Mexico City – Center of History, Culture, and Art

 

What is Mexico City?

The origin of the name “Mexico” (México) as a country comes from the Nahuatl language spoken by a group of people known as the “Mexica” (Mexica) who lived in the Mexico Basin before the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. The area of modern-day Mexico City was once a large lake in the shape of a rabbit.

In the center of the lake, there was an island, which later became the capital of the Mexica (Aztec) Empire and is now the central area of Mexico City, where the Zocalo (main square) is located. The remaining lakes today are only a part of the original, with Texcoco to the east of Zocalo, Zumpango to the north, and Chalco to the south.

Today, Mexico City is one of the most important cities in Latin America, both economically and historically. As mentioned earlier, before the Spanish settlement in 1521, the Aztec Empire, or more accurately the Mexica Empire, prospered around 1460. Furthermore, the Teotihuacan culture, which was located about 45 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, flourished from around 200 BC to AD 750.

The History of “Mexico”

The origin of the name “Mexico” (México) as a country comes from the legend of the Aztec Empire. The famous word “Aztec” is derived from the island called “Astlan,” where the Aztec people used to live. Although the exact location of Astlan remains unknown and subject to various theories, it is believed to be in the northwest part of today’s Mexico, near Nayarit and Zacatecas. Adding the Nahuatl word for “people,” which is “ca,” to the name Astlan, the people from Astlan came to be known as “Azteca.”

Among the Aztecs, there was a custom of worshipping the moon, and they called the moon deity “Metzitli” or “Meshi.” Written as “Metzitli,” this name later changed to “Mexi.” Among the Aztecs, there was a warrior and leader named Huitzilopochtli, who received a divine revelation: “Build the capital of the Aztecs on an island where a cactus-eating eagle perches on a snake.” Following this revelation, the followers led by Huitzilopochtli were called “Mexica,” meaning the servants of the moon god, Meshi. They also added the Nahuatl word for “person” (ca) to this name, thus signifying “people.” As time passed, the successors of the Aztec warrior Huitzilopochtli built the capital of Mexica, Tenochtitlan, on an island in the present-day central part of Mexico City, where the famous Templo Mayor (Great Temple) stands today. This temple’s right-side stepped pyramid was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli. To honor the moon god Metzitli, they added the Nahuatl word for “place,” which is “co,” to create “Mexi’s place,” or “Mexico.”

During that time, the Spanish pronunciation of “X” was “S,” so the country’s name was written as “Mexico” and pronounced as “Mehico,” which later evolved into the current pronunciation, “Mexico.”

👆During the Mexica era, there was Lake Texcoco.

The red circle represents the historical district where the current Zocalo is located, which used to be an island.

The black line around it represents present-day Mexico City. On the right side of the red circle (east) is the airport.

 

The Hidden Face of Mexico City – Efficiently Guided

On our tours, while we can certainly take you to the well-known tourist spots if you wish, we also offer the opportunity to explore the true essence of Mexico City. This includes visits to local markets, called “Mercados,” which serve as the food supply for the community. You can try regional dishes from distant regions in small local eateries or even visit places like Pozolerias, which only locals know about. We encourage you to indulge in the everyday food of the Mexican people, such as Tacos, and experience the real Mexico firsthand.

These places may not be considered “famous” or found in guidebooks, but they are unique and quintessential to the life and culture of Mexico. So, let us efficiently guide you through the hidden face of Mexico City, where you can truly feel its history, culture, and art.

Photo Gallery of Mexico City

Teotihuacan, one of the major cities representing Mesoamerica

What is Teotihuacan?

Teotihuacan is a mysterious culture where the identity of the inhabiting civilization, political structure, and reasons for its decline remain unknown. It is believed to have been constructed around 200 BC by the Otopame tribe and reached its peak around 650 AD. However, it rapidly declined and its population disappeared around 750 AD, but the exact reasons for this decline remain unclear. The city covered an area of 24 square kilometers and is estimated to have housed up to 200,000 people during its most populous times.

The Origin of Teotihuacan’s Name

The origin of the name “Teotihuacan” comes from the Nahuatl language, meaning “the place where people become gods.” “Teo” represents “sacred place,” and “Tihuacan” means “where one becomes divine.” Another proposed version of the name is “Teohuacan,” but the truth behind this alternative name has yet to be fully understood. The name “Teotihuacan” was given by the Mexica people, who are better known as the Aztecs, but the original name before their time remains a mystery.

Characteristics of Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan was built based on detailed urban planning. The central “Avenue of the Dead” stretched for about 5 kilometers, connecting the southern agricultural area to the northern “Pyramid of the Moon.” The avenue’s extension aligns with the summit of the Cerro Gordo hill behind it. Like many other religious structures in Mesoamerica, its design was oriented to align with the rising sun on February 12 and the eastern mountains. It was a class-based society, and evidence suggests that it functioned as an “international” city-state with cooperation from diverse cultures across Mesoamerica. There were trade connections with the Maya culture in Guatemala to the south and people around Zacatecas to the north. In the Mexica (Aztec) creation myth, Teotihuacan was depicted as the “place where time began.” According to the myth, in the darkness, two gods entered a sacrificial fire and transformed into the sun and moon, marking the beginning of a new era. The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon were named by the Mexica people to honor these deities. The urban planning of Teotihuacan later influenced other cities like Tula and Tenochtitlan, and the architectural style of “Talud-Tablero,” characterized by stepped levels, spread across Mesoamerica during this era.

Photo Gallery of Teotihuacan

 

Especially recommended for

Everyone, regardless of their background or interests, is warmly welcomed!