By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Mexico City celebrated its 700th anniversary with public events featuring artistic performances honoring the city’s Indigenous roots, reenacting the founding of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital established in 1325. The anniversary commemorates the Mexica’s arrival in the Valley of Mexico, guided by a divine sign, and the establishment of the city that would become central to Aztec civilization. President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of recognizing Mexico’s pre-Hispanic history and eradicating racism. While the festivities are political and civic, historical research highlights that the exact founding date is unknown and details are based heavily on legend.
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Mexico City marks 700 years since its founding by Indigenous people, a milestone that naturally sparks a lot of reflection. Thinking about this anniversary, it’s easy to imagine what the city was like before the arrival of the Spanish. Descriptions of Tenochtitlan, the magnificent city built on an island in Lake Texcoco, paint a picture of a thriving civilization. It’s fascinating to consider the engineering feats required to create a city in that environment.
The original founders, who later became known as the Aztecs, chose this location for their new home. The story goes that they settled where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, devouring a serpent – a sign sent by their god Huitzilopochtli. It’s tempting to simply call it an “Aztec” founding, and of course, they were the primary group involved. However, the history of the Aztecs and their origins is more nuanced than one might assume. The people themselves likely migrated from the north, and their association with Aztlan, a mythical place, is central to their identity.
One of the complexities surrounding Mexico City’s history is the role of the Spanish conquest. There’s the widely held impression that the Spanish destroyed Tenochtitlan, and while that’s not entirely inaccurate, the reality is more intricate. The Spanish didn’t just raze the city and start from scratch. They actually built Mexico City directly on top of Tenochtitlan’s ruins. They reused the materials, including stones from the Temple Mayor, the main Aztec pyramid, to construct their own buildings, like the Cathedral and Presidential Palace, effectively repurposing the city’s core.
Considering this historical interplay, it opens up a dialogue about the city’s legacy. The Spanish didn’t obliterate everything; they integrated themselves into an existing system, a common strategy for empires seeking to govern. While they undoubtedly sought to replace indigenous culture with their own, the indigenous population vastly outnumbered the colonizers, which resulted in a blend of cultures that persists today.
Mexico City’s development raises some interesting questions, and its influence can be seen throughout the country. The city’s reach extends to regions that were never under Aztec control, like the northern states, where cartel influence remains significant, and the Yucatán, where the Maya retain their distinct cultural identity.
In considering the life cycle of cities, it helps to draw parallels with other historical examples. Cities like Istanbul and Paris, which have also experienced periods of destruction and rebuilding, provide a helpful reference. However, Mexico City’s situation is unique. Unlike Istanbul, which was conquered but not totally destroyed, and Paris, which has been rebuilt by the same people, Mexico City was a city destroyed by conquerors who then built upon the ruins, effectively appropriating the history of those they had conquered.
The practice of building on the ruins of a conquered people brings up important questions, especially when the conquerors then use that history for their own purposes. Though the present-day city may be a mix of influences, the 700-year anniversary is a good time to reflect on the original founders, the city they built, and the lasting impact of their civilization.