In one sentence, identify the ancient city whose two major phases are depicted in the figure.
In 1–2 sentences, describe a feature that plan (a) shares with the urban planning commonly seen in colonies established by France and Spain centuries later.
In 2–3 sentences, analyze another example of a city whose urban structure changed dramatically due to a change in power or governance. How does the change in urban structure reinforce the cultural or political power of a new leader?
The ancient city depicted in the figure is Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztec Empire.
One feature that plan (a) shares with the urban planning commonly seen in colonies established by France and Spain centuries later is the use of a grid layout with a central plaza or square as a focal point for social, political, and religious activities.
An example of a city whose urban structure changed dramatically due to a change in power or governance is Beijing, China. When the Ming Dynasty took over from the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty in the 14th century, they redesigned the city's layout with the construction of the Forbidden City as the new imperial palace. This change in urban structure reinforced the cultural and political power of the Ming Dynasty by establishing a new center of governance that symbolized their authority and grandeur.