Tenochtitlan became an imperial city in its own right, but its urban form and infrastructure were also shaped by enormous economic resources and human capital, which the Aztecs extracted from all over Mesoamerica. Tenochtitlan as a city represents the spirit of the Aztecs, as well as the most refined expression of Mesoamerican urbanism. This chapter analyzes the layout and culture of Tenochtitlan, along with its ideology as the capital of the dominant Mesoamerican polity during the Late Postclassic period. Next, it discusses the urban experience of the Aztec Empire within a larger political and territorial arrangement. The chapter focuses on the history of the Mexica-Tenochca tribe, and reviews its complex tributary system that siphoned wealth and resources from a large hinterland. Finally, it addresses the internal structure of the city, its urban history, and daily life. The chapter concludes by analyzing how the mighty native city was torn apart by its Indian and European conquerors.