The Mexica tribute payments occurred on a regular schedule, typically twice or four times a year, depending on the province and the type of tribute. The twice-yearly payments were the most common, and they were usually timed to coincide with the major agricultural cycles, particularly the harvest. The four-times-yearly payments were reserved for the richest provinces, and they required a more frequent collection schedule. The timing of the tribute payments was carefully coordinated with the agricultural cycle and with the major religious festivals, and it shaped the Mexica system of imperial administration.
The Twice-Yearly Payments
The twice-yearly tribute payments were the most common form of tribute in the Mexica empire, and they were required of most of the subject provinces. The twice-yearly payments were usually timed to coincide with the major agricultural cycles, with one payment in the spring and one in the fall. The spring payment was typically made in the months leading up to the planting season, and the fall payment was typically made in the months following the harvest.
The twice-yearly payments allowed the Mexica to time the receipt of the tribute to the periods of greatest need. The spring payment helped to ensure that the Mexica state had the resources to support the population during the planting season, and the fall payment helped to ensure that the Mexica state had the resources to support the population during the winter months.
The Four-Times-Yearly Payments
The four-times-yearly tribute payments were reserved for the richest provinces, and they required a more frequent collection schedule. The four-times-yearly payments were typical of the Gulf Coast provinces, which produced cacao and other tropical products that were harvested at different times of the year.
The four-times-yearly payments were an important source of wealth for the Mexica state, and they allowed the state to maintain a constant supply of the tropical products. The four-times-yearly payments were also a way of demonstrating the power of the Mexica state over the richest provinces, and they were a sign of the importance of the tropical products to the Mexica economy.
The Administration of the Payments
The administration of the tribute payments was the responsibility of the calpixqui, the tribute collectors, who were stationed in the subject provinces. The calpixqui were responsible for the collection of the tribute, the verification of the amounts, and the transport of the tribute to Tenochtitlan. The calpixqui were assisted by a staff of assistants, including scribes, accountants, and military officers.
The Mexica had a sophisticated system of accounting, and the tribute records were carefully maintained in the codices. The tribute records show the dates of the payments, the amounts paid by each province, and the goods that were collected. The tribute records are among the most important documents of Mexica civilization, and they provide a detailed picture of the wealth and the reach of the Mexica state.
The Special Payments
In addition to the regular tribute payments, the subject provinces were also required to make special payments on certain occasions. The most important of these were the payments for the dedication of the major temples, the payments for the major religious festivals, and the payments for the support of the imperial court.
The special payments were typically much larger than the regular payments, and they were a major burden on the subject provinces. The Mexica used the special payments to extract additional wealth from the subject provinces, and they were a way of demonstrating the power of the Mexica state. The special payments were also a way of ensuring that the subject provinces remained loyal to the Mexica state.
The Survival of the Tribute System
Many elements of the Mexica tribute system survived the Spanish conquest and continued to influence Mexican life for centuries. The Spanish used the existing Mexica institutions, including the calpixqui system, to govern the indigenous population, and the Spanish required the indigenous population to pay tribute in various forms.
The Spanish tribute system was gradually replaced by the Spanish colonial system, but many of its elements survived for centuries. The indigenous communities of Mexico continued to pay tribute in various forms, and the redistribution of wealth through the political and religious system shaped the Mexican colonial and post-colonial life. The persistence of the tribute tradition in modified form ranks among the great survivals of Mexican culture.
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