Aztec Webpage by

Aztec Territory Map

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-15 04:58:07 UTC

Aztec Class Structure

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-23 06:04:43 UTC

Peru Topographic Map

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-23 16:46:01 UTC

Aztec Religion

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-23 16:49:57 UTC

Aztec Warfare

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-25 04:25:20 UTC

Aztex Economy

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-25 04:31:39 UTC

In Aztec culture, trade was an important part of life. Yet, it was conducted somewhat differently than the "traditional" way. For one, the Aztecs had no metal money. They did have a currency, however. Cacao beans were treated as a precious substance by the Aztecs, who used them to make chocolate. This currency was most often used in local markets, at which one could buy tools, clothes, and—for a hefty price—jewelry. Another use of this currency was by caravans of merchants that traveled south towards the region that is now Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. These merchants traded rare items such as jewelry for other rare items such as rubber, cotton, and products made from animals (like feathers of tropical birds and jaguar skins).

Just as the Aztecs had no plows or other inventions to help them in farming, they had no wagons or other vehicles for transporting their goods. Therefore, when merchants traveled south, they transported their merchandise either by canoe (if it was possible) or by slaves, who carried large amounts of goods on their backs. If the caravan was likely to pass through dangerous territory, Aztec warriors accompanied the procession to provide much-needed protection from animals and rival cultures. Conversely, merchants often provided a military service to the empire by spying on the empire's many enemies while trading in the enemy's cities. Thus, there was a symbiotic relationship between the military and the merchants: each helped the other and consequently, both were successful.

The merchant class in the Aztec empire was a special subgroup. Although they were below the nobles (mainly priests and warriors), they were above the common farmers. This special merchant class was called pochteca, and was mostly hereditary. The pochteca class was somewhat removed from the rest of Aztec society. So much, in fact, that the pochteca often had a separate section of the city. They also formed their own guilds (the Aztec precursor to today's trade organizations and unions) and often enjoyed special privileges.

http://library.thinkquest.org/16325/y-eco.html

Trading in the Mayan Civilization

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-25 04:34:29 UTC

Trade in Maya civilization was important in maintaining cities. The economy was based primarily on the trading of food like corn, squash, and beans. They also bartered for almost any other basic need because it was essential in their supply and demand economy. The types of trade differed significantly, from long-distance trading spanning the length of the Mayan region and beyond, to small trading between farm families. This long distance trade surely went along with the exchange of writing, mathematical skills as well as astronomical knowledge between groups.

The rise of merchants facilitated growth in the middle class as well as the elite class of many communities. Cacao beans were worth transporting for long distances because they were luxury items. A large tomato was worth one bean, a turkey egg was 3 beans, 4 cocoa beans could buy a pumpkin, and 100 could buy a rabbit or a good turkey hen, and 1000 a slave. Possible the most important goods involved in long distance trade were Salt, Obsidian, Jade, Cacao and Quetzal feathers.

The large cities acted as redistribution centers where traders obtained merchandise to sale in smaller cities. The largest known trading center was Tikal. Many goods where exchanged, but primarily the every day goods such as clothes, fruits, vegetables, meat, and pottery. Even the best farmers had to trade some of their crop to purchase salt, chocolate and other merchandise.