The Great Flood of Tenochtitlan: An Aztec Disaster Story

In 1449, just nine years into his reign, the Aztec emperor Moctezuma I faced a catastrophe that nearly destroyed his capital: a devastating flood that submerged Tenochtitlan for months. This episode explores the engineering, politics, and mythology behind the disaster. We discuss the role of the albarradón, or dike, designed by the Texcocan ruler Nezahualcoyotl, the political tensions between Tenochtitlan and Texcoco, and the religious crisis that led Moctezuma to seek the advice of the king of Texcoco. We also touch on the flood's impact on urban planning, the chinampas system, and how the event was later remembered in Aztec codices. Finally, we consider the long-term vulnerability of a city built on a lake and what the flood reveals about indigenous infrastructure and resilience. #Tenochtitlan #Aztec #MotecuhzomaI #Nezahualcoyotl #Flood #Albarradon #Texcoco #Chinampas #Mesoamerica #IndigenousEngineering #Disaster #AztecHistory #Mexico #LakeTexcoco #UrbanPlanning #History #FexingoHistory #AztecEmpire Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo