What was the tribute system in the Aztec Empire?

The tribute system in the Aztec Empire was a means by which the empire extracted resources and labor from the peoples it conquered. Under this system, the Aztecs required subjugated territories to provide a variety of goods, such as food, textiles, and precious metals, as well as labor for public works and agricultural production. This helped the Aztec Empire to maintain its power and wealth, as it relied on the labor and resources of a large population to support its military and urban centers.

This system not only ensured a steady flow of resources to the capital, Tenochtitlan, but also served as a means of control and political dominance over the vast regions the Aztecs governed. It created a hierarchical structure where tribute obligations reinforced the power dynamics between the Aztecs and the conquered states, ensuring loyalty through economic dependency.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the function of the tribute system within the context of the Aztec Empire.