FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE Aztec Social hierarchy Aztec education Contributing to society AZTECS UNIT HANDOUT 2

THE AZTEC SOCIAL HIERARCHY Traditionally, a person status in society was dictated by the class they were born into In Aztec society there were two main classes, nobles and commoners Most first nations societies prior to the arrival of the Europeans were hierarchical A hierarchy is a social system where status is ranked and power is concentrated in the higher ranks At the top of the Aztec hierarchy was Huey Tlattonai, which means the Great Speaker

THE AZTEC SOCIAL HIERARCHY EMPEROR NOBILITY AND PRIESTS MERCHANTS , ARTISANS, SOLDIERS FISHERS AND FARMERS AND WOMEN SLAVES

THE AZTEC SOCIAL HEIRARCHY EMPEROR The leader came from nobles but became his own class. Role was not inherited. Council of nobles voted for the Emperor. NOBLES are 10-15% of population but held most of the power. Priests came from the nobles. COMMONERS anyone not a noble. Generally determined by birth, but people could work up into other classes There were different amounts of wealth and power between different groups in the same level http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k4XTL6OeT0

ROLE OF THE EMPEROR Treated like a god People obeyed without question Given all luxuries possible Lived in a palace Carried through the streets by servants Huge responsibilities as chief priest and commander in chief of Aztec army

FAMILY CLANS Society organized into units called calpolli Lived in the same neighbourhood and worshipped at the same temple Some based on occupations others based on family Calpolli owned the land were members lived Had an elected captain and council Assigned land and houses Collected taxes Kept neighbourhoods clean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gypaIBBvB_8

MERCHANTS AND FARMERS MERCHANTS Richest calpolli Went on expeditions, acted as spies, brought back goods Paid taxes for the benefit of the state Detailed knowledge of geography and foreign cities made them valuable advisors during wartime FARMERS Grew crops Skilled hunters and fishers Sold goods in market Gave share of produce in taxes

ARTISANS Artisans are skilled craftworkers Mask makers, goldsmiths, feather workers were some examples of Aztec artisans Feather work was only worn by nobility as it was the most valued item in Aztec society The most prized feathers were of the quetzal bird they were associated with the god , Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent Aztecs collected feathers as part of tribute they collected from people they ruled Tribute were items of value from conquered people

THE TLATELOCIO MARKET It was the largest market of the Aztec empire Cortes wrote that he believed it could hold up to 60,000 people at a time Historians believed up to 25,000 people visited per day Goods on display included fabric, clothing, pottery, jewellery and food Cacao beans were so valuable they were a form of currency The market had its own police force and vendors who cheated their customers were sold into slavery

WHAT YOU COULD BUY AT THE TLATELOLCO MARKET ITEM PRICE Cotton cloak 100 cacao beans Dugout canoe One cotton cloak or 100 cacao beans A load of red dye Two cotton cloaks A slave 30 cotton cloaks A slave who could sing and dance 40 cotton cloaks The market was a great source of pride it was the first place the Aztecs showed the Spanish upon their arrival in Tenochtitlan

STATUS AND THE AZTECS Clothing, jewellery, size and location of house all indicated status Success on the battlefield can mean advancement Warrior taking four enemies prisoner immediately eligible for high social status Aztecs attitude towards wealth was a contrast to most first nations for whom displays of wealth were considered selfish What are modern examples of status symbols? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_iYY5-kFiE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-wr0PEfnD4

AZTEC EDUCATION The Aztecs pampered their children until age three after which they were expected to be hardworking and obedient Goal was said to be to create citizens with a stone heart and a stone face Aztec children were educated at home until they started school It is estimated they started school from ages 10-15 All schooling was free and every child went to school There were two types of school The calmecac for nobles The telpochcalli for commoners

THE CALMECAC Located in their neighbourhoods and usually part of a temple Studied religion, reading, writing, math, music, law and the calendar Only nobles were educated to read and write Writing was a series of glyphs Pictures or symbols used in writing Number system was a base 20 using both fingers and toes to count All boys trained as warriors At age 15 boys became warriors and took an active role in battle

THE CALMECAC WHAT THEY STUDIED WHAT THEY TRAINED TO BE ASTRONOMY Generals in the army MATHEMATICS Judges READING Priests WRITING Scribes MUSIC High Government officials LAW Diplomats THE CALENDAR Teachers When an Aztec boy was born his umbilical cord was buried in the battlefield. When a girl was born her umbilical was buried beneath the fireplace in the family home. What do you think is the symbolic significance of each placement?

TELPOCHCALLI EDUCATION http://www. youtube. com/watch Received oral (not written) instruction in history, religion, citizenship, and music Specific instruction in flutes, drums and the sacred dances Boys did lots of physical labour at school Families trained their children for their family trade Girls were educated regardless of social rank However at age 16 most girls got married and moved in with their husbands Women also had opportunities as army doctors, healers, priestesses, matchmakers and midwives

AZTEC CITIZENSHIP Students were taught to be good citizens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpzS6hg7-Lg VIRTUES OF IDEAL AZTEC CITIZENS HOW YOU DEMONSTRATED THE VIRTUE COURAGE Show courage despite hardships without complaining SELF- SACRFICE The group was more important than the individual. Every Aztec had to be willing to sacrifice possessions, comfort for the good of society MODESTY No one was to boast about personal achievements, or do anything else to stand out from the crowd CLEAN LIVING People had to keep themselves healthy and avoid overindulging in food and drink OBEDIENCE Everyone had to obey their superiors without question, this helped preserve this social order

LAWS AND LAWMAKING System of written laws protected the rights of the people Nobles were often judged more severely than commoners as they were to set a good example Small crimes-punishment fines or slavery The Aztecs did not have prisons so punishment for serious crimes, like theft was death There was some protection for slaves under Aztec law Slavery was not considered a permanent or shameful condition

SLAVE LAWS Itzcoatl was the 4th Aztec emperor even though he was born the son of a slave woman Were protected because they were valuable If a noble beat a slave to death, the noble could be executed If a slave could escape to the Emperor while being sold, they won their freedom Slaves could maintain their property while they paid off their debts Slaves could become free when they cleared their debts Children born to slaves were free