Tenochtitlan (The Impossible City)

John FitzGerald
8 Jan 201105:22
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn 1324 AD, the Aztecs built Tenochtitlan, an impressive city on an island in a lake, using a method of expanding land with stakes, reeds, mud, and rocks. By 1519, it was a bustling metropolis with a population of 250,000, larger than any European city at the time. The Aztecs' ingenuity in construction, canal networks, and ecological practices amazed the Spanish conquistadors, highlighting their sophisticated calendar, medicine, and rich cultural expressions beyond their militaristic reputation.

Takeaways
  • 🏙️ The Aztecs built the impressive city of Tenochtitlan on a small island in a lake, expanding it to 2,500 acres.
  • 🏗️ They ingeniously used a method of pounding stakes into the lake bed, lashing them together with reeds, and filling with mud and rocks to create more land.
  • 🌐 By 1519, Tenochtitlan had grown to a population of a quarter of a million, making it larger than any European city at the time.
  • 🌟 The city's cleanliness and orderliness amazed the Spanish conquistadors, who noted the daily removal of refuse and the reuse of everything.
  • 🗓️ The Aztecs had a sophisticated calendar system, charting the heavens to determine planting and harvesting times accurately.
  • 🌿 Aztec medicine was highly advanced, with over 100 herbal remedies for various ailments.
  • 🎨 Aztec society was not just militaristic; they had a rich tradition of poetry, music, and drama, showing their creative genius in all aspects of life.
  • 🚤 The city was criss-crossed by canals, and it's theorized that the Aztecs used thousands of canoes for moving construction materials.
  • 🌍 At the height of the Italian Renaissance, while Leonardo da Vinci invented a rudimentary tank and Martin Luther was excommunicated, the Aztecs were creating a city that was surprisingly modern.
  • 🌳 Despite not using the wheel for practical purposes or beasts of burden, the Aztecs managed to build on a monumental scale, a mystery that experts continue to ponder.
Q & A

  • What significant achievement did the Aztecs accomplish by 1324 AD?

    -By 1324 AD, the Aztecs had reached their promised land and built Tenochtitlan, an impressive city on an island in the middle of a lake.

  • How did the Aztecs manage to expand their small island to accommodate a large population?

    -The Aztecs expanded their small island by using a method of pounding stakes into the lake bed, lashing them together with reeds, and filling in mud and rocks to create more land, ultimately expanding to 2,500 acres.

  • What was the initial reaction of the Spanish conquistadors when they first saw Tenochtitlan in 1519?

    -The Spanish conquistadors were amazed by the sight of Tenochtitlan, which was a gleaming white city in the center of the lake, something they had never seen before.

  • How did the size of Tenochtitlan compare to European cities in the 1500s?

    -By the 1500s, Tenochtitlan was a teeming metropolis with a population of a quarter of a million people, which was larger than any city in Europe at that time.

  • What were some of the global events happening around the time the Aztecs were building Tenochtitlan?

    -During the time of the Aztecs' construction of Tenochtitlan, Leonardo da Vinci was inventing a rudimentary tank in Italy, Martin Luther was trying to reform the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, and in Japan, the performance of No drama was at its peak.

  • What was the Aztecs' approach to city construction despite not having practical use of the wheel or beasts of burden?

    -The Aztecs managed to build on a monumental scale through the ingenious concept of the city itself, which was criss-crossed by an intricate network of canals, possibly using thousands of canoes to move tons of materials needed for construction.

  • What were the Spaniards' impressions of Tenochtitlan when they got closer to the city?

    -The Spaniards were astounded by the cleanliness of the streets and the reuse of everything in Tenochtitlan, recognizing the city as surprisingly modern.

  • How did the Aztecs manage their waste and maintain cleanliness in Tenochtitlan?

    -Refuse was taken out of the city daily, and they were master ecologists, carefully managing waste and maintaining cleanliness.

  • What were some of the sophisticated aspects of Aztec society mentioned in the script?

    -Aztec society was sophisticated in various aspects, including an accurate calendar for agricultural purposes, highly developed medicine with over 100 herbal remedies, and a rich tradition of poetry, music, and drama.

  • How did the Aztecs' creative genius manifest in their society?

    -The Aztecs viewed every aspect of life as an opportunity for creative expression, which was evident in their architecture, calendar systems, medicine, and cultural arts.

Outlines
00:00
🏰 The Rise of Tenochtitlan: An Aztec Marvel

The Aztecs, by 1324 AD, had established their capital, Tenochtitlan, on an island in the middle of a lake. This city, built on a small island, expanded to a massive 2,500 acres through a method of land reclamation that involved pounding stakes into the lake bed and filling them with mud and rocks. The city's population grew to a quarter of a million, surpassing European cities of the time. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1519, they were astounded by the city's size and cleanliness. The Aztecs were master ecologists, with a sophisticated calendar system, advanced medicine, and an orderly society. The city was also noted for its creative expression in various forms, despite the common perception of Aztec society as brutal due to its militaristic and sacrificial practices.

05:03
🎭 The Aztec Culture: Beyond Militarism and Sacrifice

While the Aztecs are often remembered for their militarism and human sacrifices, this paragraph highlights the rich cultural heritage of the Aztec society. It emphasizes the existence of a vibrant tradition of poetry, music, and drama, which is often overlooked. The Aztecs had a deep appreciation for creative expression in all aspects of life, showcasing a society that was not only powerful and organized but also culturally rich and artistically inclined.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Aztecs
The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican civilization that existed in central Mexico during the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521 CE. They are known for their rich culture and advanced city-state of Tenochtitlan. In the video, the Aztecs are depicted as having reached their 'promised land' and built an impressive city on an island in a lake, showcasing their ingenuity and civilization's achievements.
💡Tenochtitlan
Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the Aztec Empire, located on an island in the center of Lake Texcoco. The city was renowned for its size and grandeur, housing a population of around a quarter of a million people at its peak. The script describes how the Aztecs expanded the island using a method of pounding stakes into the lake bed, lashing them together with reeds, and filling them with mud and rocks to create more land.
💡Spanish conquistadors
The Spanish conquistadors were the explorers and soldiers who came to the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries, seeking wealth and new territories to conquer. In the context of the video, the conquistadors are amazed by the sight of Tenochtitlan when they first encounter it in 1519, highlighting the city's grandeur and the contrast between the Aztec civilization and European cities of the time.
💡Canals
Canals are artificial waterways used for navigation, irrigation, or drainage. The script mentions that Tenochtitlan was criss-crossed by an intricate network of canals, similar to Venice, Italy. This network allowed the movement of materials and people, contributing to the city's functionality and efficiency, and is a key aspect of its urban planning.
💡Causeways
Causeways are raised roads or pathways that cross wet or low-lying ground. In the video, the causeways of Tenochtitlan are described as a way for the Spanish conquistadors to access the city. These causeways were crucial for connecting the city to the mainland and facilitating travel within the city.
💡Craftsmen
Craftsmen are skilled workers who practice a craft, often involving manual labor and specialized skills. The script refers to the need for an army of thousands of craftsmen to build Tenochtitlan, indicating the scale and complexity of the construction project. Their skills were essential in creating the city's architecture and infrastructure.
💡Ecology
Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. The video mentions that the Aztecs were 'master ecologists,' highlighting their sustainable practices, such as daily refuse removal and reuse of materials, which contributed to the cleanliness and sustainability of Tenochtitlan.
💡Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. The Aztecs are noted for establishing an accurate calendar that systematically charted the heavens, which was crucial for agricultural planning and religious ceremonies. This shows their advanced understanding of astronomy and timekeeping.
💡Herbal remedies
Herbal remedies are medicinal preparations made from plants. The script mentions that Aztec medicine was highly sophisticated, with over 100 herbal remedies for specific ailments. This indicates the depth of their medical knowledge and the integration of natural resources into their healthcare practices.
💡Creative expression
Creative expression refers to the act of conveying ideas, thoughts, or emotions through various forms of art, such as music, poetry, and drama. The video emphasizes that the Aztecs viewed every aspect of life as an opportunity for creative expression, showcasing their rich cultural heritage beyond their reputation for militarism and human sacrifice.
💡Militarism
Militarism is the belief or desire of a government or people to maintain a strong military capability and to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. The script notes that Aztec society is known for its militarism and interest in human sacrifice, which is a common perception of their culture. However, the video also highlights their rich tradition of poetry, music, and drama, indicating a more complex and nuanced society.
Highlights

By 1324 AD, the Aztecs had reached their promised land, an island in the middle of a lake, where they would build Tenochtitlan.

Tenochtitlan was built on a small island, which expanded to 2,500 acres using a method of pounding stakes into the lake bed and filling with mud and rocks.

The Spanish conquistadors were amazed by the city's gleaming white appearance when they first saw it in 1519.

Tenochtitlan was larger than any European city at the time, with a population of a quarter of a million people.

The city held twice the population of London or Rome during the 1500s.

Leonardo da Vinci invented a rudimentary tank, and Martin Luther was excommunicated during the time of Tenochtitlan's peak.

The Aztecs used no wheel or beasts of burden, leading to questions about how they managed to build on such a monumental scale.

Experts theorize that the Aztecs might have used an intricate network of canals and thousands of canoes for moving construction materials.

The Spaniards were astounded by the cleanliness of Tenochtitlan's streets and the reuse of everything, showing the Aztecs were master ecologists.

The Aztecs established an accurate calendar to determine planting and harvesting days, showcasing their advanced knowledge of astronomy.

Aztec medicine was highly sophisticated, with over 100 herbal remedies for specific ailments.

Aztec society is known for its militarism and interest in human sacrifice, but also had a rich tradition of poetry, music, and drama.

The creation of Tenochtitlan demanded a skilled army of thousands of craftsmen, yet the construction process remains a mystery.

The Aztecs viewed every aspect of life as an opportunity for creative expression, showing their creative genius.

The city's construction was surprisingly modern, with orderly and carefully painted and ornamented structures.

Refuse was taken out of the city daily, demonstrating the Aztecs' advanced understanding of waste management.

The Aztecs' scientific achievements and creative genius were extraordinary, despite the brutal aspects often associated with their society.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Aztec Empire | World History | Khan Academy

Hernan Cortes and the Aztecs

The Bloody Secrets Of The Tenochtitlan | Lost Treasures Of The Ancient World | Odyssey

Engineering an Empire: The Aztecs (S1, E3) | Full Episode | History

Mayans and Teotihuacan | World History | Khan Academy

Ancient Islands: Ghost City of the Pacific (Full Episode) | Lost Cities with Albert Lin

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
Aztec CivilizationTenochtitlan CityIsland MetropolisIngenious EngineeringAncient ArchitectureSpanish ConquestRenaissance EraEcological MasteryAztec CalendarHerbal MedicineCreative Culture