Tenochtitlan: Capital of the Aztec Empire (Ancient Cities of the New World) - Tapa dura

“An up-to-date and especially thoughtful study of the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan, delving into the many and varied issues and problems faced by any city.”—Frances F. Berdan, author of Aztecs of Central Mexico

“Provides a comprehensive view of life in the Aztec capital city, bringing together a wide variety of archaeological and documentary information to examine all aspects of the city’s history, organization, and daily life.”—Janine Gasco, coeditor of The Legacy of Mesoamerica

Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire before the Spanish conquest, rivaled any other great city of its time. In Europe, only Paris, Venice, and Constantinople were larger. Cradled in the Valley of Mexico, the city is unique among New World capitals in that it was well described and chronicled by the conquistadors who subsequently demolished it. This means that, though centuries of redevelopment have frustrated efforts to access the ancient city’s remains, much can be known about its urban landscape, politics, economy, and religion.

Although the city commands a great deal of attention from archaeologists and Mesoamerican scholars, very little has been written in English for a non-technical audience. In this fascinating book, eminent expert José Luis de Rojas presents an accessible yet authoritative exploration of Tenochtitlan—interweaving glimpses into its inhabitants’ daily lives with the broader stories of urbanization, culture, and the rise and fall of the Aztec Empire. While most Aztec studies tend to focus on more spectacular activities like warfare and human sacrifice, this volume focuses on the basics—things like construction, food, and jobs—bringing the Aztec capital to life while enhancing our understanding of its culture.

José Luis de Rojas is professor of anthropology at the Complutense University of Madrid. He is the author of nearly a dozen books, including Ethnohistory of America, The Indian Monies and Their Use in New Spain, and The Aztecs.

A volume in the series Ancient Cities of the New World, edited by Michael E. Smith, Marilyn A. Masson, and John W. Janusek