- Did the Aztecs have slaves?
- Aztecs Slavery: More Neighbours than Outsiders
- The daily life of an Aztec slave
- Slavery as punishment (but not as bad as it sounds)
- The risks of being a master (it wasn't all plain sailing!)
- Unexpected rights and opportunities
- Aztecs Slavery: A system ahead of its time?
- FAQs About Aztecs Slavery
Aztecs Slavery was not the kind of slavery we usually imagine with shackles and whips in the style of the film Emancipation — nothing like that! It was more like a kind of ‘downer’ in someone’s life, with curious rules and unexpected opportunities to get out of a bind. Here’s why this practice deserves its own place in the history books.
Did the Aztecs have slaves?
Of course, you were, but not in the way you think. In Aztec society, you weren’t born a slave (score one for them!), and your children wouldn’t be either. Slavery was more like ‘temporary’. You could become a slave if you got clever by stealing or committing a crime, if you got into debt up to your neck, or, yes, as crazy as it sounds, if you volunteered to survive in hard times. So, in a way, being a slave could be a strategic decision!
Aztecs Slavery: More Neighbours than Outsiders
Forget about chains and brutal oppression. Aztec slaves had rights (yes, rights!), and their life was not so different from that of an ordinary citizen. Could they marry? Of course, could they own property? They could even own their own slaves! In other words, a slave could own another slave. It’s as if they had invented the pyramid… Of servitude!
And don’t think they were used to building giant temples. Nothing of the sort. Slaves worked as personal assistants in the houses of the nobles, not as forced labour. If you were a slave, you could still spend your afternoons tending to your own land or personal interests. Far from a bad deal, wasn’t it?
The daily life of an Aztec slave
Here’s the kicker: the day-to-day life of a slave wasn’t so bad. His master had to make sure he had food, clothes, and a roof over his head. If the slave misbehaved and the master wanted to sell him, he had to prove it three times in front of witnesses! Yes, like a legal reality show, but in the marketplace. So, abuse was not an easy thing.
Of course, if you were one of those who dreamed of a big action movie-style escape, there was a challenge: get to the ruler’s palace without getting caught. If you made it, you were set free. A bit extreme? Maybe. Epic? Definitely.
Slavery as punishment (but not as bad as it sounds)
If you were caught stealing or getting into trouble, slavery was an alternative to more drastic punishment. Imagine: better to be a slave for a while than face the guillotine of the time (well, in their case, ritual sacrifices). Besides, if you were a debt slave, once you paid off your debts you could go back to your free life and move on.
The risks of being a master (it wasn’t all plain sailing!)
Owning a slave was not always a bargain. If your slave escaped and made it to the palace, you lost all rights to him. And if you tried to interfere with his escape and got caught… surprise: now you were the slave! So masters had to think twice before misbehaving with their servants.
Unexpected rights and opportunities
The Aztec system had a sporting touch: if you were tired of being a slave and wanted to risk it all, you could try that famous escape to the palace. But if you preferred a more conventional approach, you could also save up to buy your freedom. Also, no one could sell you without your consent (yes, you read that right), which gave you some control over your destiny.
Aztecs Slavery: A system ahead of its time?
Although not perfect (no one wants to end up branded with a wooden collar), slavery in the Aztec world was surprisingly flexible and even fair. Slaves had rights, opportunities for freedom, and, in general, a more bearable life than we might imagine. Of course, there was no shortage of curious anecdotes and rules that would make even the most serious historian raise an eyebrow.
