City-State Capitals
The Aztec
city-state capitals "played a more important role in the daily lives of
most people than did the distant imperial metropolis(Smith 190)."
Because it was closer, peasants could easily come to town to take care
of personal, religious , and administrative obligations.
They
were normally planned in a similar manor to the capital cities. They
had a central area and the building in this location were arranged with
cosmology in mind. The major temple-pyramid was always placed on
the eastern side of this center with the steps facing west along with the
temple itself. Other important buildings also had their own designated
places in relation to the cardinal directions(Smith 190).
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