Mexico-Tenochtitlan: what were the means of transport used by the Mexicas

Undoubtedly, the pre-Hispanic peoples distinguished themselves as great inventors, since during their stay in the country they developed various technological tools that allowed them to improve different aspects of their daily lives such as food preparation, housing construction and, of course, their homes and, of course, their transfers from one place to another.

Mobility has always been an essential necessity for civilizations around the world, although today in several cities there are all kinds of transport services such as the metro, taxis, Metrobus, combis and other alternatives, in the past it was more difficult to get around.

The Mexican Archaeology magazine of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) emphasizes that the peoples of Mexico-Tenochtitlan stood out for “efficiently taking advantage of the available transportation possibilities and developed a communication system that was essential for the maintenance of the Empire.”

The means of transport used by the Mexicas were canoes, mecapal, huacal and cacaxtli. As they did not have wheeled vehicles and domesticated draft animals and large enough to carry them (as was the case in Europe), the best way to get around was on foot, although when the road involved going several points, they chose to go canoeing.

The mecapal was the name given to the ropes that rested on the forehead and held all kinds of products, it was the right technique for traversing paths. Because this practice required strength, endurance and skill, the rulers decided to specialize transport by training “young people as porters from the age of five.”

The “drivers” of that time were called tlamemes or tamemes , they carried about 23 kg on their backs and traveled between 21 and 28 km. Over time, this system became specialized and the “relays” emerged, which were located at strategic points to receive objects and go the next distance. This happened when very heavy things needed to be delivered or a lot of things were loaded.

American anthropologist Ross Hassig, who specializes in Mesoamerican studies, points out that porters “were as fast, or even faster, than draft animals and carts, but they carried less.” It should be noted that the transit on foot caused the organization of roads to be notoriously different from that of other cultures.

The same source details that some time later, the use of huacal and cacaxtli began to be used, “which were boxes or floorboards used to carry more delicate goods such as clay objects or luxury items.”

Historians do not know for sure what remuneration was paid to people who were engaged in moving all kinds of articles, however, it is known that on many occasions a family member was assigned this type of work to save on expenses.

At first, having a canoe was a privilege that only well-to-do Tenochtitlan classes could enjoy, that issue caused most people to prefer to travel on foot, a practice that became so common that it was soon integrated as a cultural feature.

However, the use of water transport also became increasingly popular, in fact, during the arrival of the Spaniards it had already become a more well-known and important medium in Aztec society, even, this technology greatly surprised Hernán Cortés's companions.

One of the facts that confirm this information is found in the chronicles of the European Bernal Díaz de Castillo, who wrote “on the one hand there were big cities on land, and in the lagoon many others, and we saw it all filled with canoes and on the road many bridges from far to far”.

Later, with the Conquest, animals such as horses, mules and donkeys arrived, as well as new vehicles such as carts and carriages, which totally transformed transport in the region.

KEEP READING: