Hernán Cortés' Description of Tenochtitlán

Hernán Cortés' Description of Tenochtitlán

• Cortés describes Tenochtitlán as a grand city situated on a lake, accessible by four causeways wide enough for ten horsemen to ride side-by-side.
• The city is vast, with wide, straight streets intersected by canals for navigation. There are numerous bridges and public squares hosting bustling markets.
• The marketplace is organized by merchandise type, with a dedicated section for cloth, another for gold, and so on.
• The city is home to numerous temples dedicated to various deities. One district, surrounded by a wall, houses temples and towers used as burial places for nobility.
• These temples are adorned with intricate architectural details, carvings, and painted murals, accessible only to the elite.
• The city’s water supply system is sophisticated, with two stone pipes channeling fresh water to the inhabitants. The water is piped into canals, enabling people to obtain it from their canoes.
• The people of Tenochtitlán maintain a high level of civility, with neat attire, polite manners, and respect for one another.
• Moctezuma, the emperor, leads a life of extravagance, changing his four suits daily and dining on elaborate meals served by hundreds of nobles in a meticulously clean and orderly hall.