Exploring Aztec Slavery

Slavery in Aztec Society

• The main purpose of slavery in Aztec society was to provide labor and to serve as a means of payment for debts, rather than solely for economic exploitation.

Legal Status of Children of Slaves

• Children of slaves were born free, and their legal status was not affected by their parents' slave status.

Voluntary Slavery

• A person could voluntarily become a slave in Aztec society to pay off debts, to escape punishment for a crime, or to survive during times of famine.

Rights of Slaves

• Slaves had the right to marry and own property, and their marriages and property rights were recognized by Aztec law.

Treatment of Slaves

• According to Aztec law, slaves were to be treated fairly and with dignity, and mistreatment of slaves was punishable by law.

'Wooden-Collar Slaves'

• If a slave was downgraded to a 'wooden-collar slave', it meant they were relegated to a lower status, and as a result, they would be forced to perform more menial tasks.

Cost of Slaves

• The cost of a slave in Aztec society was determined by factors such as the slave's age, sex, skills, and physical condition.

Market Opportunities

• Slaves had the opportunity to buy their freedom at the market, and some slaves were able to accumulate wealth and eventually buy their own freedom.

Purpose of Slaves

• The general purpose of slaves in Aztec society was to provide domestic and agricultural labor, as well as to serve as a means of payment for debts and as a form of punishment.

Involuntary Slavery

• A person could be sold as a slave without their agreement in Aztec society if they were captured in war, if they were sold by their parents or relatives, or if they were punished for a crime.