tetalco and Tenochtitln. The traditional founding date of Tenochtitln is 1325; the quest for the sacred site on which to found Tenochtitln is relayed to us by an Aztec myth, ...its beginning is found in ancient times, when a humble tribe was banished by the original Aztecs (Castillo 1908) from a mysterious homeland it called Aztln(place of the herons) or Chicomoztoc(place of the seven caves). During the long exile the Mexicas wandered among hostile strangers while anxiously searching for the divine sign, whose presence, prophesied by their god, would mark their arrival in the Promised Land. The tale continues with the discovery of the omen and the subsequent founding of Mexico-Tenochtitln on the sacred site. (Len-Portilla 1992) By the fifteenth century Tenochtitln had become the center of the Aztec world-- the center of Aztec growth, conquest, and expansion. As early as the sixteenth century Tenochtitln dominated all other cities in the Central Valley and had reached the height of its power and magnificence (Caso 1958). The center of the Aztec Empire was located near the Lerma River that is near the southern part of the Mexican plateau. The plateau is the largest of Mexico's land regions and it is the most varied region consisting of five sections. The Volcanic Axis is located across the southern part of the plateau. Many of the volcanoes are still active. This area receives a lot of rain and the soil is fertile. This area is the main area where corn and beans were grown for the Aztec Empire. The Bajio lies north of the volcanic axis and has an average elevation of 7,000 feet. This region houses the Aztec capital of Tenochtitln. Here there is very little rain and thus the region is very dry. The Mesa del Norte area makes up for more then half of the plateau and has an average elevation of 9,000 feet. Since it is so high crops are always in danger of freezing. The Sierra Madre Occidental is a long mountain range that forms the western ri...
