What was the ancient capital of the Aztec Empire that is now Mexico City?

Tenochtitlán was the capital of the Aztec Empire, established in the 14th century on an island in Lake Texcoco. This remarkable city is famous for its advanced architecture, including temples, palaces, and a complex system of canals that facilitated trade and transportation. The Aztecs built Tenochtitlán where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, leading to the founding of their capital as mentioned in their mythology. Today, the location of Tenochtitlán aligns closely with modern-day Mexico City, which developed over the ruins of the ancient city after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

Other locations mentioned, such as Chichen Itza, served as a major ceremonial site for the Maya civilization in the Yucatán Peninsula, while Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire in present-day Peru. Cahokia, in what is now the United States, was an important pre-Columbian Native American city but not related to the Aztecs. Therefore, recognizing Tenochtitlán as the capital of the Aztec Empire is essential for understanding the history and cultural significance of this influential civilization.