The Tlacxitlan: Aztec Justice at the Heart of Tenochtitlan

In this episode of Tenochtitlan: The Aztec Capital That Shocked the Spanish, Lucas and Luna explore the Aztec legal system, focusing on the Supreme Court known as the Tlacxitlan. They discuss how the Aztecs implemented a sophisticated judicial hierarchy, with professional judges (teuctlatoque) presiding over cases ranging from theft to murder. Lucas explains the severe punishments, including the death penalty for adultery and public drunkenness, and how the law applied to nobles and commoners alike. He highlights the role of Nezahualcoyotl, the philosopher-king of Texcoco, who codified laws after the Triple Alliance was formed. The conversation also covers the unique concept of 'flower wars' as a legal mechanism for obtaining sacrificial victims, and how legal precedents were recorded in oral traditions and codices. Luna asks about legal rights for women and slaves, revealing that slaves could own property and even buy their freedom. Lucas contrasts Aztec law with Spanish law after the conquest, noting how the Spanish abolished some practices but retained others. The episode ends with a reflection on how law shaped the Aztec empire's stability and its eventual fall. #AztecLaw #Tlacxitlan #Teuctlatoque #Nezahualcoyotl #Texcoco #TripleAlliance #Mexica #Tenochtitlan #Mesoamerica #PreColumbian #FlowerWars #CodexMendoza #FlorentineCodex #AztecJustice #Huehuetlatolli #AztecSociety #History #FexingoHistory #AztecEmpire #MoctezumaII Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo