The Mexica collected a wide variety of goods as tribute from the subject provinces, and the diversity of the goods was one of the keys to the wealth and the power of the Mexica state. The tribute lists, recorded in the Codex Mendoza and other sources, show the wide range of goods that the subject provinces were required to deliver, and they provide a detailed picture of the wealth and the reach of the Mexica empire.
Food and Agricultural Products
The most important category of tribute was food and agricultural products, and these were collected from the subject provinces in large quantities. The most important food items included maize, beans, chia, amaranth, chayote, tomatoes, and chili peppers. The food was used to feed the urban population of Tenochtitlan, and it was distributed through the Tlatelolco market and through the public granaries.
The tribute of food and agricultural products was particularly important for the sustenance of the Mexica state, and it shaped the Mexica system of imperial administration. The food was typically stored in granaries, and it was distributed to the population during times of shortage. The food was also used to support the imperial court, the priesthood, and the military.
Cloth and Textiles
The second most important category of tribute was cloth and textiles, and these were collected from the subject provinces in significant quantities. The most important textile items included cotton cloth, maguey fiber cloth, and a variety of decorative textiles. The cloth and textiles were used to support the imperial court, the priesthood, and the military, and they were also redistributed to the nobility and to the major temples.
The tribute of cloth and textiles was also an important source of cacao beans, which were used as a form of money. The cloth was often exchanged for cacao beans, and the cacao beans were used to pay the officials and the soldiers of the Mexica state.
Feathers and Luxury Items
The tribute also included a wide range of feathers and luxury items, and these were among the most prestigious items in the Mexica economy. The most important featherwork items included the long green feathers of the quetzal bird, which were reserved for the Tlatoani and for the high priests. The feathers were imported from the highlands of Guatemala, and they were among the most valuable items in the Mexica state.
The tribute also included gold, silver, copper, jade, turquoise, jaguar skins, eagle skins, rubber, copal incense, and many other luxury items. The luxury items were used to reward the nobility and the priesthood, and they were part of the political and religious life of the Mexica state.
The Regional Variation
The tribute varied by region, and the tribute lists show the geographical and cultural diversity of the Mexica empire. The richest provinces, such as the Gulf Coast provinces, paid a heavy tribute in cacao, cotton, and other tropical products. The poorer provinces, such as the highland provinces, paid a lighter tribute in food and other local products.
The tribute also varied by the political situation of the province. The recently conquered provinces were typically required to pay a heavier tribute, while the older provinces were required to pay a lighter tribute. The variation in the tribute was a way of demonstrating the power of the Mexica state over the subject provinces, and it was a way of rewarding the loyalty of the older provinces.
The Survival of the Tribute Goods
Many of the tribute goods have survived in the modern Mexican culture, and they continue to be important elements of the Mexican national identity. The featherwork tradition has survived in some indigenous communities, and the cacao tradition has become a global industry. The tribute goods are also widely remembered in Mexican popular culture and in the national mythology, and they shape the Mexican cultural heritage.
Related Articles
- The Tribute System and Imperial Wealth — the broader context
- How often did tribute payments occur? — the timing
- How was tribute recorded and tracked? — the accounting
- Provincial Administration and Tributary States — the administration
- The Tlatelolco Market and Marketplace Economy — the marketplace
- Aztec Economy, Agriculture, and Trade — the broader context