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
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 food section was divided into subsections for different types of food, with each subsection having its own officials and its own regulations. The food was typically sold by the basket or by the piece, and the prices were determined by the supply and the demand. The food section shaped the Mexica economy, and it was an important source of income for the Mexica farmers.
The Cloth Section
The cloth section was the second largest section of the market, 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 cloth section was also a major source of tribute, and the subject provinces were required to deliver large quantities of cloth to the Mexica state. The cloth was used to support the imperial court, the priesthood, and the military, and it was also redistributed to the nobility and to the major temples.
The Jewelry Section
The jewelry section was the most prestigious section of the market, and it offered a wide range of gold, silver, copper, jade, obsidian, bone, shell, and feather 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 jewelry section was also a major source of prestige, and the most elaborate pieces were reserved for the nobility and for the religious specialists. The jewelry was often given as gifts on important occasions, and it shaped the diplomatic and political life of the Mexica state.
The Slaves Section
The slaves section was a particularly important section of the market, and it offered slaves for sale, primarily for use in sacrifice. The slaves were often prisoners of war, but they could also be criminals, debtors, or other unfortunates who had been sold into slavery. The Mexica believed that the sacrifice of slaves was a way of providing the gods with the sacrifice they required, and the slave trade in Tlatelolco was an important source of victims for the major religious ceremonies.
The slaves section was also a major source of labor, and the slaves were used in a variety of domestic and agricultural tasks. The Mexica had a sophisticated system of laws governing the treatment of slaves, and the slaves were protected from abuse and exploitation.
The Luxury Items Section
The luxury items section was the most exclusive section of the market, and it offered a wide range of luxury items, including featherwork, gold, silver, jade, and other precious materials. The luxury items section was the venue for the most prestigious goods in the Mexica economy, and it was the place where the nobility and the wealthy commoners shopped.
The luxury items section was an important source of prestige and of wealth, and the most elaborate pieces were reserved for the Tlatoani and for the high priests. The luxury items were often given as gifts on important occasions, and they were part of the diplomatic and political life of the Mexica state.
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