The Dike That Saved Tenochtitlan: Aztec Flood Control

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the engineering marvel that kept Tenochtitlan dry: the Albarradón de Nezahualcoyotl, a massive dike built under the Acolhua ruler Nezahualcoyotl and the Mexica tlatoani Moctezuma Ilhuicamina in the mid-15th century. They discuss how the dike separated the salty, brackish waters of Lake Texcoco from the freshwater springs around the city, protecting the delicate chinampas and preventing catastrophic floods. The conversation also touches on the role of the calpulli system in organizing labor, the broader water management network including the aqueduct from Chapultepec, and how this infrastructure underpinned Tenochtitlan's rise as an imperial capital. They compare the dike's scale to contemporary European engineering and reflect on the fragility of even the best-laid plans when the Spanish arrived. #AlbarradonDeNezahualcoyotl #Nezahualcoyotl #MoctezumaIlhuicamina #Tenochtitlan #Aztec #Mesoamerica #LakeTexcoco #Chinampas #Chapultepec #Calpulli #Acolhua #FloodControl #Engineering #HueyTlatoani #Tlacopan #Texcoco #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo