Daily Life in Central & South America MAYA • AZTEC • INCA

Clothing Maya Aztec Inca Made of bark cloth, hemp and cotton Men: turban-style headdress, loincloths Women: turban-style headdress or cloth woven into hair, skirt, sleeveless tunic or dress Sandals Decorated based on status Men: loincloths or hip cloths, cloak Women: mid-calf-length skirt, hip-length tunic Decoration and fabric quality varied with status Made of cotton (high status) or palm fibre (low status) Plant and animal dyes Priests & warriors had most elaborate clothes Men: knee-length tunic & cloak with leather or grass sandals Women: ankle-length dress with wide waistband and cape, cloth pinned to cover hair Made of alpaca & vicuna wool in highlands/cotton in lowlands Plant and mineral dyes Little is known about ancient clothing as it is unlikely to survive, but may be depicted in art or described in historical accounts Aztec clothes were draped and not fitted Length of cloak indicated status (low status = not below knee) Aztec priests and warriors had outfits covered in bright feathers, animal skins, etc. Vicuna wool is softer and reserved for nobles

Wealthy Inca couple Aztec women & Aztec man

Beauty & Adornment Maya Aztec Inca Flattened forehead & crossed eyes were ideal Pierced ears, nose and lips Only nobles could wear luxury ornaments, which included gold head bands with feathers, gold armbands, lip plugs, ear plugs, nose plugs Face paint for mourning, war & ceremonies Women: no earrings, shell and bone beaded necklaces, shawl pins made of precious metals Men: earrings or ear plugs (material & size marked status), gold and silver bracelets, medals to honour military service, feather crowns & collars for ceremonies Strapped head between boards to flatten it, dangled objects in front of eyes to encourage them to cross

Skull-shaping devices of the Maya

Family Life Maya Aztec Inca Infants given 4 names Girls married at 14, boys at 18 Marriages arranged by groom’s parents with help of matchmaker Bride’s family paid a dowry & hosted wedding Lived with bride’s family for 7 years before starting their own home Conception of a baby celebrated with a banquet From age of 3 girls supervised by mother, boys by father Marriages arranged by parents with help of matchmaker after schooling complete Noblemen could have multiple wives Divorce permitted, but couples had to return gifts Girls married between 14 and 18, men between 25 and 30 Needed marriage licence and parent’s permission House built for couple and furnished by their families Given land for each child born to them When husband performed mit’a, wife took on all household jobs 4 names: 1 was private and given at a naming ceremony, 1 a nickname they would be known by and 2 derived from their parents names Ancestry and astrology played role in arranging marriages Believed groom owed bride’s family 7 years of work

Education Maya Aztec Inca Most boys learned father’s trade Noble boys went to school to learn reading, writing and math All girls learned household tasks associated with their rank Boys study from age 10-22, girls from age 10-16 Music & religion taught to all children Girls educated in household duties Boys learn father’s trade, religious duties & warfare Noble & some middle class boys prepared for priesthood, military leadership or political office Before 5, kids had no responsibilities From 5-9 they helped with small household jobs Male commoners served as shepherds from 9-20 then serve as pages or runners until marriage Only upper class boys received formal education Girls trained at home & couldn’t enter professions Inca education = 4 years with different subject each year: language, religion, making quipus, history

Food Maya Aztec Inca 3 meals per day with late afternoon meal being largest Meat: turkey, venison & tzome (hairless dog) Posol: drink of crushed corn boiled in water tortillas (used as utensils) stews of meat, fish & vegetables Seasonal fruits Drank chocolate Tortillas Tamales Meat: turkey, quail, venison, rabbit, lobster, fish Seasonal fruit Upper classes smoked cigars after meals to aid digestion Evening meal was main meal of the day Corn Potatoes Chicha: drink of fermented cornmeal Meat: guinea pigs Stews of potatoes, maize, beans and vegetables Amount and variety of food eaten varied with class in all cultures.