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mexico city: general info
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· history
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The Aztecs founded Mexico City in the 14th century. Tenochtitln, as it was then named, was the center of the great Aztec empire, the largest in Meso-America. In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernn Cortes razed Tenochtitln's graceful pyramids and built a Spanish city on its ruins. During the colonial period, Mexico City was capital of Nueva Espaa and served as social and cultural center of the New World. By 1550, the city had prospered and was filled with graceful Spanish buildings (made with indigenous materials), broad streets, parks, churches, hospitals and a university. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, however, the great city was plagued by devastating floods caused by overflow from nearby Lago de Texcoco.
In 1821, after a prolonged period of fighting the Spanish, Mexico finally achieved a troubled independence. During the years spanning the late 19th to the early 20th century, ruler Porfirio Daz modernized Mexico City, building railroads and attracting foreign investment. Since about 1940, the city has burgeoned at an alarming rate, with modern skyscrapers sprouting up alongside Aztec ruins, stately colonial buildings and rapidly expanding shantytowns.
Since 1997, the Distrito Federal has had political autonomy, similar to that of Washington D.C. Its first mayor, Cuauhtmoc Crdenas, initiated earnest efforts to eradicate police corruption and reduce crime in the beautiful city, and his work has been carried on by subsequent mayors.
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