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Basic Aztec facts: AZTEC SLAVES

13th May 2020

Aztec slaves, Florentine Codex

Yes, the Mexica (Aztecs) had slaves, but they weren’t really like slaves the way we think of them.... (Written by Ian Mursell/Mexicolore)

Main points:-
• You WEREN’T born a slave
• Slavery was more of a punishment or penalty for something you’d done wrong
• The children of slaves were free
• Slave owners owned the labour, NOT the individual person
• Slave owners were obliged by law to feed, house and clothe slaves and to treat them fairly
• Slaves could marry freely, own goods, even a house and land and their own slaves.

• Slaves were NOT used for public labour works, more as personal servants for their owners
• A person might voluntarily become a slave, in times of famine, or to pay off a debt. Once the debt was paid, he was legally free. So it was a temporary status
• As a slave you couldn’t be sold without your agreement!
• You might have to become a slave if you got into trouble as a thief, gambler, or you were a ‘political prisoner’, captured in war (see pic 1).

• Slaves were graded. If you were unruly or disobedient, or captured in war, you could be downgraded to a ’wooden-collar slave’
• In that case, you COULD be sold at a market (pic 2), to be offered to the gods
• Slaves cost between 20 and 40 cotton capes, depending on their condition and skills
• Slaves were given a sporting chance at the market: if you could escape to the ruler’s palace without being caught, you were FREE!