New Mexico and Tenochtitlan

After I did my research using Google earth and after the readings I came to the conclusion that the Spanish conquistadores led by Cortez built the city of New Mexico on Tenochtitlan for the following reasons:

1)      As mentioned in class Tenochtitlan was a big, sophisticated city with complex irrigation systems, aqueducts, temples, administrative building and also at its peak was believed to host around 300000 people. (Roughly the population of London, Ontario). In some other extra readings that I did some scholars believe that the number might be even close to 500000 people. So using logic, from a practical point of view it made sense. The entire basics infrastructure to sustain a population was already there. Actually Cortez was stunned by Tenochtitlan and it made sense for him to set up the new capital here. Also as discussed in class Tenochtitlan and maybe 1 or 2 more cities had this kind of urban sophistication. The other Aztec cities were relatively small and standard.

2)      The second reason why this site was chosen had to do with what I like to call “cultural and religion assimilation”. Although Cortez was stunned by Tenochtitlan he never agreed with their culture of blood and human sacrifice. So since this city had the biggest population, he wanted to convert them to Christianity. After he conducted a siege that lasted 3 months he “erased” the temples and buildings of the old order and built Spaniards administrative centres and churches. A good example for this is the Templo Mayor which most of it was destroyed and a Catholic church was built instead of it.  

 

So in conclusion I believe that Tenochtitlan was chosen as a site for the new city for practicality and also to erase the Aztecs culture and religion and to convert them to Christianity