3.4 Agriculture, trade, and economic practices

The Aztec economy thrived on advanced farming techniques like chinampas and terrace farming. These methods, combined with irrigation and crop rotation, maximized agricultural output in diverse landscapes. The tribute system and use of cacao beans as currency formed the backbone of their economic structure.

Trade networks stretched across Mesoamerica, with regulated marketplaces ensuring fair practices. The pochteca merchant class played a crucial role in long-distance trade, while local tianguis markets facilitated everyday commerce. This complex system supported the empire's growth and wealth distribution.

Agricultural Techniques

Advanced Farming Methods

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• Chinampa agriculture involved creating artificial islands in shallow lake beds
  • Constructed by piling up layers of vegetation, mud, and lake sediment
  • Resulted in highly fertile plots surrounded by canals
  • Allowed for year-round cultivation and multiple harvests annually
  • Primarily used for growing maize, beans, squash, and other vegetables
• Terrace farming transformed hillsides into arable land
  • Involved cutting flat platforms into steep slopes
  • Retained soil and water, preventing erosion
  • Maximized cultivable area in mountainous regions
  • Commonly used for growing maize, maguey, and other crops adapted to higher elevations
• Irrigation systems complemented both chinampa and terrace farming
  • Included complex networks of canals, aqueducts, and reservoirs
  • Ensured consistent water supply for crops, even during dry seasons
• Crop rotation and intercropping practices enhanced soil fertility
  • Alternated different crops in the same field to maintain nutrient balance
  • Planted complementary crops together (maize, beans, and squash)

Economic Systems

Tribute and Currency

• Tribute system formed the backbone of the Aztec economy
  • Required conquered territories to pay regular tributes to the empire
  • Included goods such as textiles, foodstuffs, precious metals, and luxury items
  • Varied based on the region's resources and production capabilities
  • Collected by calpixque (tribute collectors) and recorded in codices
• Cacao beans served as a form of currency in Aztec markets
  • Valued for their use in making chocolate and as a medium of exchange
  • Used for smaller transactions and everyday purchases
  • Standardized counting system: 1 xiquipilli = 8,000 cacao beans
• Quachtli (cotton cloaks) functioned as a higher-value currency
  • Used for larger transactions and in long-distance trade
  • Standardized in size and quality for consistent valuation
• Tribute and currency systems supported wealth redistribution
  • Allowed for the maintenance of the nobility and military
  • Financed public works and religious ceremonies

Trade Regulations and Practices

• State-controlled marketplaces ensured fair trade practices
  • Regulated prices, weights, and measures
  • Imposed penalties for fraudulent activities
• Specialized merchant guilds organized and facilitated trade
  • Operated under the protection and regulation of the state
  • Enjoyed certain privileges and social status
• Credit systems developed to support trade activities
  • Included forms of collateral and interest-bearing loans
  • Facilitated larger transactions and long-distance trade

Trade and Commerce

Merchant Class and Market Structure

• Pochteca merchants formed a distinct social class in Aztec society
  • Specialized in long-distance trade and gathering intelligence
  • Enjoyed certain privileges but were also subject to strict regulations
  • Organized into guilds with hierarchical structures
  • Underwent rigorous training and initiation rituals
• Tianguis (marketplaces) served as centers of local and regional commerce
  • Held regularly in major cities and towns
  • Organized by product type and quality
  • Facilitated exchange of goods from different ecological zones
  • Largest market in Tlatelolco could accommodate up to 60,000 people daily
• Market supervisors (tianquiztli) maintained order and enforced regulations
  • Ensured fair pricing and quality of goods
  • Settled disputes between buyers and sellers
  • Punished fraudulent activities and theft

Trade Networks and Goods

• Long-distance trade networks extended throughout Mesoamerica
  • Connected the Aztec Empire to regions as far as the Maya lands and the Gulf Coast
  • Utilized both land and water routes, including coastal and river transportation
  • Facilitated exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices
• Traded goods varied widely based on regional specialties
  • Luxury items (jade, gold, turquoise, feathers)
  • Utilitarian goods (obsidian, salt, cotton)
  • Foodstuffs (cacao, vanilla, exotic fruits)
  • Manufactured products (textiles, pottery, tools)
• Trade expeditions often combined commercial and military objectives
  • Merchants sometimes acted as spies or advance scouts for military campaigns
  • Trade routes could be used for troop movements and supply lines
• International trade hubs developed in border regions
  • Served as neutral grounds for merchants from different polities
  • Facilitated exchange between the Aztec Empire and its neighbors