What did Tenochtitlan trade?
Tenochtitlan had a specialized economy based primarily on trade. Even though trade was technically a barter system, the society used cotton textiles and cacao beans as an unofficial form currency. Items commonly traded include: jaguar skins, tropical bird feathers, rubber, cotton, chocolate, beans, and maize.
Did the Aztecs trade with any other civilizations?
Contrary to the Aztecs’ trade with Europe, markets inside the community overflowed with people. At the markets, anything could be acquired, from food to weapons. These were mainly sold by farmers, craftspeople, and traders from neighboring states. Those who were not farmers, were merchants or craftsmen of other items.
What role did trade play in the Aztec civilization?
What role did trade play in the Aztec Empire? Trade brought great wealth to the Aztec Empire and helped to spread Aztec culture.
How did the Aztecs use trade to build their empire?
The Aztecs made the people they conquered pay tribute, or give them cotton, gold, or food. The Aztecs controlled a huge trade network. Markets drew buyers and sellers from all over the Aztec Empire.
What was traded in Mesoamerica?
Specific materials traded differed from region to region, but, in general, the merchant job involved acquiring, for example, coastal items such as shells, salt, exotic fish and marine mammals, and then exchanging them for materials from the inland such as precious stones, cotton and maguey fibers, cacao, tropical bird …
How did Cortes describe Tenochtitlan?
Bernal Diaz del Castillo, one of Cortés’ men, describes Tenochtitlán: When we saw all those cities and villages built on water; and the other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded.
Where was the central market of Tenochtitlan?
The largest Aztec market was located in Tenochtitlan’s neighboring town, Tlatelolco. The largest Aztec market was located in Tenochtitlan’s neighboring town, Tlatelolco.
Did the Inca and Aztec trade?
The best evidence for this is negative. That is, it appears that the Inca did not cultivate or use cocoa. As this was a highly prized and desirable trade good at the time, and since Inca elites would have wanted it and paid well for it, we can assume that there was no trade link between them and the Aztecs.
What were the regional markets in Tenochtitlan?
The largest market in the Aztec Empire was in Tenochtitlan in a region referred to as Tlatelolco.
What crops did the Aztecs trade?
These three plants are called the Three Sisters and planted together, provide a rich harvest of all three. Besides maize, beans and squash, the Aztecs farmed a host of other vegetables: tomatoes, avocados, chili peppers, limes, onions, amaranth, peanuts, sweet potatoes and jimacas.
What did Tikal trade?
The goods, which were moved and traded around the empire at long distance, include: salt, cotton mantels, slaves, quetzal feathers, flint, chert, obsidian, jade, colored shells, Honey, cacao, copper tools, and ornaments. Due to the lack of wheeled cars and use of animals, these goods traveled Maya area by the sea.
What did Chichen Itza trade?
Chichen Itza as a Capital Via its port at Isla Cerritos on the northern coast, Chichen Itza became an important commercial center, trading in goods—including gold and other treasures—with other cities throughout the Americas.
What is the history of Tenochtitlan?
Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire, was founded by the Aztec or Mexica people around 1325 C.E. According to legend, the Mexica founded Tenochtitlan after leaving their homeland of Aztlan at the direction of their god, Huitzilopochtli. Huitzilopochtli directed them to build where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, eating a snake.
Where were the markets in Tenochtitlan?
Every Aztec city and village had its own market located near the city center. Tlatelolco, sister city to Tenochtitlan, had the grandest market, drawing 60,000 people to it daily.
How did the Tenochtitlan trade with other civilizations?
Because the Tenochtitlan was isolated from most of the world, they created trade networks with nearby empires and their own conquered lands in the Mexican Valley. This trade was regulated and carried out by their class of merchants who doubled as spies, also known as Pochteca.
What were the two types of trading in the Aztecs?
Two types of trading were important to the Aztecs: the local, regional markets where the goods that sustain daily life were traded and long-distance luxury trades. Each were vital to the empire, but served different purposes in the larger scheme of Aztec trade. Every Aztec city and village had its own market located near the city center.