The Mexica had a sophisticated system of accounting for the tribute that was collected from the subject provinces, and the system was based on the use of codices and the work of the calpixqui, the tribute collectors. The tribute was carefully recorded in the codices, and the records were used to verify the collections and to ensure that the tribute was properly accounted for. The Mexica had a sophisticated system of checks and balances, and the tribute system shaped the Mexica administrative system.
The Tribute Codices
The Mexica recorded the tribute in special codices, which were typically made of bark paper or deerskin. The tribute codices were prepared by teams of specialists, including the scribe, the artist, and the calpixqui who supervised the production. The tribute codices were used to record the amounts of tribute that were owed by each province, and they were used to verify the collections.
The most famous tribute codex is the Codex Mendoza, a tribute and history codex prepared for the first Viceroy of New Spain. The codex is divided into three sections: a history of the Mexica from the migration to the conquest, a list of the tribute paid by the subject provinces, and a description of Mexica daily life and customs. The tribute section of the codex ranks among the most important documents of Mexica civilization, and it provides a detailed picture of the wealth and the reach of the Mexica empire.
The Tribute Lists
The tribute lists were typically organized in a grid format, with the provinces listed in the rows and the goods listed in the columns. The amounts owed by each province were recorded using the Mexica mathematical system, and the lists were used by the calpixqui to verify the collections.
The tribute lists were also used by the central government to plan the activities of the state. The lists provided a detailed picture of the wealth and the resources of the empire, and they allowed the central government to allocate the resources effectively. The tribute lists were an important tool of the Mexica administrative system, and they shaped the Mexica system of imperial administration.
The Verification of the Collections
The calpixqui were responsible for the verification of the tribute collections, and they were required to submit detailed reports to the central government. The calpixqui were required to know the tribute lists of the Codex Mendoza and other sources, and they were required to verify the amounts owed by each province.
The calpixqui were also subject to inspection by the central government, and they could be removed from their positions if they were found to be corrupt or incompetent. The calpixqui were required to be honest, diligent, and fair in the performance of their duties, and they were subject to severe penalties if they were found to be corrupt.
The Checks and Balances
The Mexica tribute system had a number of checks and balances, and the system was designed to prevent fraud and to ensure that the tribute was properly accounted for. The most important of these checks and balances were the inspections by the central government, the audits of the calpixqui, and the verification of the records.
The Mexica also had a system of informants, who were paid to report any irregularities in the tribute system. The informants were drawn from the common people, and they were given a share of the fines imposed on the offenders. The system of informants was effective in detecting violations, but it was also resented by the population, who saw the informants as traitors.
The Survival of the Tribute Records
The Mexica tribute records have survived in the codices that have been preserved in libraries and museums around the world. The records are some of the most important documents of Mexica civilization, and they provide a detailed picture of the wealth and the reach of the Mexica empire. The records have been the subject of much scholarly analysis, and they continue to be an important source of information about Mexica civilization.
The persistence of the tribute records is evidence of the sophistication of the Mexica administrative system, and it is a reminder of the cultural inheritance of the Mexica. The records are also an important reminder of the importance of accurate record-keeping in the administration of large and complex states, and they have been used to inform the modern understanding of the Mexica economic and political system.
Related Articles
- The Tribute System and Imperial Wealth — the broader context
- How often did tribute payments occur? — the timing
- What goods were collected as tribute? — the variety
- Provincial Administration and Tributary States — the administration
- The Tlatelolco Market and Marketplace Economy — the marketplace
- Aztec Economy, Agriculture, and Trade — the broader context