Commoners had a wide range of jobs. They were merchants, traders, artisans, craftsmen, and farmers. Merchants and traders provided the
Goods available in the markets. Traders traveled far and wide to collect the products that were sold. Because the Aztecs had no wagons or other vehicles to carry their goods, traders moved their goods by canoe if there were waterways, or they had slaves called porters carry their products on their backs.
Traders, called pochteca (the singular is pochtecatl), traveled on foot to distant nations. They traded for luxury items, such as brilliantly colored feathers, gems, and animal hides. Some pochteca also traded in slaves. The travel was dangerous, and some traders wisely took warriors with them along with the porters needed to carry their goods. Smart pochteca never wore fancy clothing or announced their wealth. They traveled in plain clothing and often at night so they did not attract the attention of robbers. Some traders traveled in groups for safety.
Farmers grew their own food and paid tribute in the form of crops. They could also sell any extra crops in the marketplace. Farmers who
An Aztec warrior had to be skilled in using a spear. These are atlatl, or spear throwers. They are made of gold and covered with designs showing gods and warriors. Gold items were made for show and ceremony, and were not taken into an actual battle.
This panel from a larger work made of deerskin shows Yacatecuhtli, the god of merchants, at the upper left and scenes of merchants in the other squares.
Did not have access to a local market to sell their extra food traded with a traveling pochtecatl.
World History
