The Tlatelolco Market and Marketplace Economy

The Mexica economy was supported by a network of markets that connected the cities and villages of the Valley of Mexico to the wider world of Mesoamerica. The largest and most famous of these markets was the Tlatelolco market, located in the sister city of Tenochtitlan in the northern part of the island. The market was one of the largest in the pre-Columbian Americas, and it is estimated to have served a population of perhaps 60,000 traders and shoppers on market days. The market was divided into sections for different types of goods, and it was supervised by officials who were responsible for the regulation of weights, measures, and prices.

The Tlatelolco Market

The Tlatelolco market was the commercial center of the Mexica economy, and it was visited by merchants from across Mesoamerica, including the pochteca of Tenochtitlan, who brought goods from as far away as the Pacific coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the highlands of Guatemala. The market was the principal venue for the exchange of goods within the Mexica state, and it shaped the economic life of the empire.

The market was located in a large open area in the center of Tlatelolco, and it was surrounded by a series of plazas and buildings. The market was divided into sections for different types of goods, including food, cloth, feathers, jewelry, slaves, and other items. Each section had its own officials, who were responsible for the regulation of the trade, the verification of the weights and measures, and the prevention of fraud.

The market was a vibrant and bustling place, and it was visited by thousands of people each day. The market was particularly busy on market days, which occurred every five days in most parts of the Valley of Mexico. On market days, the market was filled with traders and shoppers from across the region, and it was the venue for the most important commercial transactions of the Mexica economy.

The Goods Traded

The Tlatelolco market was the venue for a wide range of goods, and the diversity of the goods was one of the keys to the importance of the market. The most important goods included food, cloth, feathers, jewelry, slaves, tools, weapons, and luxury items. The goods came from across the Mexica empire, and they reflected the rich natural and cultural resources of central Mexico.

The food section was the largest and most important section of the market, and it offered a wide range of products from the chinampas of the Valley of Mexico. The food section included maize, beans, squash, tomatoes, chili peppers, amaranth, chayote, and a wide range of other crops. The food section also included fish, game, and insects, and it was an important source of protein for the urban population.

The cloth section was the second largest section, and it offered a wide range of textiles, including cotton and maguey fiber cloth. The cloth section also included the products of the featherworkers, who were among the most skilled artisans in the Mexica state. The featherworkers produced elaborate headdresses, shields, capes, and fans, and their products were among the most prestigious goods in the Mexica economy.

The jewelry section was the most prestigious section of the market, and it offered a wide range of gold, silver, copper, jade, obsidian, bone, and shell jewelry. The jewelry section also included the products of the stonecutters, who produced a wide range of stone tools, weapons, and ritual objects. The jewelry section was an important source of wealth for the Mexica state, and it was a sign of the high level of craftsmanship of the Mexica artisans.

The Market Officials

The Tlatelolco market was supervised by a group of officials who were responsible for the regulation of the trade, the verification of the weights and measures, and the prevention of fraud. The most important of these officials was the tianquiztli, the market master, who was appointed by the Tlatoani and who had wide authority over the market. The tianquiztli was responsible for the overall operation of the market, and he had the power to fine, imprison, and even execute those who violated the market regulations.

The market officials were also responsible for the verification of the weights and measures used in the market. The Mexica had a sophisticated system of standard weights and measures, and the market officials had the power to enforce these standards on the merchants. The merchants were required to use only the standard weights and measures, and the officials had the power to confiscate the goods of those who violated the regulations.

The market officials were also responsible for the resolution of commercial disputes. The merchants could bring their disputes to the market officials, and the officials would hear the cases and render a judgment. The judgments of the market officials were binding, and the parties to the dispute were required to abide by the judgment. The market officials had the power to impose a wide range of penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and the confiscation of property.

The Use of Money

The Mexica used a system of money that combined cacao beans, cotton cloaks, and copper axe-blades. The cacao beans were used for small transactions, the cotton cloaks for larger ones, and the copper axe-blades for the largest transactions. The system was sophisticated, and it allowed the Mexica to conduct a wide range of commercial activities without the need for coinage.

Cacao beans were the most important form of money, and they were widely accepted in the Tlatelolco market. A turkey, for example, could be purchased for about 100 cacao beans, and a rabbit for about 30. The cacao beans were imported from the Gulf Coast, and they were a symbol of wealth and status. The use of cacao as currency made it possible to conduct small transactions, and it shaped the Mexica economy.

Cotton cloaks were a higher denomination of money, and they were used for larger transactions. A single cotton cloak could be worth 100 to 300 cacao beans, depending on the quality. The cotton cloaks were a prestigious form of money, and they were often given as gifts on important occasions. The cotton cloaks were also used in the payment of tribute, and they shaped imperial economy.

Copper axe-blades were the highest denomination of money, and they were used for the largest transactions. A single copper axe-blade could be worth several thousand cacao beans, and they were reserved for the largest commercial deals. The copper axe-blades were imported from the Pacific coast, and they were a symbol of great wealth. The copper axe-blades were also used in religious rituals, and they were often given as offerings to the gods.

The Survival of the Market Tradition

Many elements of the Mexica market tradition survived the Spanish conquest and continued to influence Mexican commerce. The use of the marketplace as the center of commercial life, the regulation of the markets by public officials, and the use of the cacao bean as a form of money are all elements of the Mexica tradition that have survived in modified form in Mexican culture. The modern Mexican market, with its bustling stalls, its diverse goods, and its lively atmosphere, is a direct descendant of the Mexica market, and it remains part of the Mexican economic and cultural life.

The modern Mexican market, called the tianguis in Nahuatl, is still a major feature of Mexican life, and it is visited by millions of people every day. The modern tianguis offers a wide range of goods, from food and clothing to electronics and household items, and it is a major source of income for many Mexican families. The tianguis is also an important cultural institution, and it is a place where the traditions of the Mexica marketplace are preserved and transmitted.

The Tlatelolco Market and Marketplace Economy