Unknown World’ Globalization: The Aztec Pochteca and Long Distance Trade”

In this essay, we explore early globalization in Pre-Hispanic Mexico through the ancient Aztec pochteca trade guild. Utilizing sophisticated networks within and across imperial boundaries, highly skilled Aztec long-distance traders or pochteca engaged in high-value and risk-laden cross-border exchanges (e.g., feathers, precious stones, dyes, and animal skins) without the use of beasts of burden or the wheel. These international business exchanges occurred during months- or years-long trade missions, sometimes as a joint venture at the behest of the Aztec emperor, other times as quasi-independent guild traders, and always as advance scouts, spies, or a fifth column for the Aztec empire.