Aztec Trade
Although the Aztec empire was enormous, its main method of trade was not conventional. The empire received tributes from neighboring states, as taxes. The Aztec empire did not have a large necessity to trade because of their advanced agriculture systems and their location. If you were an Aztec trader, you would not be trading with Europe; you would mainly be collecting tributes from neighboring states. To the Aztecs, commercial trade was not profitable enough, except for chocolate. Aztec chocolate was treasured in Europe because of its rarity and marvelous taste; chocolate was the main item the Aztecs exported, though they also exported luxury items and pottery.
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. The Aztecs also had a very advanced monetary system, consisting of cacao beans and quachtli. Cacao beans were fairly common and could be spent on anything. Quachtli, however, was a very precious cloth that was impossibly expensive. It was estimated to be worth as many as 500 cacao beans per article. Generally, a small rabbit could cost up to 30 cacao beans. The economy inside the city was based in markets and on money. Agriculture was also a large part, and could be up to 60% of what was sold on the market by farmers. Those who were not farmers, were merchants or craftsmen of other items. This system of division was called "calpulli." The whole city would be split up into different sections; some people would work on pottery while others would work rope-making. Calpulli was an economic class system.
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. The Aztecs also had a very advanced monetary system, consisting of cacao beans and quachtli. Cacao beans were fairly common and could be spent on anything. Quachtli, however, was a very precious cloth that was impossibly expensive. It was estimated to be worth as many as 500 cacao beans per article. Generally, a small rabbit could cost up to 30 cacao beans. The economy inside the city was based in markets and on money. Agriculture was also a large part, and could be up to 60% of what was sold on the market by farmers. Those who were not farmers, were merchants or craftsmen of other items. This system of division was called "calpulli." The whole city would be split up into different sections; some people would work on pottery while others would work rope-making. Calpulli was an economic class system.
Sources
"Aztec Trade." Latin American Studies. Accessed April 28, 2014.
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/aztec-trade.htm.
"Economy." Aztec. Accessed April 28, 2014. http://aztec.com/
page.php?page=economy.
"Why didn't the Aztecs have more extensive trading networks?" SocyBerty.
Accessed April 28, 2014. http://socyberty.com/history/
the-aztec-trading-system/.
"Aztec Trade." Latin American Studies. Accessed April 28, 2014.
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/aztec-trade.htm.
"Economy." Aztec. Accessed April 28, 2014. http://aztec.com/
page.php?page=economy.
"Why didn't the Aztecs have more extensive trading networks?" SocyBerty.
Accessed April 28, 2014. http://socyberty.com/history/
the-aztec-trading-system/.