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Exhibit title: Law in Mexico Before the Conquest

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Link to home page Link to page, Common Themes Link to page, Warfare Link to page, Tribute Link to page, Aztec Courts Link to page, Aztec Attorneys Link to page, Aztec Property Law Link to page, Aztec Family Law Link to page, Punishment in Aztec Law Link to page, Aztec Law and Drunkenness Link to page, Maya Law Link to page, Sources for this exhibit Link to page, Links to Related Resources  

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Slavery       

Slavery in Aztec society was in some ways more humane than in Western Aztec slave market, showing slaves with wooden collars cultures. While some slaves were punished criminals or prisoners of war, others sold themselves or their children into slavery due to economic hardship. Slaves could free themselves by repaying their purchase price. They could marry and own property, and their children were born free. 

An Aztec slave market (right) (Historia ... de Nueva España). The slave has a wooden collar around his neck, which could indicate either ill treatment by the owner or bad behavior by the slave. A collared slave could gain freedom by running inside the ruler's palace.