Commerce, International Trade and Management Before the "Discovery" of Europe: A Modern Management Reappraisal of Aztec Merchant Activity

This paper examines the ancient management practices of Aztec merchants (1428-1519 A.D.) within the context of contemporary management thought. The article finds substantial evidence of Aztec merchant application of management within: (1) their role in the local economy; (2) their internal organization and administration; and (3) their use of business practices, culture and rituals. This paper concludes with a brief discussion of the decline of the Aztec merchant guild and the implications for modern business organizations.