🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Bernal Diaz del Castillo described the Tlatelolco market as surpassing many European markets in size and organization.
Tlatelolco, adjacent to Tenochtitlan, served as the empire’s primary commercial hub. Spanish accounts estimate daily attendance in the thousands, though precise figures vary. Market officials oversaw fair pricing and standardized measures. Goods ranged from food staples to luxury items like jade and cacao. Barter dominated transactions, supplemented by cacao beans as a medium of exchange. Specialized zones organized trade by commodity type. Orderly management impressed European visitors. Commerce demonstrated administrative sophistication.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Economically, centralized market oversight reinforced imperial revenue systems. Regulated exchange reduced fraud and stabilized supply chains. Market taxes supported civic institutions. Trade concentration encouraged craft specialization. Urban prosperity relied on predictable commercial rhythms. Market governance mirrored political structure. Order sustained scale.
For traders, market days offered opportunity and competition. The irony lies in colonial narratives often overlooking economic complexity. Merchants navigated pricing under official supervision. Families relied on market access for survival. Exchange fostered interregional connections. The plaza embodied vibrancy. Commerce defined urban life.
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