Deep beneath the streets of modern-day Mexico City
lies another much older city that was once
larger than any that existed anywhere in
Europe. That city was Tenochtitlán,
the capital of the powerful Aztec empire.
With a population of some
250,000 people, Tenochtitlán
was located in the middle of a great lake,
connected to the mainland by manmade
walkways.
It glistened with great temples, public
buildings, private homes, and vast
marketplaces.
By
the time the Spanish arrived in 1519, the
Aztecs had conquered most of their
less powerful neighbors and controlled a
large part of present-day Mexico.
However, within just a few short years, Tenochtitlán
and the
great Aztec civilization had been
defeated, and most of its population was
dead from either military force,
starvation, or disease!
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Today the Aztecs are
recognized as the symbolic symbol of
Mexican pride and heritage, regardless of
whether one has an Aztec bloodline.
To truly understand this national phenomenon
you need to first understand the Aztec
people, the way in which they lived, and
the manner in which they were conquered.
That is where your expedition
begins! You have been accepted as an
Archaeologist Intern for the summer, and
you are traveling to the Valley of Mexico to help
unravel the great mysteries of the Aztec
civilization!
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