The Aztec World | Artisans & Merchants

Merchants and the military managed a three-part, interwoven system of exchange that placed the Aztecs at the center of economic power in Mexico:

Long-distance trade brought a wealth of goods to the Aztec markets from far-off provinces.

A highly-organized tribute system maintained political ties and provided the ruling class with access to large quantities of agricultural supplies, valued raw materials, and manufactured products.

A hierarchy of markets managed the distribution of locally produced goods and resources throughout Aztec society.

The Marketplace Pyramid
From the capital city of Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs managed an extensive system of markets. The Great Market of Tlatelolco, sister city to Tenochtitlan, presided over three levels of marketplaces in smaller cities and towns.

Tlatelolco's location in the middle of Lake Texcoco allowed for the easy transport of goods by boat, which was important because the Aztecs lacked draft animals. And the Aztecs' political might ensured that Tlatelolco reigned as the largest and wealthiest market in the empire.

Tlatelolco and the Spanish
When the Spanish Conquistadors first laid eyes on the Great Aztec Market at Tlatelolco they were astounded by its vast stores of goods, great number of buyers and sellers, and the general bustle of the marketplace.

At the time, no market in Europe compared to Tlatelolco in size and diversity. It supplied 200,000 citizens with much of the food and necessities essential for maintaining life in a large urban setting.

Continue through Artisans & Merchants: Aztec Goods. >>