Even though Aztec society became very urban, their economy was based mainly on agriculture and trade, which was provided by the citizens in outlying lands. The Aztecs practiced advanced agronomy techniques, such as crop rotation.
They used chinampa farming system where beds of reeds were placed in a lake, covered with soil, and then cultivated. This way, not only did they farm the land, but also reclaimed the water, which provided constant nourishment for the crops.
In the market, farmers and craftsmen presented their goods to about 60,000 village and city residents a day. Goods were bartered, as there was no known currency.
They traded with other Meso-american cultures; merchants traveled via rivers and the Pacific to the lands of other tribes. The productivity and ingenuity of the Aztecs in these areas saw their wealth and population grow rapidly.
