The capital of the empire
Tenochtitlan was the great city and capital of the empire. It was founded in 1325. Tenochtitlan by 1492 was actually a joint city. The two cities, Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco, were connected by a bridge. Tlatelolco was built thirteen years after Tenochtitlan. Both of the cities were built on islets. They expanded by chinampas, or artificial islands which were made of reed that was set to the bottom of the lake. These chinampas were often times connected to other islands. Being lake cities, most of the means of transportation were through canals, although there were also some footpaths and and dirt roads. The cities centers were decorated with many great buildings (temples, palaces, stone houses, stone houses with terraced roofs, etc.) and the outskirts of the chinampas had shacks.
In 1519, Spanish Hernando Cortés and his men arrived in the city. They were very impressed with what they saw. Its great temples, strategic positioning, enormous proportions and its market all stood out to them. One of Cortés' men, a foot soldier named Bernal Diaz, wrote an account of what he saw when he arrived:
When we saw all those cities and villages built in the water, and the other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded... These great towns and pyramids and buildings rising from the water, all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision from the tale of Amadis. Indeed, some of our soldiers asked whether it was not all a dream.
When we saw all those cities and villages built in the water, and the other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded... These great towns and pyramids and buildings rising from the water, all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision from the tale of Amadis. Indeed, some of our soldiers asked whether it was not all a dream.