Dreaming of Dry Land: Environmental Transformation in Colonial Mexico City

Synopsis

Tracing the long history of one of the most complex drainage projects in the early modern world, this book aims to explain what colonization looked like on the ground and how it affected land, water, ecosystems, and humans, as well as the relationships among them. Through the Desagüe de Huehuetoca, as the drainage project was called, Spanish settlers and urban elites in the City of Mexico sought to desiccate the enclosed lake system that surrounded their capital and periodically flooded it, at great human and environmental costs, and without entirely achieving their goals. Living in a fluid landscape -- Dreaming of dry land -- The trench of misfortunes -- To serve the city in desagüe country -- All the king's men -- A show of patriotism at the end of the trench -- Toward waterless and dry ground -- Deep colonizing. Vera S. Candiani. Includes bibliographical references and index.