Aztec Map of Tenochtitlan (1542)

The Aztecs of Mesoamerica had a rich tradition of mapmaking, often connecting space and time through a blend of geography and history. This map of the great city of Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire, was drawn in 1542, after the city fell to the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes. It was part of the book Codex Mendoza, which detailed Aztec history and daily life. The map shows the lake on which Tenochtitlan was built, represented by the blue border, and four of the city's many canals dividing it into four main districts, which the Aztecs knew as Atzaqualco, Teopan, Moyotlan, and Cuepopan. The city's symbol of an eagle perched atop a cactus is in the center and within each quadrant are the Aztec people's ten founding figures. The bottom panel shows Aztec warriors defeating their rival cities--a symbolic celebration of the Aztec Empire's history and military foundation.