The city that was the capital of the Aztec Empire is Tenochtitlán. Founded around 1325 on an island in Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlán became a remarkable urban center with advanced architectural, agricultural, and societal systems. At its height, the city featured impressive temples, canals, and causeways, making it one of the largest and most sophisticated cities in the world at the time. The Aztec civilization thrived here, heavily influenced by religion, tribute systems, and trade. However, Tenochtitlán fell to Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés in 1521, marking a significant turning point in Mesoamerican history.