The
Valley of Mexico is a highlands
plateau in central
Mexico roughly coterminous with the present-day
Distrito Federal and the eastern half of the
State of Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico was a centre for several
pre-Columbian civilizations, including
Teotihuacan, the
Toltec, and the
Aztec. The ancient Aztec term
Anahuac (Land Between the Waters) and the phrase
Basin of Mexico are both used at times to refer to the Valley of Mexico. The Basin of Mexico became a well known site that epitomized the scene of early Classic Mesoamerican cultural development as well.