How Mexico City's Mysterious Floating Gardens Helped Feed the City For Hundreds of Years

A look at Mexico City's floating gardens, also known as the Chinampas, which were created by the ancient Toltec tribe. To this day, area farmers work tirelessly to preserve and cultivate the canals and their floating farmland to provide produce and fish for the city's most well-known dishes.
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[@CurtisCT]

I once read a book on the pre-hispanic culture of Mexico just before the Spanish conquest - it was probably the most fascinating thing I've ever read. The book went into great detail about the beautiful floating cities and gardens and the reaction of the Spanish conquistadors, who were in shock and awe at what they saw for the first time. They reported that the cities were like huge floating gardens, meticulously manicured and ordered. They had wide avenues where the prosperous citizens would take evening strolls along the fragrant gardens lining the sides of the avenues. The emperor lived in the center of the city in a huge, sprawling palace complex larger than anything in Europe at the time. The conquistadors were so impressed by the magnitude of the city and its many palaces, gardens and markets that they wrote in their journals that nothing in Europe came close in terms of sheer beauty and grandeur. Within a few short weeks however, the Spaniards would go on to massacre every single inhabitant and utterly destroy the floating garden city until it lay in smoldering ruins. Just something to think about next time we denigrate our neighbors to the south...

[@PGRFN]

Do you remember the name of the book?

[@CurtisCT]

@@PGRFN I can't remember exactly but it might have been Conquest of the Americas by Marshall Eakin. I'd have to spend a bit of time looking through all my stuff to find out exactly. You can find these same accounts though with a simple Google search. I've also found some sites that might interest you: adamrlee.org/wordpress/2009/a-brief-description-of-the-aztecs/ kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJ6rh6SYa9mSlZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ-2Z4Cmi8d1lck kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpiypquma8SMiZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaa1col_o8mCars

[@alanperez8659]

I recommend”Huesos De Lagartija” is a book in Spanish but u can translated(you will not regret it), is about Cuetzpalómitl, a noble Mexica, describes his childhood experiences during the Conquest of Mexico. Customs, social order, food and rites are portrayed faithfully and agilely.

[@absoluteunit8628]

Why has this video received such little attention? Almost 2million followers and only 26k views. All other videos do well but not this one. Why?

[@badfoody]

It is ironic that the fall of the Aztecs would also signal the decline of the Spanish Empire

[@ev6674]

When she said, she could see it dying. I felt that.

[@absoluteunit8628]

Why has this video received such little attention? Almost 2million followers and only 26k views. All other videos do well but not this one. Why?

[@bethanya99]

Thank you for letting me know about this incredible place. What a beautiful heritage they have.

[@kevanbrandvold1584]

The water lily compost is unparalleled. I've used flower leaves that are similar in texture and it turns into black dense beautiful mulch gorgeous stuff. Smell kinda good too in a weird way.

[@ostree33]

Thank you for all that you do to keep our history alive.

[@luchador099]

Omg that was so insightful. Is there a way you guys can create more episodes on Mexican cuisine?

[@MyMelinaaa]

Its amazing how bonita!Mother nature is never seizing to amaze....

[@andyjiang2047]

I visited the chinampas today. I got to see how a local farmer in Xochimilco lives and how their whole family tends to the crops. It is SOO impressive that this was all man made by the indigenous people of Tenochtitlan back then. The floating gardens were the key to the Aztecas rise to power as it allowed them to feed a population of 200,000-250000 people. It allowed them to be self sufficient so they wouldnt have to rely on other tribes. The same practices that were developed 700 years ago by the Aztecas are still being practiced today. I was blown away. Such an amazing experience and peaceful lifestyle. But as the narrator has informed us, global warming and urban advancement/pollution are slowly killing these beautiful chinampas. Not to mention, they don't see a lot of the profit from their hard work because of the "middle man" that pockets it all. These chinampas in Xochimilco are truly the heart of Mexico City. I've gained such a deep appreciation of the Mexican culture and remind myself to not take anything for granted, as so many of us do; including many of the natives that live in the bustling nature of the city often forget about these places.

[@antonioalvarado2362]

WAS watching a documentary of chinapas and how they helped the aztec grow into millions....more food= more people to feed= higher population it will be sad to loose something so wonderful that allowed mexico grow so much,gave life to mexico..and watch it disappear because no body wants to farm, and rather go to the city for higher pay...this is the society we live in, where the people that grow the crops for us to live off of and eat are getting paid crap, I understand if they get paid more,the crops will become more expensive. they might get to expensive that people would rather import from another country then to buy from their own...so how is this issue fixed? We need to come with a system that will allow the chinampas to live on and feed the communities.

[@will3460]

I respect my old tribe for putting in work I know how they feel emotionally, it's not easy trust me

[@AzlianaLyana]

I have one of those Brugmansia flowers in my garden, they're big and beautiful, very fragrant too :)

[@Passionforfoodrecipes]

How beautiful!

[@trythinking6676]

Love this. Getting in touch with the old ways is so cool.

[@andreameigs1261]

This should be a world heritage site.

[@erigo91]

Xochimalco and its chiampas (floating Gardens) Is!

[@choforogabriel]

Absolutely astounding! Impressive agricultural feats

[@idaviation]

Long live Mexico City! Long live Mexico’s pre-Hispanic cultures!

[@recoil53]

There was the point that if not enough people want to farm the Chinampas, there will be no Mexico City as you know it Farming life isn't easy.

[@ThaGreatest89]

marrues ham culture vultures

[@ThaGreatest89]

marrues ham blacks didn’t exist on this continent until they were brought here

[@ThaGreatest89]

marrues ham we aren’t enemies but don’t try to steal my ancestors ways we were merged at a point in time

[@absoluteunit8628]

Why has this video received such little attention? Almost 2million followers and only 26k views. All other videos do well but not this one. Why?

[@flojeune]

Beautiful and powerful! Gracias!

[@kathyerickson9402]

How interesting and beautiful! The meal that woman was cooking looked wonderful!

[@naturesheartgardening7456]

Beautiful and amazing documentary I want to visit thanks for sharing 🤗👍🏽💯

[@biggdaddy202003]

Wow such a great story and wonderful place. I would love to visit and see things myself. Always wanted to visit Mexico and this might push me to go. Shows just how advanced these cultures were from farming to using the sun and stars for their calendar.

[@kevanbrandvold1584]

They were also world class mathematicians without any known outside influence.

[@absoluteunit8628]

Why has this video received such little attention? Almost 2million followers and only 26k views. All other videos do well but not this one. Why?

[@andresnrivero]

Awesome!

[@user-zt3un3wl3n]

Very good video, an interesting fact is that Mexico City is built under a Lake, Greetings from Sonora, Mexico

[@boardcertifiable]

It was built on top of a drained lake you mean? It's why the city is sinking. :(

[@user-te3sc5hn5d]

Maravilloso e impresionante

[@ThatFailedAbortion]

Well done

[@Panda_0021]

I feel Chef's Table vibes in this video. And thats awesome.

[@rejiahmad4968]

Wow o like this

[@j.vince.can28]

more about historical Mexican cuisine pls. 😁

[@shutterchick79]

Well, it looked like a combo of Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur worked for me to learn Spanish... I understood a lot of the Spanish the people were speaking in. 😊

[@alexcontreras6103]

Funny how spanish enforced monoculture planting on them and now we are desperately in need of permaculture aka syntropic growing techniques

[@boardcertifiable]

Don't forget they drained the lake and mow there's a water shortage:(

[@ateyollie6243]

Wish i could also try those squash flowers

[@Toomuchbullshitt]

7:10 that is a cool looking shirt. I want one!

[@jonward4035]

Toltec tribe? I think you can just say the Toltecs. Adding the tribe label feel kinda weird. Generally the tribal label isn't applied to settled city building societies, though I suppose it could be, but then we should probably start referring to the 'French Tribe' or the 'American Tribe'. Using it only when referring to African or Indigenous American groups, regardless of actual organization, structure, lifestyle or scale feels wrong.

[@aubreyravenl]

i saw brugmansias in the thumbnail

[@thedudemister77]

Why do they call them floating islands? It didn't show what the underside looked like. It's still a really great idea to come up with.

[@user-ic5jo5di5f]

毛虫出た瞬間 おーちゃんがくる！

[@charles5259]

I really cba to read subtitles

[@JOSEPH-vs2gc]

Tired of the Sushi Clickbait, and you got actual genuine content like this that doesn't even hit a hundred thousand views

[@absoluteunit8628]

Why has this video received such little attention? Almost 2million followers and only 26k views. All other videos do well but not this one. Why?

[@JOSEPH-vs2gc]

@@absoluteunit8628 for the same reason people watch watered-down disney movies and go to mcdonalds.

[@Abhayjeet1998]

Aaaaay su español 💯💯

[@JonEvans818]

We take so much for granted.... =\

[@juniorberns]

Make it an international site for all native Americans since it predates Europeans

[@alanperez8659]

Someone would like to visit México 🇲🇽 .

[@itsthatonekid6188]

0:20 After eating Mexican food

[@debbiemarquis3231]

It's like....the power/ powers that be..is trying to destroy the foundation of the earth...

[@kanalithviper4744]

*insert original content here*

[@ZE308AC]

They use mud to flavor food?

[@locNguyen-jb1vt]

look like vn

[@rickecheverria8052]

Just because a Spanish solider thought the gardens were floating be cause of viewing from a distance over 500 years ago does not mean that actually float, which they do not...

[@fordhouse8b]

How can the dish be pre-hispanic when it contains both chicken broth and pork, two ingredients which only arrived in Mexico as a consequence of the Columbian Exchange, in the post-conquest era?

[@cmnweb]

Obviouslly this dishes was made with another animals that now are not in the supermarket like armadillo or tlacuaches and are replaced with chicken and pork or beef

[@fordhouse8b]

@@cmnweb Yes obviously, and this is obviously why this is no longer the same dish that was eaten in pre-Columbian Mexico.

[@clueless8650]

The narrator clearly stated that it was a result of pre-Hispanic and Spanish culture....which is modern Mexican Culture

[@fordhouse8b]

@@clueless8650 I was commenting on what the woman actually cooking the food said.

[@NerdZooooone]

Ohhhh the most ” Intelligent Species” on earth…😅

[@GlitchMan1011]

All we see on this channel is Sushi and asian chefs. Yeah its good and all but not original. Show us stuff like this!!

[@coldheartriddim7801]

Is there anywhere on earth the Europeans landed that they did not f.k up?

[@TTTHC]

The Aztec empire was destroyed by the other Indio tribes ( Tlaxcala, Totonacs, ect) not the Spanish.

[@billypilgrim1]

commanded by the Spanish

[@AlexaSanchez-fe4gi]

.

[@mosthated2469]

Second

[@jackunoversil9083]

First

[@am2023]

Mysterious?? Why you would say that?? They are canals

[@fordhouse8b]

I don’t know if these ‘floating’ gardens qualify as mysterious or not, but the canals are what exists between the gardens, and no-one referred to the canals as mysterious.

[@truthbetold2309]

Mexicos problem is America yes I said it

[@yusdisantillan1111]

The tourists are the worst for the environment. Good for business sure, but it’s time we care more about the planet