Question

Document 4 is a 1519 account by the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes, to the King of Spain.

The city has many open squares in which markets are continuously held and the
general business of buying and selling proceeds.... Every kind of merchandise.... is for sale
there, whether of food, or ornaments of gold and silver, or lead, brass, copper, tin,
precious stones, bones, shells, snails, and feathers... There is a street of herb sellers
where there are all manner of roots and medicinal plants that are found in the land. All
kinds of vegetables may be found there. There are many different sorts of fruits.... All
kinds of cotton thread in various colors may be bought... They have colors for painting
as of good quality as any in Spain, and as pure shades as may be found anywhere.....
Maize is sold both as a grain and in the form of bread.
Each kind of merchandise is sold on its own particular street and no other kind may be
sold there: this rule is very well enforced. All is sold by number and measure... A very
fine building in the great square sits as a kind of audience chamber where ten or a
dozen people are seated, always as judges, who deliberate on all cases arising in the
market and pass sentence on evildoers. In the square itself are officials who continually
walk amongst the people inspecting goods for sale and the measures by which they are
sold, and on certain occasions I have seen them destroy measures, which were false.
What aspects about the Aztec economy did Cortes notice?
Answer:

Answer 1

Cortes noticed the presence of open markets, specialized streets for different goods, and officials ensuring the quality of products in the Aztec economy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cortes noticed several aspects of the Aztec economy during his account. Firstly, he mentioned the existence of open squares where continuous markets were held for buying and selling various kinds of merchandise, including food, gold and silver ornaments, precious stones, textiles, and more. He also observed specialized streets where specific goods, such as herbs, vegetables, fruits, and cotton thread, were sold. Furthermore, Cortes noted the presence of officials who monitored the quality and accuracy of goods and measures sold in the market.

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