Mxihco

Mxihco is a Nahuatl toponym historically used to denote the central highlands region surrounding the Valley of Mexico, including the area that would later become Mexico City. In precolonial times, it was the homeland of the Mexica people and the political heart of what is often described as the Aztec state.

Geography and territorial sense: The term encompassed the basin of the Valley of Mexico, its surrounding uplands, and several lake systems such as Texcoco and Zumpango. The region was characterized by agricultural methods such as chinampas and by networks of causeways connecting major centers.

Historical significance: Mxihco was the focal point of the Mexica alliance in the 15th century, with Tenochtitlán situated within the area. It served as the administrative, religious, and economic center of the empire until the Spanish conquest in 1521. The Templo Mayor and other ceremonial sites were located in this core.

Name and etymology: The name Mxihco comes from Nahuatl Mēxihco, commonly interpreted as “the place of the Mexica” or “the homeland of the Mexica.” The exact linguistic derivation is debated, and transliterations vary in historical sources. The name is the source of the modern toponym Mexico and the demonym Mexican.

Modern usage: In contemporary usage, Mēxihco largely appears in historical, linguistic, or Nahuatl-language contexts. The country’s name Mexico traces to this term through Spanish spelling reforms. The usage of Mxihco as a geographic label now usually refers to historical or cultural contexts rather than a precise political boundary.

See also: Mexica, Tenochtitlán, Aztec Empire, Nahuatl language, Valley of Mexico.