Ancient Beginnings

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. It is also the oldest city in the Americas. People have lived there nonstop since the time of the Aztec.

The city’s long history begins with an Aztec legend. According to the story, a god spoke to the Aztec. He told them to look for an eagle eating a snake on top of a cactus. The Aztec were to build a sacred city on the spot where the eagle stood. They did just that.

The Aztec didn’t build an ordinary city, either. They created one that had temples filled with riches. It had a palace with lush gardens, an aquarium, and two zoos. The Aztec called their city Tenochtitlán. It showed the success and power of the Aztec.

A Spanish City in Mexico

Today, almost nothing remains of this ancient city. What happened to its pyramids and temples? The conquistador Hernán Cortés tore most of them down. In their place, he built a new city. This city reflected his own Spanish culture.

Catholic churches replaced Aztec temples. Spanish-style buildings soon stood where Aztec communities once thrived. Many people moved from Spain to this new city, and it soon became one of the most important cities in North America.

A Mix of Past and Present

In 1810, Mexico declared its independence from Spain. Mexico soon became its own country with its own flag. The eagle on the flag honors the long history of the Aztec. The flag’s colors—green, white, and red—were chosen at independence. So the Mexican flag, like the country’s capital, is a mix of old and new.

The Mexican flag shows an eagle eating a snake on top of a cactus.