Aztec Commoner Labor System

Timeline

1. 1300–1427Tenochtitlan · Valley of MexicoIn early Mexica society, macehualtin commoners held land through calpulli clan communities, paid in-kind tribute to the nobility, and participated in public works and temple repairs.
2. 1431–1440Core and subject regions of the Aztec Empire · MexicoAfter the Triple Alliance was formed, commoners in conquered territories owed tribute to the three cities; macehualtin in Tenochtitlan also bore large-scale corvée for construction, canal dredging, and military logistics. Social mobility was extremely low, but military merit could lead to promotion to the pipiltin nobility.
3. 1440–1519Aztec Empire · MexicoAt the empire's height, tribute lists (such as those in the Codex Mendoza) recorded in detail the food, cloth, feathers, and corvée labor that subject city-states sent to the capital; macehualtin were both tribute bearers and the primary source of soldiers for the conquering armies.
4. 1519–1521New Spain · MexicoThe Spanish conquest destroyed the Aztec political structure; colonial authorities replaced the calpulli tribute system with the encomienda and later the repartimiento systems, and the macehualtin class remained at the bottom under the colonial labor regime.