The Aztec Matrícula de Tributos: An Empire's Tax Map

from Tenochtitlan: The Aztec Capital That Shocked the Spanish — Fexingo History · host Fexingo

Episode 165 dives into the Matrícula de Tributos, the magnificent Aztec tribute roll that recorded over 370 towns paying goods to Tenochtitlan. Lucas and Luna explore how this document—painted on amate paper—mapped the empire's economic reach from the Gulf coast to the Pacific. They discuss the pochteca merchant-spies who gathered intelligence alongside goods, the role of tribute in political control, and what the glyphs reveal about conquered provinces. Specific towns like Tochtepec and Cuetlaxtlan are named, along with the featherworkers' tribute of quetzal feathers and jade. The episode also touches on the Matrícula's survival after the conquest and its use by Spanish administrators. A focused look at one of the richest primary sources for understanding Mexica imperial power. #MatrículaDeTributos #AztecEmpire #Pochteca #Nahuatl #Tenochtitlan #Mesoamerica #TributeSystem #Quetzalli #Tochtepec #Cuetlaxtlan #AztecEconomy #Mexica #ImperialExpansion #PreColumbian #AztecHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 20, 2026

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The Aztec Matrícula de Tributos: An Empire's Tax Map

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