The Sun Stone is a carved disk that portrays the five sun worlds from Aztec mythology. It was used to represent leadership in Aztec/Mesoamerican culture, so setting the stone in the city of Tenochtitlan gave the city a certain inherent power that was not apparent anywhere else.
Photo source: https://www.ancient.eu/Sun_Stone/ -
1428
Triple Alliance formed
In the year 1428 a triple alliance was formed with three cities in the Mexican Basin: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. The alliance was a military and political pact that they used to build on each other's strengths in order to increase the capacity of their own city. Some ideas that they collaborated on included economics and urban development. -
1452
The Flood of 1452
In 1452, the city of Tenochtitlan flooded which caused famine and starvation among the people. According to The Aztec Empire Exhibit website, it is estimated that nearly 10,000 citizens were sacrificed to the gods in hopes that the famine would stop. This led to the Templo Mayor being built. When it was finished the temple was dedicated to the gods in hopes that it would cure the mass destruction the famine brought about. -
1473
Merging of the southern and northern island
The center of Tenochtitlan sat on a large platform on the southern island. When the southern and northern islands combined in 1473, they both brought different aspects to the complete city. The southern island brought pyramids and palaces that allowed for worship and assemblies. The northern island brought a marketplace that attracted nearly 40,000 people daily. The combination of the two islands created the powerful city that we know today. -
1519
Tenochtitlan's population hits 400,000
Near the end of Tenochtitlan's time as an Aztec city was when it reached its peak. By 1519, just a few years before the Spaniards conquered the city, their population had reached 400,000 people. This made Tenochtitlan the city with the largest residency at a single time in all of Mesopotamia. -
Nov 2, 1519
Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlan
Just a few months after Tenochtitlan hit its peak, Cortes and his 600 men were able to take up residency in the palace. Moctezuma II was unsure of how to greet invaders and ended up inviting them in. Cortes eventually made the Moctezuma pledge his allegiance to Charles V, but got sidetracked by his arrest. He eventually fully conquered Tenochtitlan two years later.
Photo source: https://www.biography.com/explorer/hernan-cortes -
Aug 21, 1521
Spaniards storm Tenochtitlan
In the year 1521, just about two years after Cortes initially arrived in Tenochtitlan, 2,000 Spanish soldiers and 50,000 Native American troops seized the city. After three months of war Tenochtitlan became ravaged by destruction, famine, and smallpox. This allowed the Spaniards and their allies to storm the city for its gold and fully conquer not only Tenochtitlan, but the entire Aztec Empire.
