The Aztec Market of Tlatelolco: Inside Tenochtitlan's Economic Heart

When the Spanish first entered Tenochtitlan, they were awestruck by the great market at Tlatelolco. Bernal Díaz del Castillo wrote that it was larger than any market in Spain and teeming with goods from across Mesoamerica. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the daily operation of the tianguis, the role of pochteca long-distance traders, the use of cacao beans as currency, and the market's connection to Aztec tribute systems. They also discuss how the market survived the fall of Tenochtitlan and became the foundation of modern Mexico City's economic life. Specific details include the layout of the market, the goods traded (from jade and quetzal feathers to slaves and food), the regulation by special judges, and the market's destruction during the siege of 1521. Drawing on the Florentine Codex and the writings of Bernal Díaz, this episode paints a vivid picture of a lost commercial world. #Aztec #Tlatelolco #Tenochtitlan #tianguis #pochteca #cacao #BernalDíaz #FlorentineCodex #Mesoamerica #AztecEconomy #Conquest #MexicoCity #History #FexingoHistory #AztecMarket #Tribute #Cortés #Nahuatl Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo