The Watershed Of Mexico In Early Modernity: Crossed perspectives and comparative historical hydrology

The watershed of Mexico is a noteworthy example of profound anthropogenic impact on the environment. This paper examines the early modern conceptualisation of the Basin of Mexico, linking this process to water management and, more broadly, to hydropolitics. The representation of Tenochtitlan merged practical and symbolic meanings, shaping projects that aimed to transform both society and the environment. Water management initiatives carried significant ideological and political implications, which unfolded in contested ways, reflecting competing interests and perspectives in what has come to be known as hydropolitics. Since the first European depiction of Tenochtitlan, the so-called Map of Cortés, symbolic strategies were employed to legitimise Spanish conquest. However, in other contexts — particularly in Venice — an alternative and more positive interpretation of Tenochtitlan emerged. Despite their differences, 16th century Venice and Tenochtitlan shared not only representational similarities but also certain water management strategies, rooted in analogous hydropolitical frameworks that considered local communities and the centrality of the lakes. While Venice has maintained this policy to the present day, the Basin of Mexico saw a shift in hydropolitical dynamics from the 17th century onward, as urban perspective and interests increasingly imposed over surrounding communities and the lake environment.